CEO NEW YEAR MESSAGE
As 2026 approaches, attention across the snowsports community is firmly focused on the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina this February. Of the 24 places available across GB Snowsports, we are hopeful that up to nine Scottish athletes will be selected. We very much look forward to confirming and celebrating those selections by 21 January.
Since the start of the winter season, we have shared news stories of many outstanding performances from our Scottish elite athletes across Park & Pipe, Cross Country, Alpine Racing and the Para disciplines. We have high hopes for them all in the upcoming games. These results reflect the commitment, resilience and professionalism of athletes throughout the entire pathway, competing in a sport that continues to grow in both depth and intensity.
We enter 2026 supported by 20 operational mountain and artificial snowsports facilities across Scotland. Without these facilities, our sport would not exist. I would like to thank their dedicated teams of instructors, ski patrollers, technical specialists and management staff for the vital role they play. Equally important are our clubs, whose volunteer committees and coaches provide skills development and participation opportunities to more than 5,000 members. Clubs remain the backbone of our performance pathways, and throughout 2026 we look forward to continuing our work with them to support more young people to progress within the sport. For families not yet involved, club participation remains a positive and supportive entry point into snowsports, with clear opportunities to progress through to our Scottish Team Programmes - which we are wholly committed to supporting for the foreseeable future.
As a reader of this update, you are part of a snowsports community of more than 300,000 people across Scotland. Like you, we are all hoping for favourable conditions across our mountain areas this winter. We are particularly pleased to see the Cairngorm funicular operating this season and, regardless of conditions, remain committed to supporting all facilities in strengthening their long-term sustainability. This includes continued focus on infrastructure investment, improved snowmaking capability, and the use of airbags and artificial environments to support year-round participation and skills development.
This December monthly update highlights a selection of current stories and opportunities across our sport. For the latest news as it happens, please continue to follow our social channels. In closing, I would like to wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
Iain Ramsay-Clapham
Chief Executive Officer
Snowsport Scotland