Through the Year
A LOOK BACK AT 2019 AND 2023
A fantastic atmosphere. An unforgettable experience. “We want to come back to Špindlerův Mlýn.” Those were the words of elite skiers after the memorable World Cup races in 2019. Four years later, Špindlerův Mlýn once again hosted this prestigious event and reaffirmed its place on the world skiing map.
In 2019, nearly 19,000 spectators filled the venue, creating an electric atmosphere despite unpredictable weather. In 2023, the number grew even larger — nearly 20,000 fans came to Špindlerův Mlýn to support their favorite athletes. Both editions became true celebrations of skiing, where top-level athletic performances were met with passionate support from the crowd.
Mikaela Shiffrin delivered exceptional performances in both years. In 2019, she won gold in the slalom and bronze in the giant slalom. In 2023, she claimed another slalom victory, marking her 85th World Cup win. “The fans were amazing. The weather wasn’t ideal for sitting and watching, but they still came, stayed, and cheered for every racer. They understand skiing, and they were very kind and positive. It was a great weekend,” she said after the race.
Petra Vlhová also shone in both editions. In 2019, she took gold in the giant slalom and bronze in the slalom. About her victory, she said: “These are the moments I train for every day. I’m incredibly happy.”
In 2023, she finished fourth in the slalom, once again showing she belongs among the world’s elite.
Among Czech athletes, the best result in 2023 came from Martina Dubovská, who finished 13th in the slalom, earning roaring support from the home crowd.
The organization of both editions was top-notch. In 2019, more than 500 people were involved in preparations. In 2023, organizers had to adapt quickly to weather changes — instead of the planned giant slalom, two slalom races were held. Nevertheless, the entire weekend went smoothly and was praised by both athletes and spectators.
Špindlerův Mlýn once again proved that it is fully capable of hosting world-class skiing events. Thanks to excellent organization, enthusiastic fans, and top-tier performances, it remains an ideal venue for future World Cup editions.
CZECH SKI AND SNOWBOARD
THE OLDEST SKI ASSOCIATION IN THE WORLD
Countless historic achievements, precious medals from major sports events, a broad membership base, and above all, a strong tradition. Founded in 1903, the Czech Ski and Snowboard Association is proud to be the oldest national ski federation in the world. On November 21 of that year, representatives of the first three ski clubs met in Jablonec nad Jizerou to establish the Ski Association of the Kingdom of Bohemia. This year marks the 123rd anniversary of organized skiing in the Czech lands.
In its early days, Czech skiing was led by legendary figures who greatly contributed to its development — such as Josef Rössler-Ořovský, Jan Buchar, and others. They helped spread what was then a rather exotic sport not only across the Czech lands. Their example and dedication inspired the creation of other national ski federations in Europe and significantly contributed to the founding of the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Since then, Czech athletes have been writing skiing — and later snowboarding — history. They have won 29 Olympic medals and many more from World Championships and World Cup victories. It’s no surprise that in the Czech Republic, almost everyone knows names like Jiří Raška, Kateřina Neumannová, Aleš Valenta, or today’s stars Eva Samková and Ester Ledecká.
Today, the Czech Ski and Snowboard Association has over 35,000 members involved in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboarding, grass skiing, and para-skiing. In all of these disciplines, we train new talents who represent the Czech Republic in major competitions around the world.
Even after more than 120 years, the mission of our association remains the same — to support the development of skiing and snowboarding in the broadest sense, both recreational and elite levels, and to represent the Czech Republic internationally. Our foundation is targeted support and promotion of all forms of skiing and snowboarding among youth and adults alike.
