The Annual General Assembly of the International Ski Mountaineering was held in Stockholm last Saturday, – June 14, 2014, with the participation of 21 national federations. The decisions taken, together with the innovations for the coming season were presented to all the members. First, the presentation of the 2014/2015 sporting calendar, with the World Championship in Verbier from 5 to 12 February, the 5 World Cup events (with 11 races in total) taking place in Puy Saint Vincent – France (Individual and Sprint) on 10/11 January, Andorra – (Individual and Vertical) on 24/25 January, Mount Olympus – Greece (Individual and Vertical) on 21/22 February, Val Martello – Italy (Individual and Sprint) on 28 February/1 March, and concluding three of the specialty cups (Vertical, Individual and Sprint) in Prato Nevoso (Italy) on 27/28/29 March. The ISMF is also pleased to announce that the Assembly voted in favour of the reintroduction of the Long Distance Team races in partnership with La Gande Course. The World Cup calendar is thus enriched by the addition of the Pierra Menta, 12 to 15 March, Adamello Ski Raid on 12 April and Trofeo Mezzalama on 25/26 April. The inclusion of these events into the ISMF sporting calendar is the result of intense negotiations over recent months. The fact that both La Grand Course and the member federations of the ISMF have managed to reach this wonderful conclusion means that all ski mountaineering disciplines are now under the same political and sporting umbrella, a situation that can only be of benefit to the athletes and to the sport as a whole.

The recent provisional approval last April by the International Olympic Committee has induced the ISMF to look more closely at the topic of sustainability when approaching its events. As a result of this, the World Championship in Verbier has been chosen as a pilot study, the evaluation of which will set up the critique required in the future from all ISMF sporting events. Another important objective required by the IOC is an increase in the number of ISMF members. On this front Stockholm was the location of good news, with the admission of two new member countries, the Netherlands and Azerbaijan. In order to encourage the organisation of competitions worldwide, from next season the “ISMF Series” will be grouped into strategic areas of development with the ISMF European Series, the ISMF North American Series and the ISMF Asia-Pacific Series.

The vacancy of the third Vice-President with responsibility for Marketing & Communications has been fulfilled, with the appointment of Arkadi Klepinin from the Russian Federation.