en
Slovenščina
Italiano
The 6th international conference SPE Balkan SKI – Science, Practice & Education successfully concluded in Kranjska Gora SPE Balkan SKI Conference Kranjska Gora 2026, bringing together experts in alpine skiing and snow sports from around the world between 8 and 12 March 2026. The conference took place in one of Slovenia’s most important ski resorts and once again confirmed its role as a key international platform connecting science, practice, and education in snow sports.
The event brought together ski instructors, coaches, researchers, university professors, representatives of ski schools, and experts from the sports equipment industry. The main objective of the conference was the exchange of knowledge, presentation of the latest scientific findings, and development of modern teaching and training methods in alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Representatives from sixteen countries participated in the conference: Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, San Marino, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Finland, Azerbaijan, Argentina, and the United States. Among the most prominent international experts were Eric Sheckleton and Dr Dieter Bubeck from the International Association for Education and Science in Snow Sports (IAESS), along with numerous presidents of national ski instructor and coaching associations worldwide. The participation of such a broad international community gave the conference a strong global dimension and enabled rich professional discussion.
The conference programme included scientific lectures, expert presentations, panel discussions, and practical on-snow workshops, where national demonstrator teams presented modern approaches to skiing instruction and training. Special emphasis was also placed on innovation in sports equipment, allowing participants to explore and test the latest technologies directly on the ski slopes.
An important part of the conference was the international symposium EASE – Empowering Academic Snowsport Education, which promotes the development and integration of academic education in snow sports and strengthens cooperation between universities and research institutions.
Particular interest was attracted by the international Demo Show, where selected demonstrator teams from different countries presented their skills. The event was one of the most attractive highlights of the conference and was also viewed by tourists and other visitors on the ski resort, contributing to knowledge dissemination and increasing interest and motivation for snow sports, especially alpine skiing.
The SPE Balkan SKI conference is based on the integration of three key elements – science, practice, and education – and continues to build an expanding international network of experts committed to the development and advancement of snow sports.
“We are very pleased that this year’s conference once again successfully connected researchers, coaches, and ski instructors from different parts of the world. Cooperation between science and practice is essential for the continued development of skiing and for the safe and high-quality practice of snow sports,” emphasized Prof. Dr Rado Pišot, Director of the Science and Research Centre Koper and initiator and head of the conference executive committee.
The SPE Balkan SKI conference thus continues its tradition as an important professional meeting that promotes knowledge exchange, innovation, and international cooperation in alpine skiing and snow sports.
The conference was organised by the Science and Research Centre Koper and the Slovenian Association of Ski Instructors and Coaches (ZUTS), in cooperation with the University of Niš and numerous ski instructor and coaching associations from various Balkan countries, the EU, and beyond.