Another stellar winter for Elan Ski Cross Team: Continuing the Legacy in the 25/26 FIS Season

Ski Cross is one of the most explosive disciplines on snow. Precision, race intelligence, and the ability to react instantly under pressure separate the best from the rest, keeping the race unpredictable until the finish line.

Within this demanding environment, Elan has built a reputation for delivering results at the highest level. Season after season, our athletes continue to perform on the world stage. Three consecutive Olympic podiums (four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals), three world titles, three overall World Cup victories, and more than 180 World Cup podiums are our legacy and our commitment to the future.

The 25/26 season was another strong chapter in this ongoing story, with Elan athletes securing 22 World Cup podiums, including 6 victories, reinforcing our position as the strongest team in FIS Ski Cross Racing. To make this season even more stellar, Simone Deromedis has taken the gold in the Milano Cortina Olympic Games.

 

The season opened in December with the Iconic Val Thorens track, where just like last year, Simone Deromedis started strong with a victory; this time supported by his roommate and Elan athlete Eduardo Zorzi, who secured his first-ever WC podium coming home 2^nd. The two set the tone for what would become a highly competitive and consistent race dynamic. Impressively, the season also concluded with a double podium for the duo, underscoring how strong and consistent the Italians were all season.

  

This season has been marked by important milestones for several of our athletes. Tim Hronek claimed his first career World Cup victory, while Eduardo Zorzi and Killian Himmelsbach both celebrated their first career podium finishes. While the new generation of Elan athletes really started to blossom this year, the veterans still proved they were a force to be reckoned with. Most notably, Kevin Drury, in his 10th year, delivered two podiums and multiple big finals appearances, including a win in the second race at Val Thorens.

 

On the ladies' side, the Elan women's team, Hannah Schmidt, Saskja Lack, and Jade Grillet-Aubert all finished within the top 10 of the overall World Cup standings, highlighting both performance stability and competitive progression. Multiple podium appearances across the season reinforced Elan’s presence in the women’s field, even in a year dominated by strong competition. The highlight was Canadian Hannah Schmidt claiming a 2nd place at her home race in Craigleith, alongside her brother and Elan’s athlete Jared Schmidt, who matched her result minutes later in the men’s big final.

 The 25/26 season was also defined by key moments and transitions within the team. Niklas Bachsleitner has made a notable return to competition after last year's serious injury. Kevin Drury, one of the most accomplished athletes in Ski Cross, has decided to conclude his career following an injury in Kopaonik. His legacy includes 121 World Cup starts, 20 podium finishes, 6 wins and an overall World Cup title back in 2020. 

The season also marked the retirement of Yanick Gunsch and the final race appearance of Filip Flisar, whose last run in Kopaonik brought back many memories of Elan's greatest-ever icon.

 

With 22 podium finishes and strong representation, season 25/26 has confirmed Elan’s team's position at the forefront of Ski Cross. At the same time, emerging athletes and milestone achievements signal a promising future, ensuring that Elan’s presence at the top of the sport will continue in the seasons ahead.