The 6th in-person meeting of the International Biathlon Union’s (IBU) Snow Network took place last week, 30.09.26 to 01.10.26. Snow managers and groomers from 18 different IBU Organizing Committees were invited to IBU headquarters in Anif, Salzburg, Austria for an evening barbecue, before the meetings commenced the following morning at Hotel Untersberg. Each Organizing Committee (OC) was invited to present their biggest challenges, learnings, and innovations from the 2025/2026 season, as well as their approach for the upcoming 2026/2027 season.

Representatives from Antholz opened with a report of their preparations for the 2026 Olympics. They detailed their snow production and storage timeline and scale, as well as their back-up plans to ensure good racing conditions through all possible weather. Presentations continued as various OCs shared their strategies for producing high-quality race courses in warmer, more unpredictable winters. This included salting timelines, snow storage materials, ideal snow-making temperatures and humidities, and strategic course alterations to exclude stretches of trail vulnerable to snow-loss. Questions and discussions followed each presentation, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and strategies on how to produce high-quality racing.

Dr. Fabian Wolfsperger from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Switzerland and Erik Melin-Söderström from Peak 63 in Östersund, Sweden returned once again as snow experts, presenting detailed analysis of past years’ course reports and venue surveys. A representative from the European Olympic Committee EU Office also joined the meetings to share EU Funding Opportunities that OCs may benefit from.

The Snow Network continues to serve as a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas surrounding snow and courses for IBU events, creating productive partnerships that extend beyond the annual meeting.