Tanja Frieden sits the kids on the board

Switzerland is facing a hot turn of the year. There is fun only on the high-altitude slopes. On this occasion: Snow sports are no longer a problem for many. This was also confirmed by analysis by the Swiss Observatory of Sports. We are talking about the decreasing number of skiers, snowboarders and cross country skiers over the years. Tanja Frieden (46) wants to counter this trend. The 2006 Olympic snowboard cross country champion is president of the Swiss Snow Sports Initiative. The association was founded in 2014 and includes the Federal Office of Sports, Swiss Youth Hostels and Swiss Ski.

In an interview with Blick, Frieden explains that the snowsport initiative has already organized 375 snowsport camps and days this winter season. A few more would be added by the end of the winter season. Compared to the year the snow sports initiative started, the number of snow sports camps has increased approximately six times. A great achievement for peace. your explanation for this?

Five clicks to the ski camp

The purpose of the snow sports initiative is to organize cheap and ready snow sports camps or days for schoolchildren. “Within five clicks, teachers organized a low-cost camp using our GoSnow.ch tool,” says Frieden. “February 2023 camps can now be easily organized.”

Frieden: “Every child must have attended snow sports camp at least once during their school career.” The four employees in the office create inexpensive snowsport experiences with the help of all involved partners. With “still expandable” support from destinations, public transport and other service providers, a snowsport week for a child, including travel, accommodation, meals, equipment rental and ski passes, comes to around 350 francs. parents around 100 to 150 francs.

If the money isn’t enough, the snowsports initiative could go back to a fund for hardship cases, supported, among other things, by former Federal Councilor Adolf Ogi (80) from the “Freude monarchs” foundation.

“There are always solutions”

“Snow experience is needed,” explains Tanja Frieden. He doesn’t want to exaggerate the financial, climatic or demographic challenges for winter sports, but opposes it: “Switzerland is generally more interested in problems than solutions. If it’s not going to snow in 100 years, let’s make the best for 100 years!”

The fact that 60 percent of Swiss schoolchildren currently do not have snow sports equipment is solvable. Sports exchanges have cheap equipment. Families can also enjoy ski days for very little money with deals like Migros Ski Days.

Lots of future potential

Partners in a public-private profitsport venture naturally pursue commercial interests. However, these are of a long-term nature. “The francs deposited today will not be returned tomorrow,” says Frieden. The direct gross added value from the snowsports venture’s camps can be managed at around CHF 3.6 million this winter. But it’s about the future, it’s about winning skiers and snowboarders for life. Tourist destinations and snow sports companies then take advantage of this flow.

Tanja Frieden gains another economic advantage from her snow sports venture. During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in cases of mental disorders among adolescents. Children have a therapeutic effect by developing socio-cultural exchanges in ski camps, experiencing the freedom of gliding in the snow and developing pleasure in the mountains. “This way a lot of money can be saved in the healthcare industry,” she was convinced.

Frieden wants to expand his initiative to other sports. “In addition to GoSnow, I also have GoMountain in mind,” he explains. “I still see a lot of potential in various areas.”