DSV and PistenBully Continue to Expand Support for Young Talent

With the new PistenBully Rookie Finals, Kässbohrer and the German Ski Association (DSV) are providing further momentum for the development of young winter sports talent.

Inspiring children to take up winter sports at an early age, discovering talent, and fostering it over the long term: This shared goal has united Kässbohrer and the German Ski Association (DSV) for many years. Since 2016, both partners have been committed to supporting young talent through numerous initiatives. These include, among others, the popular PistenBully Mini-Ski event days at elementary schools, in clubs, and at ski resorts, where children can gain their first experiences on skis in a playful way and discover the joy of winter sports.

Another key component of the partnership is the PistenBully Kids Camps. Several times a year, young up-and-coming athletes have the opportunity to work on their technique alongside experienced DSV coaches and athletes, gain practical skiing experience, and take away new inspiration for their athletic development. The camps take place both in the winter on snow and in the summer on mats, combining professional training with fun and camaraderie.

New Highlight: The PistenBully Rookie Finals 

With the first PistenBully Rookie Finals, the successful youth development program has now been expanded to include a special format. The top young athletes from past PistenBully Kids Camps in the disciplines of ski cross and freeski were invited to participate. Participation was considered a special honor for children who had stood out for their motivation, ambition, and athletic achievements.

A total of eight young talents received a wild card for the finals. Due to illness and other last-minute cancellations, five children were ultimately able to participate over the weekend. Together with the coaching and support staff from the ski cross and freeski teams, they enjoyed a varied program of athletic challenges, workshops on mental strength, and group activities.

A particularly distinctive feature of the Rookie Finals was the cross-sport approach: young Ski Cross athletes gained insights into the world of freeskiing, while the freeski kids were able to learn about the unique aspects of Ski Cross. In this way, not only were athletic skills fostered, but openness, versatility, and exchange between the disciplines were also strengthened.

Promoting Openness, Fostering Enthusiasm

“The DSV and PistenBully share a long-standing partnership. We work together to drive important initiatives, particularly in the area of youth development. Our shared goal is to get children excited about winter sports at an early age and to instill in them a love for the sport. In addition to our annual PistenBully Ski Cross Kids Camps, we’ve now created a new format—the Rookie Finals—that brings together kids from the freeski and ski cross disciplines. The children immerse themselves in the other discipline, try out new things, and gain entirely new experiences. Our goal is to support these kids early on, foster openness to new disciplines, and at the same time strengthen their versatility—thereby sustaining their enthusiasm for winter sports in the long term,” says Sabrina Mauz, Head of Youth Development at Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG.

With the Rookie Finals, the DSV and PistenBully share the common goal of not only further developing young talent athletically but also showing them new perspectives within winter sports. The combination of training, competition, personal development, and shared experiences creates valuable lessons and additional motivation for their future athletic careers.

The successful debut of the Rookie Finals demonstrates just how diverse modern youth development can be: It brings together different disciplines, fosters the personal growth of young athletes, and plays a key role in inspiring children and teenagers to take up winter sports for the long term.