The public companies Marprom and Šport Maribor, operating under the umbrella of Javni Holding Maribor and the Municipality of Maribor, will organize the World Para Alpine Skiing Championships (FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships Maribor 2025) from February 2 to 11, 2025. This will be the first time the event is held in Slovenia, as the country has previously hosted only comparable competitions at the World Cup level.
The organizing agreement has been signed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the Ski Association of Slovenia, and the public companies Marprom and Šport Maribor, with support from the Municipality of Maribor.
A total of 33 countries will participate in the championship, bringing 135 athletes and 200 accompanying staff to Maribor. The largest delegations will be from China and the USA, each with 27 participants. Competitors and their teams will be accommodated in tourist facilities in Maribor and on Pohorje, with arrivals scheduled for Sunday, February 2, 2025.
The championship will be filmed and broadcast live, making it accessible to audiences worldwide. The live broadcast will be provided by FIS through its live TV system and social media platforms, ensuring extensive promotion and visibility for both Slovenia and Maribor. The city is already well known in the skiing world for hosting World Cup events, such as the Golden Fox.
The organizing committee, led by Ranko Šmigoc, director of Marprom and Šport Maribor, currently consists of 50 active members. This number will increase to 250–300 people per day during the competition. The financial structure of the event primarily relies on participant contributions, including entry fees upon arrival.
The championship will include three days of official training (free skiing on the course and two downhill training runs), followed by five days of competition across all alpine skiing disciplines according to FIS regulations. Events will be held for both men and women in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and alpine combined. All races will take place on the slopes from Habakuk through the Snow Stadium to the valley.
Race Schedule:
• Monday, February 3: Course inspection
• Tuesday, February 4 & Wednesday, February 5: Two downhill training runs for men and women; 7:30 PM – Official opening ceremony at the Snow Stadium
• Thursday, February 6: Downhill competition
• Friday, February 7: Super-G competition
• Saturday, February 8: Rest day
• Sunday, February 9: Slalom competition
• Monday, February 10: Alpine combined competition (speed discipline and slalom)
• Tuesday, February 11: Giant slalom competition; departure of teams from Maribor after the event and awards ceremony
According to FIS Para Alpine Skiing regulations, competitors are categorized into three groups based on their level of impairment: visually and hearing-impaired skiers, sit-skiers (athletes with lower-limb impairments), and standing skiers with other disabilities (such as limb loss and similar conditions).
Several side events will be organized during the championship, including the official opening ceremony, daily awards presentations at the Snow Stadium following each competition, press conferences, and other media-related activities at the press center.
Marprom, in collaboration with the Municipality of Maribor, is committed to the sustainable development of Mariborsko Pohorje as an attractive tourist destination, offering diverse outdoor recreation opportunities year-round. The city also maintains its ambitions in hosting top-level competitions in both skiing and mountain biking.
»This event will put Maribor back on the map for top-tier alpine skiing competitions. We will do our best to uphold our reputation as excellent organizers and deliver a high-quality competition within the given conditions. During the championship, some slopes from the lower Slemen station will be closed on Mariborsko Pohorje, so we recommend recreational skiers head to Areh during these days. However, we also invite them to watch the races, which will be free for all spectators,« said Ranko Šmigoc, director of Marprom and Šport Maribor.
Maribor’s mayor, Aleksander Saša Arsenovič, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: »Maribor has long been known as a sports city and home to many top athletes and sporting events. Hosting the World Para Alpine Skiing Championships is another testament to our capability and dedication to organizing world-class competitions, as well as an opportunity to promote our city and Pohorje. I am pleased that major ski competitions are returning to Pohorje, reaffirming our commitment to sustainable tourism and sports development. During the championship, Maribor will embrace the spirit of sports, inclusivity, and unity. I am confident that we will demonstrate that our city welcomes everyone and deserves its place among Europe’s leading sports destinations.«
We invite everyone to join us in cheering for the athletes and showing that Maribor is a great host!