FIS Team

Born 2010 and older

2026 FIS Programme Overview

From the 2026 season, QAST is aiming to introduce a refreshed structure designed to better support the development of our FIS athletes, ensuring training environments that match each athlete’s age, stage, and long-term goals.

Programme Structure

We are introducing two FIS groups:

●       FIS Development Team

●       FIS Performance Team

In general:

●       The FIS Development Team will consist primarily of first and second-year FIS athletes.

●       The FIS Performance Team will include athletes in their third year and beyond who have completed high school.

Athlete placement will also consider overall performance and readiness. Athletes moving into the performance team will require 80 FIS points or fewer in at least one discipline.

The Head Coach and Program Director reserve the right, at their discretion, to select athletes for the Performance Team even if they do not meet the points criteria.

Our aim is to ensure every athlete trains at an appropriate pace, in the right environment, and with consistent access to high-quality coaching—supporting clear and sustainable progression.

Below is an overview of the full FIS Programme, followed by details of the Development and Performance teams.

Coaching Structure

Each FIS team will have its own Head Coach, responsible for the primary development and support of that group. A third coach will work across both teams and be allocated where their expertise and assistance is most valuable.

As an example, athletes will usually work with their Head Coach during freeskiing drills, whereas gate training will typically involve two coaches to support high-quality feedback and progression.

Strength & Conditioning (S&C)

Full in-season Strength and Conditioning will continue to be led by Ben Griffin and the Athletic Performance team at The Mill Queenstown, with separate programmes developed for the Development and Performance teams to reflect the different needs and maturity levels of each group. S&C will be compulsory for all FIS athletes in 2026, although consideration may be given to approved alternative providers where this better supports an individual athlete’s needs. A pre-season option will be presented to Queenstown-based athletes. Athletes looking for remote program delivery ahead of the season can get in touch with The Mill training@themillqueenstown.com

Domestic Training Camps

To provide a wider variety of terrain for continued progression throughout the season, we intend to run two domestic training camps for both FIS teams.

We are currently finalising logistics and dates, with discussions underway with Roundhill, Ōhau, and Mt Hutt. Full details will be confirmed over summer.

Season Length

Our development philosophy is that during the first two years of FIS, an athlete’s primary season should remain in the Southern Hemisphere, with a strong focus on maximising time on snow in New Zealand. From the third year onwards, athletes naturally shift their primary competitive season to the Northern Hemisphere.

●       FIS Development Team: June 20^th 2026 – October 3^rd 2026, 16 weeks

●       FIS Performance Team option 1: June 20^th 2026 – September 8 2026, 12 weeks

●       FIS Performance Team option 2: June 20^th 2026 – October 3rd 2026, 16 weeks

Program Details

5-Day Full-Time Program

Development and Performance Team (16 weeks)

This program runs 5-days per week: Friday through Tuesday.

Early Bird Rate: $8,500

Standard Rate: $9,350

Injury Insurance: $425 (Early Bird), $468 (Standard)

 

5-Day Full-Time Program

Performance Team only (12 weeks)

This program runs 5-days per week: Friday through Tuesday.

Early Bird Rate: $7,500

Standard Rate: $8,250

Injury Insurance: $375 (Early Bird), $413 (Standard)

 

Club Representation

All QAST athletes are expected to register with Snowsports under the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team as both the Training Provider and the Ski Club or they will incur a non-club member fee of $1,000 for the 2026 season.

Joining Fee

A $1500 joining fee applies to all new club members aged U14 and older.

If athletes qualify for both the club fee and the joining fee, the total combined amount will be capped at $1,500.

Registration

Please apply for registration HERE

Development FIS Programme Details

Overall Goal: Progress from training to race toward racing to win.

First-Year FIS Athletes

We recognise that the transition into FIS represents a significant step up in every aspect of ski racing, - training intensity, technical expectations, physical demands, and competition environment. The Development FIS structure is designed to make this transition smoother by allowing coaches to be more available to each athlete’s individual needs.

No two athletes take their first step into FIS in the same way. Our aim is to help athletes build confidence in both training and racing throughout their first season. While results are not the primary focus in year one, there is a strong emphasis on developing the right attitude, routines, and training standards that lay the foundation for future FIS performance. (Training to race)

At the beginning of the season, first-year athletes will take part in dedicated induction sessions and breakout blocks that clearly outline expectations, communication processes, and the training and race-day systems that they can expect for the upcoming season.

Second-Year Athletes and Beyond

For returning Development FIS athletes, the focus shifts to converting strong training performances into consistent racing outcomes. This group works on refining the mental and physical skills required to perform under competition pressure, while continuing to deepen technical understanding and progression.

At this stage, athletes should demonstrate strong self-management, maintain high daily training standards, and consistently apply the routines and preparation habits needed to perform at their best on race day.  (Racing to Win)

Technical Ski Focus: 

1. Fundamentals for all athletes during the first three weeks of the season, incorporating free skiing, brushes, and stubbies. 

2. Continued focus on technical drills throughout July and August. 

3. Maximum of 16 athletes per group to ensure quality training with 2 coaches. 

4. Continuous video analysis throughout the season. Equipment has been upgraded for 2026.

5. Access to tuning container and full coach support for ski preparation. 

6. Regular use of the Brower for technical refinement. 

7. Engagement with high-level international athletes of comparable ability to share work ethic, technical knowledge, and enjoyment. 

S&C Focus

At Development FIS level the focus is on developing safe and co-ordinated movement patterns and building solid foundational strength, that supports an athletes ability to make constant progress on skis as well as healthy growth during these teenage years.

For most athletes in this phase, physical maturation is moving along at pace, so programming focuses not only on capacities but on educating athletes to give them the skills required to maximise future training outcomes. Training sessions will again fit around academy/school commitments with Monday, Wednesday and Friday the standard planned days. Adjustments will be made accordingly in preparation for race blocks.

Baseline testing at the beginning of the season will again be delivered, with benchmarks set out for athletes to know where they stand and what can be targeted for individual improvement. Training attendance will be recorded and input of athlete training data with the provided app will be required, as a means to assist the pursuit of improvement throughout the year.

Development Team Training Calendar / Program: 

• June 20^th, 2026, till October 3rd with recuperation break post September racing block to recuperate and ensure continued progression in the last training block of the season.

• Weekdays: 

o Session 1: Gate training then return to High School

• Weekends: 

o Session 1: Fundamentals / low-end drills 

o Session 2: Gate training 

• School holidays: 

o Session 1: Fundamentals / low-end drills 

o Session 2: Gate training 

 

Performance Team FIS Programme Details

Overall Goal: Racing to win.

Performance Team Athletes

For performance FIS athletes skiing is their number one focus and they have made the commitment to taking the sport as far as they can. Having spent years developing technical skills, strength and conditioning, and the ability to perform under training and race pressure, athletes now consolidate and refine their technical fundamentals and hone their ability to race as well as they train. The focus shifts to repetition and muscle memory, ensuring that every movement is precise, efficient, and race-ready. This phase transitions athletes from skilled skiers to high-performance competitors, applying a professional approach to training, recovery, and competition. Athletes are expected to take full ownership of their preparation, maintain consistent high standards, and execute under the demands of elite-level racing.

 

Technical Focus:

1. Fundamentals for all athletes during the first two weeks of the season.

2. Continued focus on low-end drills throughout July and August where feasible.

3. Maximum of 16 athletes per group to ensure quality training with 2 coaches.

4. Continuous video analysis throughout the season.

5. Access to tuning container and full coach support for ski preparation.

6. Regular use of the Brower for technical refinement.

7. Engagement with high-level international athletes to share work ethic, technical knowledge,

S&C Focus

At Performance level the athletic direction focuses on consolidating strong patterns, refining sport specific patterns and ‘raising the ceiling’ for each athlete to bring them closer to the standard required of a ‘race to win’ philosophy. Most athletes have completed physical maturation at this point, however there will be adaptations provided for biologically younger athletes as required.

Training sessions will be more flexible in timing than at development level, as athletes here tend to be remote learners or post-graduate high school athletes. The periodisation and calendaring of sessions is delivered to work in conjunction with the on-snow plan.

Baseline testing at the beginning of the season will again be delivered. Benchmarks at this tier will be aligned to international standards or to SSNZ benchmarks (work in progress). Training attendance will be recorded and input of athlete training data with the provided app will be required, as a means to assist the pursuit of improvement throughout the year.

Performance Team Training Calendar / Program:

• Weekdays:

o Session 1: Low-end drills / fundamentals

o Session 2: Gate training

• Weekends:

o Session 1: Gate training

o Session 2: Free ski

• School holidays:

o Session 1: Gate training

o Session 2: Fundamentals / low-end drills

Registration

Please apply for registration HERE