(ATR) Philippe Gueisbuhler is at home in the mountains – having grown up skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland – a passion and lifestyle that should be of great assistance as he serves in his new role as International Ski Federation director.
The dual Swiss and Austrian citizen assumed the newly created FIS position on Jan. 1, stepping in during the federation’s busiest and most critical time.
Considering the added complexity of FIS rescheduling numerous events due to COVID-19, Gueisbuhler is embracing the challenge ahead. He says he is grateful for the "warm welcome" that he has received, in the heart of winter, from his new FIS colleagues.
"It’s not the easiest to start in the middle of the season and then you have COVID on top of it, but the team here is fantastic – I’ve only been impressed by how professional and how much you can feel their passion for all winter sports," Gueisbuhler tells Around the Rings. "It’s really a pleasure to join the FIS family."
Gueisbuhler says he is highly impressed with how quickly and efficiently FIS and its organizers have been able to relocate events on short notice during unpredictable times. He looks forward to taking a more active role in these procedures moving forward.
"We’ve had almost no cancellations this entire season despite the various challenges that we also have in a normal year – where you have too much wind, not enough snow, too much snow," Gueisbuhler says. "I guess this now comes to its full extent in a crisis like this.
"It shows the full potential and flexibility of this organization and I can guarantee it is also very impressive from the inside."
Gueisbuhler replaces longtime FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis, who was dismissed from her duties on October 9 after 20 years. He arrives at FIS following four years as the director of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The new FIS director is fluent in French, German, English and Russian, in addition to possessing skills in Italian.
Gueisbuhler is not only an avid skier and snowboarder, having resided in both the German and French speaking parts of Switzerland, but also a certified instructor in both disciplines.
"My parents have always brought me to ski and snowboard, so when I finished my studies I wanted to travel and worked two to three winters as a ski and snowboard instructor," Gueisbuhler says.
"It was the most beautiful job in the world to work with kids in this beautiful landscape – this is where the passion really comes to life."
Cortina and Oberstdorf World Championships
Now in a position with greater authority, his biggest task ahead involves helping FIS cooperate with the local organizing committees in Cortina, Italy and Oberstdorf, Germany, to stage safe and successful Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships over the coming weeks.
"These are both very important events for us – we’ve had several coordination events and with the last ones I’ve had the pleasure to take part in," he informs.
"When you plan such a big event and then you change the goal posts everyday with the ever-changing landscape of the evolution of pandemic, it has not made the exercise any easier.
"The LOC’s in both Oberstdorf and Cortina are very professional and passionate and FIS is looking forward to having the best world championships under the given circumstances."
While FIS and the LOC’s are performing most the work, Gueisbuhler’s thoughts are with the athletes, who have also been forced to cope with hard times this winter.
"It’s inspiring when you see the pure emotion and athletes competing at the highest level, for me it’s just sunshine on a cloudy day," he says.
Beijing 2022 and Future at FIS
After the two championships conclude, Gueisbuhler says he will shift focus to preparations for Beijing 2022, complicated by the fact that all FIS competitions and test events scheduled in China had to be cancelled this winter.
"[This} week is the one year to go, so I look forward to rolling up my sleeves as soon as we have successfully delivered the two world championships," says Gueisbuhler. "This will be my next big priority."
Gueisbuhler says he is grasping new thoughts, knowledge and ideas every day in his new environment, much in part to the federation’s longstanding president of 23 years, Gian-Franco Kasper.
"You can learn so much from a person like Gian-Franco Kasper – how everything comes together, the evolution of the rulebooks, just everything," he says. "He is a wealth of knowledge, so it is important for me to move as quickly as possible here and be physically present in the office, spend time and learn from Gian-Franco."
Despite the uncertainty ahead for all of world sport, Gueisbuhler is optimistic and enthusiastic to build upon his previous experience from GAISF and SportAccord, as he descends a steep, twisting and fast-moving slope at FIS.
"For me to be able to share my experience over these past five years in this international sports environment and combine this with my passion to ski, it’s a fantastic opportunity and I am eager to learn every day."
Written and reported by Brian Pinelli
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