Silvan Zurbriggen, patron and Pirmin Zurbriggen, President of Ski Valais

Swiss-Ski Director Andreas Wenger (right) hands over the NTC label to snowboard coach Christian Inderkum (left) and Rector Maichael Zurwerra (centre)

25 years of the Sports Academy, five years of the National Training Centre (NTC) – in May there were grounds for a double celebration at the Spiritus Sanctus College in Brig. At present, 117 athletes are attending the Sports Academy: 67 downhill skiers, 10 snowboarders, 20 cross-country skiers as well as 20 biathletes.

Just in time for the anniversary celebrations, the Swiss-Ski school was granted the National Training Centre label for snowboarding. For the past five years the three regional associations Ski Valais, Ski Romand and Giron Jurassien have been sending their most talented skiers to Brig, where the young athletes are trained in five groups under the supervision of former World Cup coach Edgar Kuonen. The boarding school, teaching staff and coaches have an excellent working relationship. And the success of their young protégés speaks volumes for the school: this spring nine skiers were promoted to Swiss-Ski's C team.