Today, 28 October, the Alfredo Goyeneche Auditorium of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) hosted the official presentation of the RFEDI National Teams, in what is shaping up to be the most important season in recent years ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The event was attended by the president of the COE, Alejandro Blanco; RFEDI President May Peus España; as well as numerous representatives from the winter sports sector, ski resorts and the snow industry, who year after year accompany the members of the federation and promote its momentum alongside its main sponsors (Movistar, Iberdrola, Audi, Loterías, Joma, Protest, .
During her speech, May Peus España did not hesitate to emphasise the significance of the moment: “Today, I can say that for me, it is the most special day of the season. Winter is in the air, and it is the only occasion when all the staff, coaches and athletes can get together to present this season. Spain is a snow country, which takes things very seriously and strives to make winter sports a benchmark. This year is special, as it is an Olympic and Paralympic season. When we go to the Games, we have always said that our athletes are going to compete, not to gain experience. It is so difficult to win a medal that it took 26 years from Blanca Fernández-Ochoa to Regino Hernández. That shows how important and complicated it is. I know we have the best athletes in the world in our federation and they are going to fight for them.”
“There will be magnificent representation in all disciplines.”
In this regard, it is important to note that the RFEDI brings together a brilliant generation of athletes. As we pointed out in our interview with Olmo Hernán (Director General of the RFEDI), names such as Lucas Eguibar, Queralt Castellet, and promising young athletes such as Audrey Pascual and Aleix Aubert are already capturing the attention of the snow sports world.
In addition, in her speech, May Peus expressed her gratitude for the strong support of leading organisations and brands: “In 11 years, we have experienced significant growth in funding thanks to entities such as the Higher Sports Council, the Spanish Olympic and Paralympic Committee, companies such as Movistar, Audi, Iberdrola and others such as Loterías, Fundación Deporte Joven, technical companies such as Joma, GSG, Descente, Protest, as well as others that allow us to believe in sport and in the future.”
A winter full of competitions with snow as the star attraction
The 2025/2026 season will be marked by the upcoming Olympic Games (6-22 February) and Paralympic Games (6-15 March) in Milan-Cortina, where the Spanish team will be well represented in various disciplines, to be fully defined on 16 January 2026.
Spain is also consolidating its role as a host for top-level events. A clear example is the Freeride World Tour Pro Baqueira (16-21 January 2026), which will feature names such as Núria Castán (AEP-FCEH) and Abel Moga (CAEI-FCEH). Similarly, the Baqueira Beret resort and its 173 km of ski slopes will host the Alpine European Cup on 2 and 3 February 2026, where Quim Salarich (LMCE-FCEH) shone last year, showing that Spain can competently organise this type of event.
More funding, more opportunities for medals
The economic and organisational growth of the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI) since 2015 is one of the most notable examples of efficient sports management in Spain. The organisation has gone from being a resource-limited and debt-ridden structure to becoming a benchmark for stability and long-term planning. Thanks to the solid backing of brands, public entities and modern management,
The RFEDI has gone from a budget of €2.5 million with €1 million in debt in 2015 to €7 million with no debt at present.
This budgetary evolution has made it possible to strengthen strategic areas such as the physical and psychological preparation of athletes, the modernisation of training centres, the incorporation of new disciplines, and the improvement of technical and logistical equipment. Today, the federation has high-performance programmes and medical, physiological, and biomechanical support that meet European standards.
On the road to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, the RFEDI has embarked on an ambitious digital innovation plan — thanks to funding from the Higher Sports Council through Next Generation funds — which incorporates video analysis and timing, physiological monitoring, altitude training and new injury prevention technologies. This technological leap not only optimises resources and speeds up decision-making, but also prepares the national team to compete at their best on the international snow.
In addition, transparent management and agreements with leading brands such as Movistar, Audi, Iberdrola, Joma, GSG, Descente and Protest have ensured a diversified financing model, combining public and private investment with sporting performance. This economic balance has been key to preparing for the 2022-2026 Olympic cycle, culminating in the Milan-Cortina event, where the RFEDI aims to consolidate a new generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest level.
Large team with potential
On 5 May 2025, the RFEDI officially announced the list of athletes in groups A, B and C —and the special programme for the Games— with a total of 34 young people (girls and boys) who will fight for their dreams to qualify for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or events such as the World Cup or European Championships.
Among these athletes, figures such as Quim Salarich, Aleix Aubert, Adur Etxezarreta, Ander Mintegui, Juan del Campo, Aingeru Garay and Albert Ortega (alpine) stand out. In snowboarding and freeskiing, Lucas Eguibar, Queralt Castellet, and Thibault Magnin stand out alongside Javier Lliso. In cross-country skiing and mushing, we find Imanol Rojo and Jaume Pueyo, among others.
Brand support, key to success
Representatives from brands such as Movistar, Audi and Iberdrola were present at the presentation. Rafael Fernández de Alarcón, head of sponsorship at Movistar, spoke on behalf of the company, stating: “At Movistar, we are approaching this winter sports season with enormous enthusiasm and pride. We have exciting months ahead of us, with the Olympic Games in Cortina on the horizon and our athletes more prepared than ever to make their mark. This is a key year for continuing to promote Spanish talent on the snow and supporting those who represent the effort, perseverance and spirit of excellence that so closely identify our brand.”
For his part, COE President Alejandro Blanco recalled: “The RFEDI is a federation that has performed exemplary work at all levels. I believe — and this is a big debate that I have constantly — that Spanish sport cannot be continually measured by its results.”
“Character is the virtue that is demonstrated in great moments.”
What matters is the path and the work that has been done behind the scenes and seeing how everything has evolved. Very young and established athletes have emerged. That is the great legacy of the work done by the RFEDI. When we talk about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there have always been athletes fighting for medals. There are major sponsors who are part of the ADO programme and we want to thank them because without them none of this would be possible. To the athletes, I would say that talent is essential, but character is the virtue that is demonstrated in the big moments.
