RASSF — the basis for development of Alpine skiing and snowboarding in Russia

The Russian Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation / RASSF/ is the successor to the Soviet Union's Alpine Ski Federation established in 1991 and an independent organization since 1966 after its secession from the Soviet Union's Ski Federation. Since 1995, snowboarding is part of the Federation sports, thus its present name — the Russian Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation.

RASSF today is the principle public organization that organizes and directs all work for the popularization and development of skiing and snowboarding in Russia. The scope of its activities and responsibilities cover all aspects of these sports: from participant, amateur, children and youth sports to elite sport and raising world-class athletes capable of challenging international contestants at any world-level event, including Olympics games.

Presently, RASSF essentially develops alpine skiing and snowboarding on a national scale. Our sports are being cultivated in 60 regions of Russia, where we have regional federations or our sports departments.

We have revived or continued more than 100 children and youth ski and snowboard schools and Olympic reserve schools across Russia, where we brought the best coaching staff.

RASSF, along with the entire country, is actively preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In February 2011, skiers had the privilege to hold the first test event in Sochi — the European Cup stage in Alpine skiing. The 2011-2012 season kicked off with RASSF "pioneering" Sochi's ski runs again — skiers will hold the first of the World Cup test events for the upcoming Olympics. In February 2012, for the first time in Russian history, they will start downhill runs and men's and women's super combined competitions on the slopes of the Rosa Khutor Snowboard Park and Freestyle Centre according to this seasonЃfs official World Cup calendar. Hot on the heels of skiers, snowboarders they will hold their test events: they will participate in the parallel events and snowboard cross of the European Cup stage.

The launch of the major international competitions will be preceded by yet another test event: both skiers and snowboarders will hold single discipline Russia Cup events in Sochi.

However, RASSF's activity extends beyond preparation for the Olympics. The schedule for this season includes dozens of official events held under the auspices of RASSF, including at the international level. The largest of them are alpine skiing and snowboarding championships and national competitions, Russia Cup series, and about a dozen of children and youth mass participation events. This season, RASSF athletes will also take part in many international competitions: from the World Cup and test events for adult masters to the I Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck for the youth that start their way into the big-time sports ...