Fri Sep 19 15:33:24 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**

The death of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso during pre-season training in Chile has ignited a renewed debate about safety protocols in World Cup skiing. Franzoso’s death is the latest in a string of tragedies involving young skiers, raising concerns about the adequacy of safety measures, particularly during training. The Italian Winter Sports Federation is urging the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to take a more active role in ensuring safer training environments, including dedicated courses with appropriate safety netting. While FIS is implementing some new safety measures, like mandatory airbags, the discussion highlights the inherent risks of the sport and the need for constant vigilance.

**News Article:**

**Skier’s Death Sparks Safety Debate Ahead of World Cup Season**

**La Parva, Chile** – The tragic death of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso this week during pre-season training in Chile has cast a shadow over the upcoming World Cup season and reignited concerns about safety within the high-speed sport. Franzoso, 25, crashed at La Parva, hitting a fence outside the designated course, and later died from cranial trauma.

His death follows a series of recent tragedies involving young skiers, including Matilde Lorenzi, Marco Degli Uomini and Margot Simond, fueling demands for increased safety measures. Veteran skiers like Adrien Theaux are questioning the frequency of such incidents.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) has called for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to take a greater role in ensuring safety on training courses, particularly those used for pre-season training in the Southern Hemisphere. FISI is proposing dedicated training courses, equipped with A, B, and C safety netting, similar to those used in World Cup races.

“The time has come to stop … You can’t go out to ski and then not return home” said Lucrezia Lorenzi, Matilde’s sister and competitive skier.

The FIS responded with a statement, acknowledging the inherent dangers of alpine skiing, stating that it will further intensify dialogue with its stakeholders, always with a single guiding principle: the wellbeing and safety of athletes must come first. The FIS is also introducing new safety measures this season, including mandatory airbag systems and cut-resistant underwear for World Cup skiers.

The debate comes less than five months before the Milan-Cortina Olympics, with concerns also raised about the safety of courses slated to be used for the games. The first World Cup race of the season is scheduled for late October in Solden, Austria.

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