With shining eyes, a big heart, and endless enthusiasm, Sprinty looks back on SKIDS – The Snow Festival 2026 in Sterzing and at Rosskopf. In this interview, the beloved mascot shares stories of special encounters, unforgettable moments in the snow, and explains why SKIDS is not only about sport, but above all about friendship and togetherness.
Hello Sprinty! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. You were part of SKIDS – The Snow Festival 2026 in Sterzing and at Rosskopf. How did you experience the week?
Sprinty: Hello! I’m really happy to talk about it. Just thinking back to it warms my heart again. Everywhere there were children — laughing, excited, sometimes a little nervous. And then those big smiles when something finally worked out.
800 children from 10 nations sounds like a lot. But once you were there, it simply felt like one big community. I was right in the middle of it and thought: this is exactly how winter should feel.
What impressed you the most?
Sprinty: The small moments. Really. Not just the races.
I often sat between the trees at Rosskopf and simply watched. Seeing how you encouraged each other, how someone got back up after a mistake and kept going — those are the moments that stay with you.
And the opening parade in Sterzing… that was something special. So many different teams, each with their own style. Loud, colorful, sometimes a little chaotic — but that’s exactly what made it feel so real. My little fox heart was beating very fast.
On Friday, the giant slalom took place. What was that like for you?
Sprinty: Exciting — but not only because of the race times.
I even got the chance to ski through the course myself and realized: it’s not easy at all! That made me respect all of you even more.
One thing I noticed was that it didn’t matter whether someone was fast or not — at the finish line, there were smiles almost everywhere. Or friends cheering and celebrating together.
It was beautiful to see. It was about skiing, trying new things — and also about pushing beyond your own limits a little.
And what about the time away from the slopes?
Sprinty: Almost just as important.
At the pasta party, during the games, or while playing tug-of-war, I saw how quickly people connected with each other. Suddenly, it didn’t matter where someone came from.
I was everywhere — maybe even in too many places at once, to be honest. But that’s exactly the point: SKIDS doesn’t only happen on the race course. It’s the moments spent together in between that stay in your memory afterwards.
The final team parallel slalom was very spectacular, wasn’t it?
Sprinty: Oh yes. The energy was incredible.
You could feel that everyone wanted to give their best one last time — but together. There was loud cheering, excitement, and sometimes even a bit of nervousness.
And that’s exactly what makes it so special: nobody races only for themselves. There is always a team behind every skier.
What will you personally take away from this week?
Sprinty: So many memories that will stay with me.
Children who didn’t know each other before and ended up sitting together in the snow.
Brave first starts.
And that wonderful feeling that sport can bring people together so naturally.
That’s what I’ll take home with me. And honestly, it makes me really happy.
One final message for the children?
Sprinty: Yes.
Keep exactly what you showed here: the joy, the courage, and this wonderful sense of togetherness.
Everything doesn’t always have to be perfect. What matters most is that you keep going and enjoy it.
And I hope we’ll see each other again soon in the snow. I’ll definitely be back.
