A World Cup star right by their side, plenty of fun on the slopes and a very special surprise: for Leon, Mara, Enea and Vanessa, the SKIDS experience prize turned into an adventure they won’t soon forget!
Four young skiing talents had the opportunity to enjoy a truly special day in Sölden. Together with Belgian World Cup skier Sam Maes and the Völkl team, they spent an unforgettable day filled with new experiences, exciting exercises and, above all, lots of fun on skis.
The awards went to the youngest and fastest children in the U8 and U10 categories, who had impressed everyone with their great performances in the SKIDS giant slalom races. The lucky winners were:
Leon Rottensteiner (2019) – ASV Feldthurns
Vanessa Heel (2017) – Skiteam Passeiertal
Mara Feodorova (2019) – Latvian Ski Federation
Enea Tremonti (2016) – Sci Club Auronzo
Experience the World Cup up close!
The adventure had already begun on Sunday with an exciting highlight: the four children got to watch the men’s giant slalom in Sölden live. Thanks to their personalised accreditations, they were right in the middle of the World Cup atmosphere. And of course, they couldn’t miss the chance to collect a few autographs!
But the best part was still to come…
“Let’s go!” – Skiing fun with Sam Maes
On Monday, a very special meeting awaited them at the Völkl test centre, right by the Rettenbachferner glacier: Sam Maes spent time with the four young ski fans and hit the slopes together with them.
Jumps, turns, new challenges and lots of laughter – there was something fun for everyone! Sam demonstrated different exercises, shared personal tips and encouraged each child to try something new. His smile and enthusiasm were contagious. And whenever they started a new activity, his cheerful “Let’s go!” was never far away!
Even the challenging weather couldn’t spoil the fun. The children enjoyed every moment and had the chance to learn directly from a World Cup skier.
A World Cup star who’s easy to talk to
Over lunch, Leon, Mara, Enea and Vanessa also got to know Sam away from the slopes. They heard about his life as a professional athlete, how much training goes into his success and just how much passion and dedication it takes to compete at the highest level.
For the children, it was wonderful to discover that Sam is not only impressive on skis, but also friendly, approachable and down-to-earth.
Their own words show just how much this special day meant to them.
“For me, it wasn’t just a day of skiing. It was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon. Being on the slopes with a World Cup skier, learning from him and having fun together was something really special. Sam impressed me not only with his skiing skills, but also with how friendly and approachable he was. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into his world. A huge thank you to the Völkl team for the skis and ski boots, and to Sabrina and the whole SKIDS team. Everything was perfectly organised, the atmosphere was amazing and everyone was so kind. You could really tell how much heart and passion went into making it happen!”
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to watch a FIS Ski World Cup race live in Sölden. I experienced so many different emotions! But the most exciting part was the day with Sam. I had been looking forward to it ever since SKIDS in spring, and now I have so many wonderful memories to take home. Everything was really special! What I liked most was how thoughtfully Sam planned the training and how much joy he shared with us children. I’m sure I’ll remember this day for a very long time!”
“Today was a beautiful day with Sam! I had so much fun, even though I don’t know English very well. Luckily, Sabrina helped me understand the exercises. Sam was always smiling and kept saying ‘Let’s go!’ every time we started something new! We did jumps, turns and lots of fun exercises together with the other children. It was really exciting to ski with Sam. At the end, he even signed my helmet! And when they gave us our prize – the Völkl skis and Dalbello boots – I was so happy! I really hope to see Sam on the slopes again one day!”
“I especially loved the exercises with Sam! He was so, so nice and is now one of my favourite skiers. He’s a real role model for me. I was incredibly happy to receive the new Völkl skis because I’ve always skied with Völkl and achieved great results with them. What I liked most was seeing that, despite all his success, Sam is still so down-to-earth and really took the time to be with us children. He had clearly put a lot of thought into everything and made training so much fun. Thank you to Sam, Sabrina, the Völkl team and the whole SKIDS team! It was definitely worth it!”
A special surprise to end the day
As if the day hadn’t already been exciting enough, one more big surprise was waiting for the four young talents at the very end: each child received a complete set of Völkl skis, Dalbello ski boots and matching bindings!
The smiles on their faces said it all. It was the perfect ending to a day full of new experiences, excitement and memories to treasure – and with new equipment ready for many more adventures on the slopes!
A huge thank you goes to Völkl and Dalbello, especially the entire Völkl team, and to Sam Maes, who gave the children a special glimpse into the world of professional skiing with his time, kindness and enthusiasm. We would also like to thank Sabrina and the whole SKIDS team for organising and accompanying this wonderful experience.
Because SKIDS is about much more than race times and great results. It’s about the joy of skiing, making new friends, meeting your heroes and creating moments that inspire children to dream big and keep improving.
Sprinty on Tour continues – who knows what adventure will come next? We can’t wait to find out!
