Wien Ski Connect: Powerful Season Kickoff on September 23

Lukas Joichl
Sep 25
2 min read

On September 23, 2025, the brand-new platform Wien Ski Connect officially launched — bridging the gap between urban winter sports and business networking in the heart of Vienna. The event took place in perfect autumn weather at Stroke Minigolf, a hand-crafted, tech-driven venue in Vienna's 21st district. Fully bookable via app, almost staff-free, floodlit, and available for corporate events, it sets the tone for the innovative spirit of this initiative.

Watch the launch of Wien Ski Connect – live from STROKE Minigolf. Urban skiing, innovation, and business meet in Vienna’s 21st district.

Wien Ski Connect Takes Flight: From the City to the World Cup

Wien Ski Connect is not just a name — it represents a movement. Roland König, President of the Vienna Ski Association, shared highlights from recent achievements:17-year-old Meghann Wadsak, a ski jumper from Vienna’s inner city, recently earned her first World Cup point, becoming the first Viennese athlete ever to do so. Proof that even from a metropolis, you can reach the top of the international winter sports world.

Wien Ski Connect Enables Skiing Directly in Vienna

One of the evening’s key topics: bringing skiing directly to urban spaces. On the Hohe Wand Wiese, skiing is made possible without snow — using high-performance mats. Already in its third season, the project enabled around 5,000 children to try skiing for the first time in just two years. Especially for school groups, it offers unbeatable access.

The goal is to expand the “Skiwiesn” project into a year-round training hub, providing opportunities not only for beginners, but also for Vienna’s young competitive racers, who often lack consistent training grounds in the city.

Urban Snow Sports: Snowsports Academy Sees Major Potential

Martin Dolezal, CEO of the Snowsports Academy, underlined the massive potential of snow sports in urban environments. His academy is the global leader in indoor ski instructor training and plays a pioneering role in developing ski experiences beyond the mountains.

Dolezal emphasized that children with migrant backgrounds often react with remarkable enthusiasm during their first ski experiences. Projects like Copenhagen’s ski slope "Copenhill" show how urban ski infrastructure can be both fun and functional — and could serve as a model for Vienna.

Snowsports Academy views this not just as a social opportunity, but also an economic one. Skiing remains a national pastime in Austria, contributing significantly to economic value creation. And in a city like Vienna, activating this local market could have sustainable, long-term benefits for the industry and beyond.

Prominent Support & What’s Next for Wien Ski Connect

Among the guests was Andy Lee Lang, well-known rock'n'roll performer and certified ski instructor. His presence emphasized the cross-sector interest in Wien Ski Connect and the strength of the vision behind it.

Next Event: October 21 at Nora Pure Sports – featuring a talk show with top speakers and a sneak peek into the upcoming annual program.