Back in November, we launched our Ballet’s Back campaign and accompanying film. The response blew us away.

On Saturday 6th April 2024, we went one better, and on the slopes of Verbier, an incredible scene unfolded! Fabrice Becker, winner of the gold medal at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics issued the call to arms on our behalf, and no fewer than 16 top former ski ballet athletes from around the world attended our MGG ballet skiing jam session and demonstration event. Many hadn’t seen each other for 10, 20, or even 30 years, let alone strapped on a pair of ski ballet skis, and nobody was under 50, but age mattered not in the slightest - with such incredible skill and flexibility on display, it looked like only yesterday they’d been competing professionally!

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Jonas Lundblad wows the crowd!

At the invitation of MGG, and hosted by Fabrice and Annika Johansson, the athletes all arrived on Friday 5th for a reunion meeting, followed by a practice session on the same slope that the event would take place on the following day (Piste des Grands-Creux in the La Chaux zone of Verbier). This was then followed by some customary après ski, and a group dinner.

Then on the Saturday morning at 10am, the main event began, starting with a one and a half hour jam session for all the athletes to fully warm up and perfect their routines, and ending with a final half hour dedicated to a full ski ballet demonstration. All the athletes went harder than ever, and delivered an amazing show for the 300+ strong audience! The whole event was a mesmerising display of virtuosity, the likes of which hadn’t been seen for over 20 years. The crowd was going wild and loved every minute of it, and the CEO of Verbier himself, who came to watch incognito, afterwards declared it one of the events of the season.

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Heini Baumgartner, a finalist at both the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics

After the demonstration, the athletes ran a ski ballet teaching clinic, and around 15 of those in attendance, including Julien Regnier, freeski royalty and founder of Armada Skis and Black Crows Skis, and former professional Armada team pro Ruben Principe, tried their hand at a variety of ski ballet manoeuvres and tricks - all much more difficult than they look. Julien even had the misfortune of snapping a pair of Leki ski ballet poles belonging to Niklas Jernberg clean in two, while attempting a front flip - an (unfortunately) amusing moment, but also cause for some alarm, given the severe shortage of ski ballet equipment globally!

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Freeski OG Julien Regnier attempts a 'gut flip' with the help of Fabrice Becker and Simen Andresen

For the athletes, not only was it a chance to show the crowds what an astonishingly technical and beautiful sport ski ballet is, but it was also an opportunity to be reunited with one another, to reminisce, and to let out some of the pent up emotion which many of them have held inside for many years. Professional ski ballet came to an abrupt end in the early 2000s, and the careers of many top level athletes instantaneously ceased to exist. To have a platform to once again show the joy that this remarkable sport gave both them and the watching crowds, clearly meant a huge amount, and the outpouring of happiness and contentment since the event from the wider ski community, and also those who took part, has been awesome to witness.

The entire weekend was filmed by Scott Goedkoop and his team, and will form part of a feature length ski ballet documentary which will be released in early 2025 - watch this space!

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1992 gold medallist Fabrice Becker with some serious rotations

The full list of athletes (in no particular order) who took part, is as follows:

Fabrice Becker
Annika Johansson
Jonas Lundblad
Niklas Jernberg
Mats Fredriksson
Klaus Mühlstein
Tina Spillmann
Justin Holland
Thomas Heyerdahl
Simen Andresen
Cedric Good
Beatrice Stocker
Christine Rossi
Isa Brun-Rickli
Claudine Fleury
Heini Baumgartner

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1988 gold medallist Christine Rossi demonstrates beautiful poise

There’s currently significant growing interest in ski ballet but, right now, for people coming to the sport for the first time, there’s a major shortage of available equipment. We’re therefore gauging interest to see whether we’d be able to meet the minimums required to find a manufacturer willing to make new skis and poles. If you’d be keen to buy new equipment, you can register your interest by emailing us at: support@mgg.ski