This Swiss Pro Team is bringing a breath of fresh Alpine air to the Ski Classics Season XV. Their mission? To provide a platform for Switzerland’s emerging skiing talents, those who may have narrowly missed the Swiss National Team cut. These athletes are getting their chance to shine on the international stage thanks to Team BSV IBEX and Ski Classics. 

Comprising a diverse team of eight passionate athletes (five men and three women) from Switzerland, Australia, and Germany, born between the late 90s and early 2000s, Team BSV IBEX is a tight-knit family driven by a common purpose.

Markus Walser, the Pro Team Director, vividly describes their unique approach: “Team BSV IBEX is the first and only Pro Team from Switzerland. The team’s main focus is to give athletes outside the Swiss National Team an opportunity to compete in international races. Beyond this primary objective, we want to elevate Ski Classics’ popularity, particularly in Switzerland and across Central Europe,” says Walser and adds:

“The athletes are maybe not on the level to win races, but we work the whole year very hard, have a lot of fun together, and try out some new philosophies. So, that’s why we train since the spring of 2022 with a 5/2 model adapted from Nils Van der Poel. For us as a team, it’s very important that everyone is 100% committed, and we are all (coaches, athletes, and staff) on the same level.”

Markus Walser outlines their ambitious goals for Ski Classics Season XV: “Our big goal is to perform as well as possible as a team on our home race, La Diagonela. That means a top 20 results in the women’s field and at least one top 35 in the men’s field. And all the other men in the top 60. Additionally, we aspire to be in the top 20 in the Pro Team competition by season’s end, and maybe it’s possible to be in the top 15. And then, besides the results, it’s important for us that every athlete can reach a higher level than last season and that every athlete enjoys skiing during the whole season.”

The Team BSV IBEX’s greatest strength is their unbreakable unity: “Our strength is that we all are a real team. We spend the entire summer training together in various camps and 1-3 times a week. Everyone respects their teammates at a high level and is happy with good results from them. For every person, the team is more important than single results. That’s where our true strength lies.”

While these Pro Team athletes may not be poised to topple the Ski Classics ranking, they are doing their best to promote Ski Classics and long-distance skiing in their home countries, Australia and Germany.

TEAM BSV IBEX

Team BSV IBEX 

• Country: Switzerland
• Pro Team Director: Markus Walser
• Pro Team Ranking: 24
• Website: Team BSV IBEX 
• Instagram: Team BSV IBEX 
• Facebook: Team BSV IBEX

Pro Team Athletes

For more updates and information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentary.

When you become part of one of the World’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round. 

Register HERE as a Member.