Building stronger events together: Nordic LOC Seminar 2025

From October 3–4, 2025, 67 participants from 32 Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) and National Ski Associations (NSAs) met in Val di Fiemme, Italy, for the annual Nordic LOC Seminar, aimed at strengthening the planning and delivery of Nordic events.

The seminar opened on Friday at the Ski Jumping venue in Predazzo, where FIS Nordic Race Directors Michal Lamplot (Cross-Country), Lasse Ottesen (Nordic Combined), and Sandro Pertile (Ski Jumping) welcomed attendees and introduced the weekend’s objectives. The day concluded with a social dinner hosted by the Fiemme World Cup organizers, giving participants and FIS staff time to network informally.

Quotations from LOC leaders underlined the value of the meeting. Nancy Richard, LOC Chair for Canmore (Alberta World Cup Society), noted the continuity from previous workshops in Prague and the importance of staying connected to improve World Cup event quality. Tami Kiuru, Competition Manager for the Lahti Ski Games, emphasized recognizing the business aspects of event organization within FIS–NSA–LOC decision-making.

Learning from experts, sharing ideas

Saturday featured keynote talks and practical collaboration. Producer Michal Sieczko (known for the Zakopane World Cup and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships) shared insights on fan engagement and creating memorable event experiences. Sabrina Schreiber presented key lessons on volunteer management, and FIS Senior Partnership Relations Manager Andi Marugg discussed sponsor activation and involvement.

Under the guidance of FIS Senior Education Manager Cornelia Blank, participants then split into working groups to address real-life challenges. The workshop brief was to “create an event around the World Cup race,” focusing on enhancing fan engagement, strengthening NSA–LOC cooperation, improving sponsor relations, and developing effective volunteer strategies. Open discussions and brainstorming produced actionable ideas tailored to the diverse contexts of the organizers present.

A successful exchange of knowledge

Attendees actively contributed and took home practical takeaways for their own events. The seminar reinforced the shared commitment across the Nordic community—spanning Cross-Country, Ski Jumping, and Nordic Combined—to continually improve event quality and the fan experience.