China’s Youth Skiing Boom Reaches Record Highs in 2025–26 Season

China’s youth skiing scene is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. During the 2025–26 winter season, multiple national youth skiing championships recorded all-time high participation, highlighting the rapid expansion of the country’s winter sports ecosystem.

According to official event data, nearly 500 young athletes competed in each of the National Youth Parallel Snowboard Championships and the National Youth Alpine Skiing Championships held in Jilin Province. Meanwhile, in Chongli—one of China’s most important winter sports hubs—around 100 athletes per event took part in national youth freestyle skiing and snowboard competitions, including Big Air and Slopestyle, also setting new participation records.

Industry observers attribute this growth to significant upgrades in ski resort infrastructure, coaching resources, and competition pathways. Improved slope conditions, stable snow quality, and increased access to professional training have enabled young athletes to progress more quickly from basic skills to advanced alpine and freestyle disciplines.

This surge in youth engagement reflects more than growing interest—it points to the maturation of China’s winter sports system, spanning grassroots participation, structured youth competitions, and elite talent development. Coaches report noticeable improvements not only in technical ability, but also in athletes’ confidence and mental resilience, compared with previous years.

Participation growth has also been seen beyond freestyle and alpine skiing. Youth competitions in cross-country skiing and other disciplines have expanded steadily, prompting organizers to introduce a multi-stop, multi-age U-series competition system. This structure allows young athletes of different levels to gain experience, compete consistently, and transition smoothly toward provincial and national teams.

Complementing competition growth, national initiatives promoting ice and snow sports in schools continue to broaden youth access to winter sports. Expanded youth tours, seasonal events, and community-based programs are helping cultivate interest year-round, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of future athletes and industry participants.

As China’s youth skiing participation reaches new heights, the message is clear: the foundation of the country’s winter sports industry is strengthening, creating long-term opportunities for resorts, brands, training institutions, and international partners across the ski and snow tourism value chain.

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Number of participants hits record highs at youth skiing events in China