Switzerland-based Pro Team BSV IBEX faced a challenging Season XVII on the Ski Classics World Championship, but Pro Team Director Markus Walser sees plenty of reasons for optimism.
Ski Classics spoke to Walser to look back at the campaign, share what the squad is up to this summer, and look ahead to Season XVIII, including a high-profile new signing from the United States.
A season of lessons learned
Season XVII was not the one Team BSV IBEX had hoped for. Injuries and illness disrupted their plans, and Walser is candid about what the results showed.
“The season was for sure not one of our best seasons. We had some struggles with injuries and sickness, and, on the other hand, we need to be honest and acknowledge that we didn’t have our athletes at the level needed for much better results. But every athlete and also we as a team could learn a lot for the future, and we will take step by step forward.”
One area where the team did make clear progress was in equipment preparation.
“Also positive was that we did a step forward with the waxing, that means we could close the gap to the best teams even more,” Walser adds.
Despite the difficult campaign, there were genuine highlights. The team won the Skier of the Day trophy seven times throughout the season, a tribute to the individual efforts of athletes who shone even on days when the collective result did not fully reflect their commitment.
On the women’s side, Noëlie Maurin stood out as the season’s brightest performer.
“Noëlie Maurin had a quite good season and made good steps forward. So, I think one of her strongest performances was her 36th place at Vasa.”
The team also collected podium finishes at Challengers events across the season.
Walser had no hesitation when asked which athlete impressed him most.
“As I said before, Noëlie impressed me most last season. She made good progress and is very structured in training and planning and also very motivated.”
But he was equally keen to acknowledge the wider group: “The whole team impressed me with a big team spirit. We worked the whole season as a really good team; the help between the athletes with testing and sharing skis, etc., was great and we always had a fun time together.”
The challenge of building in Switzerland
Talent recruitment remains the central challenge for the team.
“As always, the biggest challenge for us is to build a strong team. Ski Classics is still very small in Switzerland, and it is not easy to find strong athletes.”
The demands of a full Ski Classics season also placed significant strain on athletes who balance racing with work and study commitments.
“There was for sure a challenge for our team to survive the hard season end. Especially because our athletes work or study besides the races, it was a lot of travelling and hard racing at the end of the season.”
A structured summer on and off snow
There is no off-season in the traditional sense for Team BSV IBEX. Training was already underway by the beginning of May, and the schedule through autumn is intensive and well-structured.
“In the training camps we are organized together with the BSV Team for FIS races. So, we had a short three-day camp in May in the region around Davos and at the beginning of June we were for five days in Oberstdorf in Germany,” says the Pro Team Director and adds:
“In July we will have another five-day camp in Venosta. In August, it is planned to have a five-day camp in Seefeld. In September we train for five days in Lenzerheide. Also, in October we plan a five-day camp, before we end the preparation with a camp in Davos on snow at the beginning of November.”
For athletes based in the Davos area, the summer offers even more opportunity:
“Besides all the camps, the athletes who live in the region of Davos have the opportunity to train together with me as coach two to three times a week. We plan this summer to work together with Swiss-Ski for the trainings during the weeks in Davos.”
Lineup news: new faces and a big American signing
Season XVIII will look different in the BSV IBEX roster. Two long-standing members have decided to step away.
“Lauro Brändli and Curdin Räz decided to retire as athletes. So, we had to replace them,” Walser confirms.
Two young Swiss athletes step in to fill the void.
“Cla Ursin Nufer, who started for us last season at the Vasa and was in the Swiss-Ski Team last season, will be at the start for our team next season. With Jakub Mazacek, we signed another young and talented Swiss guy.”
On the women’s side, continuity is the headline.
“We are happy that Noëlie Maurin and Katerina Paul will do another season for our team.”
But the biggest news came after the initial interview, with Walser confirming the signing of American star Alayna Sonnesyn.
“Alayna Sonnesyn will race next season for us. She has over 100 starts in the World Cup and won the American Birkebeiner five times,” Walser told Ski Classics.
Sonnesyn’s arrival brings significant international experience and star power to the Swiss squad.
The Pro Team is also working hard on the commercial side.
“As one of the smallest teams on the tour, it is really hard to find sponsors, especially in Switzerland. We are working hard to find more sponsors to close the gap to the big teams a bit more.”
Goals and calendar hopes for Season XVIII
With the new lineup taking shape, Walser has set clear targets for the season ahead.
“The main goal for the team is for sure to be in the top 17 in the team competition. How the team looks at the moment, on the men’s side we will be happy with top 60 results. On the women’s side, it would be great if we could have some top 15 or even better top 10 results.”
Beyond results, the mission remains broader: “The main goal for the team is still to give more young skiers from Switzerland the opportunity to compete in high-level international competitions.”
On the Season XVIII calendar, Walser is enthusiastic, and for good reason.
“I think the new calendar is the best calendar we have ever had. There are some new interesting formats. Especially the shorter races allow our team to get more young skiers from Switzerland in the series. There are more breaks between the races, which is great, especially for athletes who work besides the races. So, the whole team and I are very motivated for another great season.”
And for anyone looking to get involved with the team, as a sponsor or an athlete, the door is open.
“If there are some sponsors who haven’t found a team yet and want to help a small team from Switzerland to develop in the Ski Classics tour, just contact me. And we are still open for new athletes, and they can contact me.”
Team BSV IBEX can be followed and contacted HERE on Instagram or HERE on Facebook.
Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII (2026/2027)
• Event 1: December 11, 2026 – Bad Gastein Prologue – Austria – 1km
• Event 2: December 13, 2026 – Sportgastein Criterium – Austria – 30km
• Event 3: December 19, 2026 – Bad Gastein ITT – Austria – 7km
• Event 4: December 20, 2026 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 5: January 16, 2027 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 6: January 17, 2027 – Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint – Switzerland – 30km
• Event 7: January 31, 2027 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2027 – Bedřichov Heat Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 9: February 14, 2027 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 10: February 27, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women – Sweden – 30km
• Event 11: February 28, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men – Sweden – 30km
• Event 12: March 7, 2027 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 13: March 20, 2027 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 53km
• Event 14: April 3, 2027 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 15: April 4, 2027 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com.
Author: Leandro Lutz
Top Photo: Reichert/NordicFocus
