Kelly Brush Foundation Calls On FIS To Institute Further Safety Measures Following The Death Of Italian Skier Matteo Franzoso

September 25, 2025

In a letter to FIS, the Kelly Brush Foundation advocates for immediate steps that should be taken to avoid tragic accidents like the one that killed Franzoso

Burlington, VT. (September 25, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Following the tragic death of Italian World Cup skier Matteo Franzoso, in a training crash in La Parva, Chile, the Kelly Brush Foundation is calling on the FIS to institute additional safety measures in a letter sent this week. In the letter, the foundation offers assistance and expertise, and strongly suggests improvements that can be made immediately.

The Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF) has advocated for increased safety awareness, education, and implementation in ski racing for the last 20 years, following a ski racing accident that left Kelly Brush paralyzed from the chest down. Working primarily in the United States, the KBF has changed the culture of ski racing safety, making it a priority, not an afterthought. Through its programs, the KBF has helped train hundreds of coaches and volunteers on best safety practices and supported the purchase of over 100 miles of safety netting, totalling over $1 million in safety improvements for more than 200 ski clubs across the United States.

In the letter, KBF suggests establishing an international safety audit committee and offers to help the international racing community implement safety measures that have been effective in the United States, including:

• Prioritizing educational safety initiatives, workshops, and resources for coaches, athletes, and officials
• Extending safety best practices beyond race venues to include training, where athletes spend the majority of their time

The letter, sent to FIS on September 23, 2025, follows:

Dear Mr. Eliasch and FIS Council Members,

We are deeply saddened by the tragic events in La Parva, Chile last week. Our hearts go out to Matteo Franzoso’s family, teammates, coaches and the entire ski racing community.

At the Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF), we are acutely aware of the possibility of tragic outcomes from ski racing accidents and believe that most tragedies are preventable with the right measures in place. We have devoted the last 20 years to advocating for increased safety awareness, education, and implementation across the United States at every level of the sport. Through this grassroots work, the KBF has changed the culture of ski racing safety in the US, making it a priority, not an afterthought.

And despite all of our work, our sport continues to be plagued by injuries and, too often, tragedy.

While we recognize the steps the International Ski Federation (FIS) is taking to improve athlete safety, more immediate action is needed, and we would like to help. We suggest that FIS thoroughly evaluate and audit the current training practices, procedures, and safety standards by establishing an audit committee before the upcoming ski season. This committee would examine current practices and prioritize educational initiatives, such as workshops and resources for coaches, athletes, and officials, to promote a culture of safety awareness. Importantly, protections and homologation procedures should extend beyond race courses to training venues, where athletes spend the majority of their time, ensuring comprehensive safety across all environments.

The KBF has a long history of working with and supporting the ski racing community to ensure the safety of athletes. We have created a toolkit of safety resources that is used by coaches and race officials across the United States and offer those resources publicly on our website. Additionally, we offer the advisory services of our Alpine Competition and Safety Consultant, Paul Van Slyke, one of the world’s leading safety experts and FIS Technical Delegate. This moment calls for a movement on a global scale. We look forward to collaborating with FIS to model the safety improvements that we have catalyzed in US ski racing over the past 20 years and help create training and racing environments that prioritize safety above all else.

The Kelly Brush Foundation has been a driving force of US Alpine ski racing safety innovation, education and implementation across all levels of the sport from the ground up. FIS now has the opportunity to take decisive action and continue to lead with the authority and resources that only the international federation can provide.

“FIS can lead these efforts in a meaningful way,” said Tiger Shaw, former CEO of US Ski & Snowboard and current Kelly Brush Foundation board member. “We in the US have embraced Kelly and the KBF’s leadership and successfully changed how we think about and implement safety at home. This should be a global standard.”

As the season begins, this is an urgent call to action. The KBF is committed to ski racing safety and can assist. In light of recent events, we are asking FIS and all national ski associations, officials, coaches, volunteers, and athletes to come together and demonstrate that same commitment.

Sincerely,

Kelly Brush | Founder of the Kelly Brush Foundation

&

Board of Directors | Kelly Brush Foundation

– ENDS –

Press Contact:
Andrew Bernstein
Andrew.bernstein@kellybrushfoundation.org
610.618.6272

About the Kelly Brush Foundation
In 2006, Kelly Brush fell and hit an unprotected lift tower while racing in a FIS-sanctioned, NCAA Division I collegiate race. The impact of the lift tower broke her back, causing a spinal cord injury and leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. Since then KBF has worked to provide the training, materials, and awareness needed to improve racer safety across the United States and change the culture and dialogue around how safety is approached in Alpine ski racing. The KBF has helped train hundreds of coaches and volunteers on best safety practices and supported the purchase of over 100 miles of b-net totalling over $1million in safety improvements to more than 200 ski clubs across the United States.