On January 5, the 2025/26 Season National Freestyle Skiing Aerials Championship concluded successfully at the Miaoxiangshan Ski Resort in Changchun. After observing the entire event, Stephen, an official of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), spoke highly of Changchun's event organization, venue facilities, and the performance of China's young athletes. The successful hosting of this event not only testifies to Changchun’s comprehensive capabilities in organizing winter sports events but also marks a solid step forward for this renowned "City of Ice and Snow" onto the international stage, laying a valuable foundation for the preparation of CHANGCHUN 2027 33rd Winter Universiade.

As a representative of the FIS, Stephen fully recognized the foundation of ice and snow sports development in Changchun. During the interview, Stephen remarked, "This is an excellent training platform for China's up-and-coming athletes. As a high-quality training base, the Miaoxiangshan Ski Resort enables all athletes to conduct thorough pre-competition drills, truly living up to its reputation as a first-class training venue. I believe that for many years to come, this venue will remain a fertile ground and premier competitive arena for the development of Chinese sports, boasting truly promising prospects."

When asked about the performance of Chinese athletes at this event, Stephen did not hesitate to say he was deeply impressed: "I watched multiple competitions, and quite a few athletes had already come to my attention before. They keep growing year by year, and their fundamentals are becoming increasingly solid and well-rounded. This high-level competition platform will surely inject strong momentum into them, propelling them toward higher-tier events such as the World Cup and even the Olympic Games."

As the premier domestic competition for freestyle aerial skiing, this National Championship brought together the country's top athletes. The host team, Changchun Team, delivered an outstanding performance, clinching a total of 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals. The growth and breakthroughs of its young athletes have borne witness to the effectiveness of Changchun's ice and snow talent development system. Throughout the event, the seamless coordination from track maintenance to event services showcased Changchun's mature capability in hosting large-scale ice and snow events.

In recent years, Changchun has made sustained efforts to improve ice and snow infrastructure and enhance its event organizing capabilities. The construction and operation of a batch of high-quality venues, including the Miaoxiangshan Ski Resort, have laid a solid foundation for the development of ice and snow sports. This recognition from the FIS official has further bolstered Changchun's confidence in stepping onto the global stage of ice and snow sports.

From the National Championships to the Winter Universiade in 2027, the blueprint for the development of ice and snow sports in Changchun has become increasingly clear. The successful conclusion of this National Freestyle Skiing Aerials Championship has not only provided citizens with a breathtaking winter sports spectacle, but also propelled the development of ice and snow sports in Changchun toward greater professionalism and internationalization. Looking ahead, Changchun, the "City of Ice and Snow", is poised to shine even brighter on the global winter sports stage.

Source: Changchun Daily Convergence Media  Editor: Liu Jiadi