Von Allmen named Skieur d’Or as Ozbot wins Prix Armando Trovati

Oct 30, 2026·Inside FIS

Skieur d’Or AIJS 2026 winner Franjo von Allmen (SUI) in Men's Downhill Training at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2025-26 in Kvitfjell, Norway. Photo Credit: Marius Gulliksrud

Franjo von Allmen (SUI) has won the Skieur d’Or AIJS Serge Lang Trophy 2026, awarded by the Association Internationale des Journalistes de Ski (AIJS) to their "Skier of the Season". Milan-based photographer Mattia Ozbot has also been named winner of the 9th AIJS Ski Photo Contest, the Prix Armando Trovati, for the best ski photo of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Skieur d’Or trophy, provided by FIS, will be presented to von Allmen during the season by FIS officials and AIJS President Patrick Lang.

Franjo is a great talent, but he also has a huge heart. It's always exciting to see a young skier rising so fast, and he's won World Cup races, become a triple Olympic champion and won the Skieur d'Or AIJS in less than two years.– Patrick Lang, AIJS President

Franjo von Allmen, wearing a red Swiss team jacket and cap, holds up a glass trophy in front of snow-covered mountain peaks.

Franjo von Allmen (SUI) with the Skieur d’Or AIJS Serge Lang Trophy 2026.

Von Allmen named Skier of the Season

The Skieur d’Or recognizes a skier’s performances, charisma and constructive relationship with the international media. Von Allmen follows Federica Brignone (ITA), who won the trophy in 2025, and Marco Odermatt (SUI), the 2024 winner. He is the first speed specialist to win the award since Luc Alphand (FRA) in 1997 and Matthias Lanzinger (AUT) in 2008.

The 25-year-old from Boltigen won three Olympic titles at Milano Cortina 2026 and was described by the AIJS as Odermatt’s greatest challenger in the speed disciplines. He has won five FIS World Cup races since his European debut at Val Gardena/Gröden in December 2023.

The contest was close, with Von Allmen finishing just a few votes ahead of Brignone, while a dozen other elite performers, including Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Odermatt, Loïc Meillard (SUI), Lindsey Vonn (USA) and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), also received votes.

I'm really excited to be saying 'thank you' for the Skieur d'Or trophy. It's always nice looking back at what I achieved the previous season, but I'm looking forward to this season even more, and hopefully I can do even better. See you on the slopes!– Franjo von Allmen, winner of the 2026 Skieur d'Or

Ozbot wins the Prix Armando Trovati

Mattia Ozbot, whose work is distributed by Getty Images, won the 9th edition of the contest with his stunning black-and-white image of Felix Monsen (SWE) in the Men’s Downhill at Val Gardena/Gröden (ITA) on 20 December 2025.

Winner of the 9th AIJS Ski Photo Contest Prix Armando Trovati: Felix Monsen (SWE) in the Men’s Downhill at Val Gardena (ITA), 20 December 2025. Photo Credit: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images

I enjoy being part of the jury for this competition. These images capture a level of feeling that you can't see through the TV screen. Photographers do an amazing job capturing emotions, often in very difficult conditions.– Patrick Lang, AIJS President

Ozbot finished ahead of 13 other shortlisted photographs, with Christian Hartmann (Reuters) placing second and Harald Wisthaler third. The shortlisted images will feature in the contest’s annual exhibition, shared on social media via @PATrovati.

The AIJS thanked all the photographers who entered, as well as FIS, Joska and Colmar, and the jury: AIJS President Patrick Lang; Alexandra Meissnitzer, FIS Director of Strategy & Public Affairs; wire agency representatives Astrid Velguth and Barbara Sax (AFP); media expert Valentina Comoretto; and Alessandro and Marco Trovati.

The reason this photo stood out for me was its simple, well-composed, almost minimalist framing. It conveys a 'leap into the void' and a real sense of speed, in an Alpine setting with the Dolomites in the background. Mattia has a special eye that puts him among the great sports photographers.– Alessandro Trovati, Pentaphoto

About the AIJS

Founded in 1952, the Association Internationale des Journalistes de Ski (AIJS) brings together ski journalists from around the world. Its members vote each year for the Skieur d’Or AIJS Serge Lang Trophy, and it also organizes the AIJS Ski Photo Contest, the Prix Armando Trovati.

More information: www.aijs.eu

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