Olympic downhill champion Breezy Johnson is angry about new equipment rules introduced by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), arguing that limits on ski weight could leave heavier athletes at a disadvantage and compromise stability at high speeds. The American speed specialist, who won Olympic downhill gold at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games and the world downhill title in 2025, weighs more than 80 kilograms (176 pounds) by her own account. She says she relies on heavier skis to maintain stability when racing over rough, uneven terrain at speeds exceeding 80 mph.
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The new regulations introduce maximum weights for racing skis, including bindings and binding plates, across downhill and giant slalom. FIS says the restrictions are intended to improve athlete safety, but Johnson and several equipment manufacturers question whether lighter skis will actually reduce injuries. Johnson has made her frustration clear in conversations about the changes ahead of the 2026-27 World Cup season, according to reports from several European media outlets.
Under the new limits, women’s downhill skis, including bindings and plates, can weigh no more than 10.4 kilograms (22.9 pounds). Men’s downhill skis are capped at 10.6 kilograms (23.4 pounds). The limits are lower for giant slalom. Women’s equipment cannot exceed 9.8 kilograms (21.6 pounds), while men’s skis are limited to 10.2 kilograms (22.5 pounds).
The restrictions have prompted equipment manufacturers to reassess some of their race models. According to Austrian media reports, Stöckli, Head, and Rossignol already have models that meet the new limits, while Atomic and Salomon need to adjust some equipment. Johnson skis on Atomic equipment, meaning her sponsor will have to make adjustments that will directly affect her.
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Downhill skier race on the longest skis, thus also the heaviest. The heavier skis are needed to reduce vibration and provide grip and stability at the fastest speeds. Johnson’s justifiable concern is that a lighter ski could behave differently under the forces generated during high-speed turns and impacts.
Johnson is not alone in questioning the regulation. Stéphane Mougin, Rossignol’s racing director, told Swiss newspaper Blick that he was not convinced that the new limits would make the sport safer. “I am not convinced that this regulation will have a positive effect on safety in our sport. There are currently no studies that prove this,” Mougin said, according to the newspaper.
Mougin argued that the distribution of weight along the ski matters as much as its total weight. Concentrating weight beneath the skier’s feet can contribute to stability, he explained, whereas having more weight concentrated at the tip and tail can produce different handling characteristics.
Atomic racing director Christian Höflehner also questioned whether the changes were being introduced with enough evidence to demonstrate a safety benefit. He mentioned during the Atomic Media Day that further reductions in ski weight were reportedly being considered by the FIS, but argued that the federation should establish whether the changes work before imposing additional restrictions.
Much has been discussed about making Downhill safer but this change by FIS’s have thus far raised objections from manufacturers and skiers. Another measure introduced has been cut-proof racing gear after Aleksander Aamodt Kilde nearly sliced off his calf with his own ski during his Wengen crash.
The debate about ski weight is unlikely to end with Johnson. If the FIS intends to reduce ski weights further, manufacturers and athletes will want evidence that the changes improve safety without creating new performance or handling problems.
For now, the Olympic champion’s position is clear: equipment rules intended to protect racers should be supported by evidence that they actually do so.
