Price of glory: rising costs putting Alpine skiing out of reach for some young talents

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Feb 20 : The thrill Alpine skiers delivered during the Milano Cortina Olympics may soon become more difficult to achieve for aspiring youngsters as new generations of athletes struggle with the soaring costs of a sport that is becoming increasingly elite.

For most skiers competing in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation World Cup and Europa Cup - the second-tier circuit mostly dedicated to younger athletes - sponsors cover most expenses such as skis, suits and safety gear. 

But for those who are starting out on the road to become champions, it is the family who must shoulder all the costs.

For a mid-level 16-year-old talent, annual expenses amount to at least 20,000 euros ($23,526.00), coaches and experts said.

The costs include coaches, ski club fees, which vary widely depending on location, at least six pairs of skis costing about 1,000 euros each, travel, race entry fees and ski passes.

"Skiing is becoming more and more a sport for the rich, and rising costs are discouraging many families - this is already a problem," Andorra's women's team captain Roger Vidosa told Reuters.

In Andorra - a 468 square km (180.7 square miles) country in the Pyrenees and a host venue on the World Cup circuit - Alpine skiing is a national sport and many ski clubs invest in young talent.

"When clubs see that a kid is talented but the family cannot afford the expenses, they step in and cover the costs to encourage young talents," Vidosa said.

Expenses increase further when young athletes are required to train not only on weekends but also during the week and in the summer months.

WIDESPREAD PROBLEM

"This is a general issue that affects not only smaller national teams - it's an even bigger problem for larger teams with