The Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) mourns the loss of Dr. Christian Poley. The Kitzbühel native, who made outstanding contributions to skiing in every area of his work, has died at the age of 95.
Whether at the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), the Austria Ski Pool, the Kitzbühel Ski Club, the Tyrolean Ski Association or the International Ski Federation (FIS) – the lawyer Dr. Christian Poley, born on February 1, 1931 in Bolzano, has dedicated his life not only to his work, but also to skiing
Christian Poley has made outstanding contributions to skiing in each of his numerous areas of responsibility: in his home club, the Kitzbühel Ski Club, in the Austrian Ski Federation, in the Austria Ski Pool, and in the FIS, the International Ski Federation. For his life’s work and for dedicating his life to popularizing skiing, Dr. Christian Poley received the Skiing Snow Crystal in 2013 – the highest award of the Austrian Ski Federation for services to skiing.
For 50 years, he was a pillar of Austrian ski racing in his role as a member and chairman of the board of the Austria Ski Pool . Dr. Christian Poley served on the board of the Ski Pool from its founding in 1971, and in 1988 he was unanimously elected its chairman, a position he held until July 2021. Through his dedication, the Austria Ski Pool consistently secured a significant portion of the financial foundation for training and competition, thereby creating the best possible conditions for the sporting success of Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) athletes.
Within the International Ski Federation (FIS), Christian Poley served not only as a Technical Delegate but, more importantly, as a member and Chairman of the FIS Rules Committee . Under his leadership from 1994 to 2010, the FIS developed and adopted a clear and systematic set of competition rules. The International Competition Regulations (IWO) were revised with a focus on safety and liability in ski racing, and the introduction of the athlete declaration also bears Christian Poley’s signature.
Christian Poley’s greatest achievement and accomplishment is undoubtedly the creation of the Hahnenkamm Races as we know them today. From 1973 to 2000, he chaired the organizing committee . During this time, he and his colleagues at the KSC succeeded in raising the races to a new level. His dedication led to the establishment of international contacts, his negotiating skills secured the television and marketing contracts, and his assertiveness resulted in the creation of modern organizational structures.
In addition, Dr. Poley also found time to dedicate himself to club life on a voluntary basis, serving as Vice President of the Tyrolean Ski Association and as President of the Kitzbühel Ski Club with the same energy.
Due to these outstanding achievements, Dr. Christian Poley is a worthy recipient of the Austrian Ski Federation’s (ÖSV) highest award for services to skiing. In April 2013, the lawyer was presented with the Skiing Snow Crystal for his life’s work .
The Austrian Ski Federation will always cherish the memory of Dr. Christian Poley