Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation aims for a bigger Winter Olympics delegation with local athletes

The Philippines is setting its sights on a bigger presence in the next Winter Olympics, with the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation (PSSF) confident it can send a larger delegation. 

PSSF President Jim Apelar revealed that more athletes, including those with Filipino roots or heritage, have expressed interest in representing the country in winter sports.

Apelar noted that the Philippines has already established a history in the Winter Olympics, having sent athletes to seven editions of the Games starting with the 1972 Sapporo Olympics. 

Meanwhile recently, the Philippines fielded alpine skiers Tallulah Proulx and Francis Ceccarelli in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, with Proulx placing 50th in the slalom and 52nd in the giant slalom, while Ceccarelli finished 54th in the giant slalom.

With this, interest from the Filipino has created a unique opportunity for the country to recruit athletes living in snow-rich nations. 

Apelar explained that the federation has received around ten inquiries from athletes wanting to represent the Philippines, and through a process called “nation transfer,” they could compete under the Philippine flag if they have the proper passport. 

The PSSF is also focusing on developing homegrown athletes. One of its key initiatives is the roller skiing program, which Apelar calls “kalsada roller skiing.” 

This innovative program uses wheeled skis to replicate about 90 percent of the movements of cross-country skiing, providing a summer training alternative for young athletes. 

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Currently, the federation has set up four roller skiing clubs in Rizal Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, and Teresa while training 52 kids each week. 

The federation’s development strategy has already produced notable results, exemplified by Edward Limbaga, the first Filipino cross-country snow skier. Limbaga began his journey in roller skiing before transitioning to snow-based cross-country competitions in Thailand, Korea, and Kazakhstan. 

His dedication eventually led him to compete in the FIS World Cup in Ruka, Finland, where he converted his roller skiing points into cross-country skiing results. Although he narrowly missed qualifying for the previous Winter Olympics, Limbaga is determined to try again for the next edition.

Through these efforts, the PSSF is blending the development of local talent with opportunities for Filipino athletes abroad, creating a unique pathway to strengthen the country’s representation in winter sports. 

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