ZALANDO RETURNS AS LAAX OPEN PARTNER FOR 2026 EVENT

Zalando

Summary:

• Zalando sponsors LAAX Open freestyle event in Switzerland from January 14-18, 2026
• Company releases three-part documentary series following four Swiss winter athletes preparing for Olympics
• Brand hosts interactive stations and competitions at event venue for attendees

Zalando has confirmed its return as presenting partner for the LAAX Open, scheduled to take place from January 14-18, 2026 in Flims Laax, Switzerland. The European fashion and lifestyle platform continues its association with one of Europe's largest freestyle winter sports events.

The LAAX Open serves as a key stop on the FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Cup Tour. Athletes competing at the event work toward qualification spots for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The competition draws winter sports professionals from multiple countries.

Alongside the partnership, Zalando has produced a three-part documentary series titled "Between the Lines". The series tracks four Swiss athletes through their competition season leading up to the LAAX Open.

The documentary features Mathilde Gremaud, a freeskier who won Olympic gold and claimed multiple X-Games medals, including victory at the 2024 LAAX Open. David Hablützel, a three-time Olympian specializing in halfpipe snowboarding, appears in the series. Giulia Tanno, a freeskier with five X-Games medals, shares her preparation process. Nicolas Huber, who has won multiple World Championship medals in slopestyle snowboarding, rounds out the group.

Zalando

The series shows training routines, personal challenges, and competition preparation. Episodes will appear on Zalando's social media channels and within a dedicated winter sports section on the Zalando Fashion Shop platform. Clothing and outfits worn in the documentary will be available for purchase through the platform.

The first episode, "A Line We Draw", went live on December 8, 2025, covering the start of the season and early preparation. The second episode, "The Risk We Take", releases on January 19, 2026, documenting the World Cup season's beginning, Hablützel's return to competition, Huber's veteran approach, and Gremaud and Tanno's tour experiences. The final episode, "And Where We Land", arrives on February 9, 2026, focusing on the LAAX Open as the last World Cup stop before the Olympics.

During the five-day event, Zalando will operate several stations on-site. The ANYTIME MARKET sits on Crap Sogn Gion mountain, functioning as a meeting point where visitors explore winter sports product selections. The space includes exclusive merchandise, DJ performances, prize contests featuring Zalando outfits, and an outdoor lounge with a bar.

In the valley, the ANYTIME SERVICE Station offers practical services for winter sports participants. A free waxing station helps athletes maintain equipment. The "Make Your Own" personalization station, operated by graffiti artist Philippe Gertsch, allows attendees to customize boards and helmets.

The Style for Tricks contest, hosted by David Djité and Technically Doing It Collective, emphasizes creativity and personal style over technical difficulty. Riders of all skill levels compete for prizes based on their individual approach to tricks. The competition runs Friday and Saturday from 12:00-13:00 at P60 Park and Mini Pipe.

Zalando maintains additional presence throughout the venue, including positions at the Mountain Station, Platform Pipe, P60 Park, Riders Hotel, and Riders Club. The platform will provide exclusive views of the halfpipe finals and photo opportunities for attendees.

The Berlin-based company, founded in 2008, operates as Europe's primary e-commerce platform for fashion and lifestyle products. The business serves over 61 million active customers across 29 markets through its B2C operations under the Zalando and ABOUT YOU brands. The company's B2B division provides logistics infrastructure, software, and services to brands and retailers through ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE platforms.