NHOA Ski Team

Road to Milano-Cortina 2026: Internationality and Inclusiveness Between Val Vigezzo and Val Formazza - Seite 2

The NHOA Élite Program

The NHOA Élite Program aims to cultivate a culture of excellence and continuous performance optimization while simultaneously fostering harmony, balance, and inclusiveness. It provides access to training, coaching, and services developed in cutting-edge élite contexts, under the technical direction and coordination of Alessandro Serra, who served for 7 years as the Responsible and Head Coach of Alpine Skiing World Cup National Teams for Italy and Finland, participating in 3 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships, and enrolled as Youth Technical Director from CONI.

Launched on June 5 from the Parenti theatre in Milan and live streamed across four continents, the NHOA Élite Program is a permanent wellbeing program that places individuals at the center of a project aimed at human, professional, and sports growth, based on three pillars: continuous performance optimization combined with physical and mental wellbeing.

The program also involves the creator of the S.F.E.R.A. Model, Giuseppe Vercelli, Professor of Psychology at the University of Turin, Head of the Psychological Area of Juventus F.C., FISI, and official psychologist of CONI for 5 Olympic Games, as well as his entire team.

The S.F.E.R.A. Model has been chosen by the NHOA Ski Team for the performance optimization pillar, as it is a reference model in the international landscape, presented to the scientific community at the XII World Congress of Sport Psychology in Morocco. The program includes training through the S.F.E.R.A. Model for NHOA Ski Team coaches, as well as NHOA employees, along with dedicated training programs on performance optimization.

The physical wellbeing pillar is based on high-profile athletic training, led by Marco Tagliaferri, professional trainer for international athletes in cycling and endurance sports, along with Stefania Bianchini, professional trainer and record-holding athlete in combat sports with 4 World titles in kickboxing and 4 in boxing.

Regarding the pillar of mental wellbeing, the NHOA Ski Team will refer to the Progetto Psiche Association, chaired by Dr. Laura Calabresi and Dr. Francesca Ghezzi Confalonieri, which counts over 60 psychologists, nutritionists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists among its team. The NHOA Ski Team will provide athletes and their families with continuous training services, workshops dedicated to mental wellbeing for prevention and awareness, and a dedicated psychological support service managed by the Progetto Psiche team, with the option of initiating individual therapy sessions upon request.