Stefan Abplanalp is a Swiss alpine skiing expert born in the canton of Bern (the exact date and year of birth have not been publicly disclosed). Sources state that he originates from the Berner Oberland region. Although little is known about his childhood and education, it is clear that he comes from a skiing nation and has dedicated his entire life to a career in winter sports.
Career and Why He Is Known
Abplanalp is primarily known as a coach of women’s ski teams, having built his career within top national programs. For more than a decade (2004–2012), he served as coach of the Swiss women’s speed team. After that, he led the Norwegian women’s national team in the World Cup for two seasons (2012–2014).
In 2014, he moved to the United States, where he became head coach of the U.S. women’s speed team at the end of the season. During the 2014/15 season, American skiers achieved notable results (12 podium finishes, including eight victories by Lindsey Vonn) under his leadership. After only one season, he left the U.S. team (as announced in spring 2015) and became the personal coach of Lindsey Vonn during her comeback season following injury.
Upon returning to Switzerland, Abplanalp took over as coach of the Swiss women’s development (C) group in 2016. In the 2022/2023 season, he became a professional commentator and expert for women’s skiing on Swiss public television SRF, a role he held for the following three seasons. In April 2025, it was announced that he would return to Swiss-Ski, this time as head coach of the women’s speed group for the upcoming season.
Key Positions: Coach of the Swiss women’s speed team (2004–2012); coach of the Norwegian women’s speed team (2012–2014); head coach of the U.S. women’s speed team (2014–2015); personal coach of Lindsey Vonn during her comeback season (2015); coach of the Swiss women’s development team (from 2016); TV expert for SRF (2022–2025); head coach of the Swiss women’s speed team (from 2025).
Women’s National Teams and Famous Skiers He Coached
Throughout his career, Abplanalp has worked with numerous top alpine skiers. Among others, he worked with Lindsey Vonn — a downhill and super-G champion — guiding her comeback from injury in the 2015/2016 season. In the United States, in addition to Vonn, he coached Julia Mancuso, a multiple Olympic medalist. Under his leadership, American skiers Stacey Cook, Leanne Smith, Laurenne Ross, and Alice McKennis also reached podium finishes.
In addition to American stars, Abplanalp was part of the coaching staff around Slovenian skier Ilka Štuhec, a two-time world downhill champion. He also coached several prominent Swiss skiers such as Dominique Gisin, Fränzi Aufdenblatten, Nadja Styger, and Fabienne Suter. Furthermore, he is reported to have coached younger talented skiers and served as an advisor to Norwegian and American teams in the speed disciplines.
TV Appearances and Commentary Career
Since 2022, Abplanalp has worked as an expert commentator for ski races on Swiss television SRF. In the role of analyst and co-commentator, he appeared at numerous World Cup races, including the finals in Sun Valley (USA). In this role, he explained tactical and technical aspects of races to viewers and gained popularity among the Swiss sporting public. Given his extensive coaching experience, he is considered an experienced television expert in women’s skiing.
Age, Height, and Personal Information
Exact information about Stefan’s date of birth has not been publicly disclosed. According to available data, he was around 51 years old in 2025, meaning he is likely in his early fifties today. There is no reliable confirmation regarding his height or weight, as such personal details have not been published. It is also not publicly known whether he is married or has a family; Stefan Abplanalp is quite private when it comes to his personal life, although media previously reported on his relationship with a Norwegian skier. In general, personal details such as height, marital status, or children are not available in reliable sources.
Social Media
Stefan Abplanalp is active on social media, particularly on Instagram (@stefabplanalp). On his profile, he posts photos and videos from ski resorts, training sessions, and travels with the team. He has several thousand followers who follow his work and interesting moments from the world of alpine skiing. It is not known that he uses other platforms such as Twitter or Facebook professionally, but interested fans can most easily follow him via Instagram.
Public Interest and Search Intent
Stefan Abplanalp is not widely known in the sense of global mainstream media, but within skiing circles he is a recognized coach. Public interest in him increased primarily due to the announcement of his return to the Swiss national teams in 2025. Croatian and broader audiences sometimes search for his name after news on SRF or in sports media. Typical Google search queries include “Who is Stefan Abplanalp?”, “How old is he?”, or “What are his career results?” People are also interested in his connections with famous skiers (Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso, Ilka Štuhec) and his sporting achievements. Since his work is closely tied to specific disciplines and national teams, information about him can be scattered across multiple sports news articles and announcements, which can sometimes make online searches challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Stefan Abplanalp?
Stefan Abplanalp is a Swiss alpine skiing coach specializing in women’s speed disciplines. He is known for leading women’s ski national teams of various countries at major competitions. Throughout his career, he has coached the Swiss women’s team, the Norwegian women’s team, and the U.S. women’s speed team. He has also worked as a personal coach and professional commentator, making him a respected figure in the skiing world.
What are Stefan Abplanalp’s most important roles and achievements?
Abplanalp is best known for serving as head coach of women’s speed teams. Under his leadership, American skiers achieved significant success in 2015 — securing a total of 12 World Cup podiums, including eight victories by Lindsey Vonn. He also coached the Norwegian national team during some of its strongest seasons and worked as a coach and advisor within the Swiss national team. Additionally, he served as Lindsey Vonn’s personal coach during her comeback to racing, further strengthening his reputation as a skilled coach.
Which famous skiers has Stefan Abplanalp coached?
Among the skiers coached by Abplanalp are some of the most prominent names in the sport: American star Lindsey Vonn (multiple world and Olympic champion) and Julia Mancuso (four-time Olympic medalist). He also worked with Norwegian skier Lotte Smiseth Sejersted while leading the Norwegian team. He is known for coaching Swiss skiers from a golden generation — including Dominique Gisin, Fränzi Aufdenblatten, Nadja Styger, and Fabienne Suter. Additionally, he was part of the coaching staff around Slovenian skier Ilka Štuhec, who won world downhill titles with partial guidance from Abplanalp.
How old is Stefan Abplanalp?
The exact date of birth of Stefan Abplanalp has not been publicly disclosed. According to available sources, he was around 51 years old in 2025. Therefore, in 2026, he is presumed to be approximately 52 years old. A more precise year of birth has not been found in reliable sources.
Was Stefan Abplanalp a competitive skier?
There is no available information indicating that Abplanalp was a successful competitive alpine skier. His career has primarily focused on coaching and professional analysis. There are no records suggesting that he competed at international races; he is known mainly for his roles as a coach and commentator.
Where is Stefan Abplanalp currently (2026) and what is he doing?
Media reports have confirmed that from the 2025/26 season onward, Abplanalp returned to the Swiss national team as head coach of the women’s speed group. After working on television for SRF, he is now training Switzerland’s fastest female skiers. Therefore, he is currently engaged as a coach within the Swiss-Ski federation, preparing teams for World Cup races and championships. Alongside this, it is possible that he continues to share his expertise through occasional public appearances or educational activities, but his primary confirmed role is his return to coaching in Switzerland.
Does Stefan Abplanalp have social media profiles?
Yes. Abplanalp is active on Instagram under the username @stefabplanalp, where he informs followers about training sessions, races, and daily life with the team. He has several thousand followers. He does not appear to use Twitter or Facebook professionally, but Instagram is the platform he regularly uses to share insights from the skiing world.
Conclusion
Stefan Abplanalp is an important figure in the world of alpine skiing, primarily as an experienced coach in women’s speed disciplines and as a professional television commentator. Although he is not widely known outside skiing circles, his results and collaboration with stars such as Lindsey Vonn highlight him as a respected professional in his field. For the latest updates on his work, it is advisable to follow official announcements from the Swiss-Ski federation or SRF. Ski enthusiasts and sports followers can continue tracking Abplanalp’s career to learn about future successes of the Swiss women’s speed team under his leadership.