ISSS 2026 Pyeongchang Newsletter #4

Welcome to the
26th International Congress on Snowsports Trauma & Safety
ISSS 2026 Pyeongchang

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Welcome back to the ISSS 2026 monthly newsletter series! Here’s what’s new this month:

This prestigious event, with a 70-year tradition, brings together experts from around the globe—medical professionals, sports scientists, engineers, ski equipment industry leaders, legal experts, and ski resort operators—for in-depth discussions and collaboration on snow sports safety and performance.

We will keep you updated monthly with further information about the scientific program, keynote speakers, social activities, and travel guidance. We sincerely hope you will join us in Pyeongchang for this unique event.

With warm regards,

Organizing Committee, ISSS 2026 Pyeongchang

🗓️ Congress at a Glance

📍 Venue: MONA Yongpyong Resort, Pyeongchang, Korea

📆 Dates: March 8 (Sun) – 13 (Fri), 2026

🌐 Visit our website: www.isss2026.com

🌐 Contact us: info@isss2026.com

📅 Important Date:

* Early-bird registration until Jan 31, 2026 (Regular from Feb 2, 2026)

🔹 abstract submission open on September 1, 2025.
🔹 Template available via our website. Questions? Email abstracts@isss2026.com.

Key Topics

Epidemiology
Sports Biomechanics
Snow sports medicine and trauma management
Mechanism of injury and prevention
Rehabilitation and return-to-sport protocols
Equipment safety and performance
Ski area management & race safety
Human science for snow sports safety

🏂 How to Get from Incheon Airport to Mona Yongpyong Resort (Winter Travel Tips!)

If you’re planning a ski or snowboard trip in Korea, Mona Yongpyong Resort is one of the most famous destinations. But first things first—how do you actually get there from Incheon International Airport (ICN)? Don’t worry, here’s a simple guide with all the best options and a few insider tips!

1. Airport Railroad + KTX + Shuttle (Reliable Year-Round Option)

If the airport bus isn’t running, don’t worry! The train route is always available:
AREX (Airport Railroad) from Incheon Airport → Seoul Station (~1 hr)
KTX high-speed train from Seoul Station → Jinbu Station (~1 hr 40 min)
Shuttle bus or taxi from Jinbu Station → Mona Yongpyong Resort (~30 min)

💰 Cost: Around ₩25,000 (USD 20) total
🕒 Travel time: 3–3.5 hours

👉 Tip: From Jinbu Station, taxis are fast and convenient if you’re traveling in a group (about ₩20,000).

2. Renting a Car (For Adventurers)

If you like flexibility, rent a car directly at Incheon Airport:
Driving time: 3–3.5 hours
Route: Just type “Mona Yongpyong” in Google Maps or Naver Map
Be careful: Korean winter roads can be icy!

👉 Tip: Always rent with snow tires or chains in winter. Also, make a stop at a highway rest area for some local snacks (try hot fishcake skewers, walnut pastries, or instant noodles 🍜).

✨ Extra Travel Tips for Foreign Visitors

📱 Download Naver Map or Kakao Map (Google Maps doesn’t work well in Korea).

🛄 Some companies offer luggage delivery services directly from the airport to the resort—very handy if you have ski gear.

🍜 Don’t miss trying snacks at Korean highway rest stops—they’re part of the fun road trip experience.

💰 Travel Grant for students

ISSS 2026 Travel Grant Application
The International Society for Snowsports Safety (ISSS) is pleased to offer a limited number of travel grants to support participation in the upcoming ISSS Conference in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.

Eligibility & Purpose
These grants are intended to help students, early-career researchers, and professionals with limited financial resources attend the conference. The aim is to encourage broad international participation and to foster knowledge exchange on snow sports safety, injury prevention, and risk management.
Travel grant with 3000$ which will be used with 500 or 1000$ grants.

[download application_form]

info@isss2026.com

📸 Featured This Month: “Faces of ISSS”

🎤 This month, we remember :

👨‍⚕️ Carl Ettlinger

A founding member of the committee known today as ASTM F-27 Committee on Snow Skiing. Many of his papers served to guide and inform the International Society for Skiing Safety (ISSS), a global, multidisciplinary institution that advances safety issues and injury care in snowsports through education, research and development in all related fields.

🕯 In loving memory.
A tribute by PSIA Alpine Team member Heidi Ettlinger shared

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Aleix VIDAL

A valued member of our community who passed away last December. His dedication and spirit continue to inspire us.

🕯 In loving memory.
A tribute by Dr. Bernat ESCODA shared

🎤 Meet the keynote Speaker :

👨‍⚕️ Pierre Jean Arnoux

Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales
Marseille Université / Université Gustave Eiffel
Marseille
FRANCE

👨‍⚕️ Rick Greenwald, Ph.d

New Hampshire, USA

👨‍⚕️ Hideo Matsumoto, MD, PhD

Japan Sports Medicine Foundation, Tokyo JAPAN
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University
Professor and Chairman, Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University

👨‍⚕️ Hideyuki Koga, MD, PhD

Prefessor
Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine
Graduate school of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo JAPAN

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Lars Engebretsen

Professor emeritus
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Oslo University Hospital, Oslo-Norway
Chair of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

🏔️ Why Pyeongchang?

❄️ Home of the 2018 Winter Olympics
🚅 High-speed train access (2 hrs from Seoul)
🏨 Premium ski resort accommodation
🎎 Authentic Korean culture and hospitality
🏞️ Easy access to the Daekwanryeong Mountains for hiking, skiing, and sightseeing

🏂 Social Program Highlights:

o Opening Welcome Party
o Ski Day with BBQ
o Presidential Dinner & Korean Cultural Night
o Gala Dinner & Closing Ceremony
o Ski Mountaineering Mornings

🏞️ Official tour : Explore Woljeongsa Temple

Just a short trip from Pyeongchang, Woljeongsa Temple offers a calm and scenic escape.

Enjoy:

🌲 Woljeongsa museum