The first snow is on its way and, for cross-country ski, biathlon and winter sports clubs, the 2026-2027 season has already begun: the national race calendar opened in mid-September and runs through to March. In the wake of the Milano-Cortina Games, beginner sessions are filling up and memberships are rising again. Autumn is therefore the moment to lock in your club's kit — from sublimated bibs to technical tights — before lead times catch you out.
The 2026-2027 winter season has already started for clubs
It's tempting to think everything happens once the snow falls. In reality, the logistics of a Nordic ski or biathlon club are settled in autumn. The national race calendar opens in mid-September, the first cups follow as soon as winter arrives, and every skier needs their kit before the first on-snow camps. Add the post-Olympic effect: a season following a Winter Games always brings a wave of new members, especially among juniors. A club that welcomes those newcomers properly — with a genuine team identity rather than a mismatched assortment — keeps them far more easily.
What do you need to kit out a cross-country ski or biathlon club?
Unlike an indoor sport, winter calls for several layers and genuinely technical pieces. Here is the backbone of a coherent kit:
- Tights or a cross-country race suit in a fitted cut — the core piece for both training and competition.
- A long-sleeve technical top that manages sweat during hard efforts in the cold.
- A windproof or softshell jacket for warming up, waiting at the shooting range and windy days.
- Sublimated race bibs in the club's colours and numbers, clearly legible on the track.
- The accessories that make the difference: arm and leg warmers, neck gaiter, headband — matched to the kit.
- A team training outfit, the one worn at the club house and on the club's social feeds.
At FLARE, these pieces exist in the sublimated ski bib and fitted-cut tights range, customisable from a single piece, with no minimum order.
Why sublimation is ideal for the cold
Cold, damp and repeated friction (skis, poles, backpack, rifle in biathlon) are the worst enemies of an applied marking. A logo sitting on the surface cracks and peels over time. Full sublimation works differently: the colour penetrates the fibre. The design becomes one with the fabric — it doesn't flake, doesn't crack in the cold and doesn't stiffen the material, which stays supple and breathable. Unlike heat-applied lettering, whose limits show quickly on technical stretch pieces, sublimation allows gradients, multiple logos and sponsors across the whole surface, with no added thickness and no extra cost.
Sizing a team that dresses in layers
The hallmark of winter: you layer up. Tights sit close to the body, while a jacket needs room to go over a mid-layer. Take measurements early and calmly, rather than in the rush of a first camp. FLARE offers children's sizes (ages 4-14) up to adult 3XL, enough to kit out the youngest and the veterans in a single order. The size guide sets out the measurements to take for each cut. A tip from the field: have families fill in a sizing sheet in early autumn — it saves last-minute swaps once the snow is already down.
Funding the season: small runs, volume pricing and sponsors
A Nordic club rarely has a football club's numbers. The good news: production starts from a single piece, and pricing scales down as the order grows — handy when you group coaches, racers and recreational members into one run. Another under-used lever: local sponsoring. On sublimated fabric you can add as many partner logos as you like, with no per-logo surcharge. A resort, a sports shop, a village business: every panel helps fund the kit. Finally, pairing a top and bottom from the same sport into a kit unlocks a dedicated discount.
Plan ahead: the right time to order is autumn
Technical winter pieces take a little longer than standard jerseys and don't fall under the express service. The process stays simple and framed: a proof is sent within 24 to 48 hours (three rounds included), nothing goes into production without your approval, then allow around four weeks of manufacturing and delivery in six working days across Europe. In plain terms: to have the kit before the first on-snow camps, you launch the project in autumn, not in December. The online configurator and quote let you visualise the outfit and secure your slot right now.
Key takeaways
- The 2026-2027 Nordic season is prepared in autumn: the calendar opened in mid-September.
- A coherent kit combines tights/race suit, technical top, jacket, sublimated bibs and accessories.
- Full sublimation doesn't crack in the cold and carries unlimited logos and sponsors at no extra cost.
- Production from a single piece, sizes from children's 4-14 to adult 3XL, volume pricing and a top-plus-bottom kit discount.
- Technical pieces are outside the express service: proof within 24-48 h then ~4 weeks of manufacturing — order early.
Frequently asked questions
When should you order a cross-country club's kit for winter 2026-2027?
From autumn. Technical winter pieces don't qualify for the express service: between approving the proof, around four weeks of manufacturing and six working days of delivery in Europe, aim to order in September-October to be equipped before the first on-snow camps.
Can you customise a biathlon or cross-country race bib?
Yes. The sublimated bib carries the club's colours, logo and numbers, printed into the fibre so they stay legible and resist cold and friction. You can add several sponsors at no extra cost.
Do you have to order a large quantity?
No. Production starts from a single piece, which suits small Nordic clubs. Pricing simply becomes more favourable as the order grows; grouping coaches, racers and recreational members into one run is the best way to optimise the budget.