THE PISTE LAUNCHES TO BRING FENCING FANS CLOSER TO THE SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT AND THE RACE TO LA28
LONDON: 23 September 2026
Today marks the official launch of The Piste (www.the-piste.com) - a brand-new dedicated digital news platform focused on senior elite international fencing and the high-stakes journey toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Created by former international fencer turned lead broadcaster Karim Bashir, the platform is designed to offer fans a fresh, in-depth perspective on the international circuit while making the complex world of elite fencing accessible to a global audience.
Speaking about the launch, Founder Karim Bashir said:
"This passion project has been over two years in the making. It is designed to give fencing fans a new perspective on what happens on the international circuit, while opening the complex and beautiful world of our sport to new audiences. Our focus will be squarely on the senior international circuit, and starting at the end of April, we will deliver live, event-by-event coverage and updates on the Race to LA28 across all six weapons."
Unofficial, Impartial, and Complementary Coverage
Designed to complement the official media output of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), The Piste will publish detailed reports, tactical breakdowns and results summaries from every major senior stop on the international calendar.
"As an unofficial news service, our goal is to provide factual, transparent, and impartial updates from every single event," explained Bashir. "While we will deliver honest insights and analytical opinions, all official results and data naturally remain subject to formal ratification by the FIE."
To showcase the platform's standard of reporting, full comprehensive event reports from every senior World Cup, Grand Prix, Zonal Championship and World Championship from the past season are available to read completely free of charge.
Exclusive Launch Interviews: "In The Call Room"
Alongside event reporting, The Piste launches with the debut of its flagship interview series, In The Call Room, featuring two exclusive video interviews with major figures in international foil:
Alex Choupenitch (CZE): The newly crowned Men's Foil World Champion breaks down his historic gold medal run in Hong Kong, his 15–2 final masterclass and life back home in Czechia.
Maestro Greg Massialas (USA): The legendary U.S. Men's Foil National Coach offers an unprecedented look inside the American NCAA-to-national team pipeline, managing the LA28 selection process and his plans after 2028.
"I intend to interview as many elite athletes, coaches and fencing luminaries as I possibly can," said Bashir. "Launching with these first two feature interviews fills me with pride. I truly believe they alone are worth the price of admission!"
A Sustainable Model for the Fencing Community
Operating under Bashir’s sports communications agency, Catch Sport, The Piste is offered via an accessible subscription model to ensure the platform remains self-sustaining throughout the Olympic cycle.
"This is very much my baby, and I have poured immense time, energy, and personal investment into creating it," Bashir noted. "It cannot be a drain on company resources, so it is being offered via a subscription priced at a point where I hope everyone sees genuine value."
Looking ahead, Bashir emphasises a long-term commitment to keeping Olympic stories alive between Games:
"Sports like fencing require constant, year-round exposure to keep their stories alive throughout the entire four-year cycle. The long-term success of this project is in the hands of the fencing community. If subscription levels allow us to keep this project cost-neutral, every single penny of profit will be reinvested directly back into enhancing the service for future Olympic cycles."
Subscription Options & How to Join
Accessing The Piste is simple, affordable, and flexible:
Annual Pass — £4.99/year: Unlocks complete, unrestricted access to every event report, analytical recap and video interview published across the entire season.
Monthly Pass — £0.99/month: Perfect for fans looking to test the service for 30 days before committing to the full plan.
Sign up today at www.the-piste.com and follow The Piste on Instagram and Facebook for real-time updates from the pistes around the globe.
