World Cup comeback: Maurberger is back in action

No sooner have the slalom skiers escaped the icy conditions of Levi than the next challenge awaits: This coming weekend, Hochgurgl invites participants to another fast-paced dance through the slalom gates. Among them: a man whom some had already written off.

18 November 2025

From: fop

Rest? Not a chance. That's the motto for the world's best slalom skiers, who, less than a week after their first race of the season in Finland, will already be competing again – this time in the Ötztal Valley. The men will race their slalom on Saturday, followed by the women on Sunday. The start times are 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (live in SportNews-Ticker).

For Italy's men, the race marks a comeback: Simon Maurberger gets another chance to prove himself. The 30-year-old from Ahrntal hasn't been in the starting gate since last January at the legendary Night Race in Schladming – it was his 111th and, until now, last World Cup race.

Maurberger's hard road back

Since Maurberger was dropped from the Italian national team due to a lack of top results, he prepared for the season with the Global Racing Team. And with success, because his strong performances at the FIS slaloms in Pontresina earned him a place on the World Cup team for Gurgl.

Tobias Kastlunger aims to build on his strong performance in Levi. © APA/afp / RONI REKOMAA

Also confirmed for the team are Alex Vinatzer, Tobias Kastlunger (who finished twelfth after a strong showing in Levi), returning skier Tommaso Sala, and Matteo Canins. The day after the men's race, seven Italian skiers will tackle the women's slalom: Giorgia Collomb, Lara Della Mea, Emilia Mondinelli, Beatrice Sola, Alice Pazzaglia, Giulia Valleriani, and Anette Belfrond. No skiers from South Tyrol will be competing in the Ötztal Valley.