Marta Bassino was disqualified. © Pentaphoto

Disqualified: Turmoil surrounding Marta Bassino

While Federica Brignone put on another big show in Åre on Saturday, there was a lot of excitement surrounding her teammate Marta Bassino.

March 08, 2025

From: det

Marta Bassino, the 2023 Super-G World Champion, is one of the great enigmas of the skiing world this year. She never got going all winter, only managed four top-10 finishes and never really came close to the podium. For an athlete who is a two-time world champion and has also won the giant slalom ranking, this is a bitter disappointment.

Somehow, what happened on Saturday in Åre fits the 29-year-old Italian's winter quite well. After the first run of the giant slalom, Bassino was in 14th place, but she was not allowed to start in the final. The reason: Bassino was disqualified.

Marta Bassino was disqualified. © APA/afp / GEIR OLSEN

When checking the material after the first run, the FIS officials found that the fluorine level on her skis was too high. Fluorine is a chemical element that improves gliding on snow, but poses health and environmental risks - and that is why the FIS sets clear limits for it, which Bassino exceeded.

A true epidemic season

As a result, the seven-time World Cup winner was not allowed to take part in the second round. This is another bitter piece of news, as Bassino will miss out on qualifying for the World Cup final in giant slalom. A hard blow for the skier from Cuneo, who has achieved 20 of her 30 World Cup podium places in the RTL. It is and will remain a plague season for Marta Bassino.

The mood was completely different for her teammate Federica Brignone, who won in Åre on Saturday and reaches for the big crystal ball.