Alex Silbernagl (middle) and David Castlunger (right) on the FIS podium in Ahrntal.

The Raiffeisen Grand Prix puts in a double shift

Last week was a busy week for Alpine ski racers. There were no less than nine races at the Raiffeisen Grand Prix alone. The Marlene Cup also continued. At the national level, the young talents delivered and achieved top placings in abundance.

21 January 2025

From: pm

The racers of the men's national squad competed in two FIS slaloms in the Ahrntal at the beginning of the week, which also count towards the Gran Prix Italia Junior ranking. In the first race, Alex Silbernagl won the U18 category, while David Castlunger came second. In the U21 category, Jakob Franzelin was the fastest Azzurro. The day's victory, however, went to Matteo Canins from Val Gardena. 24 hours later, David Castlunger and Alex Silbernagl swapped positions in the U18 ranking, while Jakob Franzelin was once again the fastest athlete from Italy in the U21 category.

The national squad racers took part in two slaloms in Gressoney for the Gran Premio Italia Junior ranking. Nora Pernstich took third and second place in the U21 category. Meanwhile, two FIS giant slaloms were on the program in Courmayeur. Victoria Klotz from RG Wipptal took part in the first race and won both junior rankings (U21, U18) with fifth place overall.

Victoria Klotz caused a stir.

The Marlene Cup continued on the Bamby-1 slope, where a giant slalom was held. The victory in the women's U21 age group went to the Ultner state squad athlete Selina Trafoier, who completed the two runs in a time of 1.39,19:1.40,04 minutes. Second place went to Valentina Fill (Kronplatz Ski Team), who was only one hundredth of a second slower. Amelie Kinzner from RG Wipptal (XNUMX:XNUMX) completed the podium in this category.

Schölzhorn in the U18 lead

In the under-18s, national squad racer Ivy Schölzhorn (RG Wipptal) won with the fourth fastest time overall of 1.39,33:1.39,46. Second place went to another national squad athlete, Hanna Hofer (ASC Sarntal/1.39,80:1.38,25), while Sophie Schweigl (Kronplatz Ski Team/XNUMX:XNUMX) took third place. The best time of the day for the women in this national FIS Junior race was achieved by Canadian Charlotte Boies (XNUMX:XNUMX), who was not counted towards the Marlene Cup.

The U18 podium with Hanna Hofer, Ivy Schölzhorn and Sophie Schweigl (from left).

In the men's U21 category, victory went to Alois Köllemann Baldini (Vinschger Oberland/1.37,27). Second place in the Marlene Cup ranking went to Jan Plunger (Alpe di Siusi), who lost 0,43 seconds to Köllemann Baldini. Third place went to Max Clara from the Kronplatz Ski Team/1.38,01). The U18 category was won by national squad athlete Alex Silbernagl (Alpe di Siusi/1.38,26), ahead of Alberto Davare (Ski Team Altabadia/1.38,45) and Christian Kostner (SC Gröden/1.38,88). The fastest time in the men's category was achieved by Jakob Franzelin (1.36,49), who is a member of the Carabinieri sports group.

24 hours later, another national FIS junior race was held on the same slope. Here, national squad athlete Nadine Trocker achieved the second fastest overall time and was the best U18 racer. Selina Trafoier came third in the overall ranking. Alberto Davare from Ski Team Altabadia won the young men's race.

Nimble legs are required

The race series for alpine skiers in the U14 (born in 2011 and 2012) and U16 (born in 2009 and 2010) age groups continued last weekend. It was an intense weekend, as the young talents competed in a giant slalom in the 3 Zinnen Dolomites region, in Val Gardena, and on the Rittner Horn. The results are below.


giant slalom Innichen
U14 female: 1. Maya Rieder (ASV TZ Jochtal) 2.01,03, 2. Carolin Wolfsgruber (Kronplatz Skiteam) 2.02,54, 3. Franzi Baumgartner (Kronplatz Skiteam) 2.03,05
U14 male: 1. Luca Davare (Ski Team Altabadia) 1.59,94, 2. Damian Winkler (Kronplatz Skiteam) 1.59,98, 3. Leone Contro (Ski Team Altabadia) 2.01,04
U16 female: 1. Alenah Taschler (Gsiesertal ASV) 1.53,55, 2. Isabel Wisthaler (Taisten Raiffeisen) 1.55,32, 3. Petra Dander (ASV TZ Jochtal) 1.55,60
U16 male: 1. Simon Auer (3 Zinnen Dolomites) 1.52,43, 2. Manuel Pedevilla (Ski Team Altabadia) 1.54,26, 3. Matei-Alexandru Toma (Gsiesertal ASV) 1.54,68

Rittner Horn giant slalom
U14 female: 1. Letizia Sophie Wenter Heiss (ASC Sarntal/2.17,49), 2. Anna Theresa Henz (Riffian-Kuens/2.17,72), 3. Natalie Morandell (SC Kaltern/2.19,87)
U14 male: 1. Samuel Prantl (SC Ulten/2.15,91), 2. Fabian Stuefer (ASC Sarntal/2.19,32), 3. Tommy Pichler (Skiteam Passeiertal/2.20,42)
U16 female: 1. Eva Schrott (2.17,73), 2. Theresa Unterweger (both Riffian-Kuens/2.19,43), 3. Amelie Telser (ASV Prad/2.19,76)
U16 male: 1. Philipp Fischnaller (ASC Sarntal/2.12,29), 2. Dennis Verdorfer (ASV Tscherms/2.12,81), 3. Julian Plieger (ASC Sarntal/2.13,46)

giant slalom Val Gardena
U14 female: 1. Gloria Kostner (1.53,66), 2. Lea Putzer (1.54,20), 3. Anna Oberhofer (1.54,73/all SC Gröden)
U14 male: 1. Stefan Prinoth (1.52,56), 2. Mattia Vinatzer (1.52,97), 3. Lukas Rabanser (all SC Gröden/1.52,98)
U16 female: 1. Carmen Gschliesser (RG Wipptal/1.54,24), 2. Elisa Plunger (Seiser Alm/1.54,94), 3. Magdalena Stofner (ASV Welschnofen/1.57,23)
U16 male: 1. Matthias Mahlknecht (SC Gröden/1.49,01), 2. Julian Martinelli (Ski Team Latemar/1.50,33), 3. Samuel Gruber (Seiser Alm/1.51,14)

"Piedi veloci" is the name of a new competition format that the Italian winter sports association FISI has been running for juniors for several seasons. As the name suggests, it requires quick feet. The competition is similar to a slalom. A total of six races of this new discipline were held in Ulten, Pichl Gsies and Deutschnofen as part of the Raiffeisen Grand Prix. The results are below.

Ulten, Race 1
U14 female: 1. Letizia Sophie Wenter Heiss (ASC Sarntal/37,98), 2. Natalie Morandell (SC Kaltern/39,81), 3. Eva Sagmeister (Vinschger Oberland/39,97)
U14 male: 1. Samuel Prantl (SC Ulten/37,04), 2. Fabian Stuefer (ASC Sarntal/37,76), 3. Simon Staffler (SC Ulten/38,27)
U16 female: 1. Eva Schrott (37,94), 2. Theresa Unterweger (both Riffian-Kuens/38,04), 3. Madeleine Major (ASC Eggen/38,80)
U16 male: 1. Philipp Fischnaller (35,80), 2. Julian Plieger (both ASC Sarntal/35,93), 3. Dennis Verdorfer (ASV Tscherms/36,16)

Ulten, Race 2
U14 female: 1. Letizia Sophie Wenter Heiss (ASC Sarntal/38,90), 2. Marie Unterthurner (Riffian-Kuens/40,01), 3. Natalie Morandell (SC Kaltern/40,44)
U14 male: 1. Samuel Prantl (SC Ulten/37,30), 2. Florian Thaler (ASC Schenna/39,31), 3. Fabian Stuefer (ASC Sarntal/39,34)
U16 female: 1. Nina Angerer (ASC Ortler/36,46), 2. Eva Schrott (Riffian-Kuens/37,15), 3. Klara Weger (ASC Sarntal/37,26)
U16 male: 1. Philipp Fischnaller (ASC Sarntal/33,53), 2. Dennis Verdorfer (ASV Tscherms/34,89), 3. Timmy Telser (ASV Prad/30,04)

Pichl Gsies, Race 1
U14 female: 1. Mia Molling (ASV TZ Jochtal/41,04), 2. Clara Willeit (Kronplatz Skiteam/42,04), 3. Maya Rieder (ASV TZ Jochtal/42,15)
U14 male: 1. Luca Davare (Ski Team Altabadia/40,22), 2. Moritz Wenger (Skiclub Ahrntal/41,49), 3. Elias Rudiferia (Ski Team Altabadia/42,08)
U16 female: 1. Alenah Taschler (Gsiesertal ASV/37,74), 2. Amy Happacher (3 Zinnen Dolomites/38,84), 3. Ida Gatterer (Kronplatz Skiteam/38,89)
U16 male: 1. Matei-Alexandru Toma (Gsiesertal ASV/36,21), 2. Niklas Happacher (3 Zinnen Dolomites/38,12), 3. Maximilian Tasser (Skiclub Ahrntal/38,22)

Pichl Gsies, Race 2
U14 female: 1. Mia Molling (42,74), 2. Maya Rieder (both ASV TZ Jochtal/43,58), 3. Clara Willeit (Kronplatz Skiteam/43,92)
U14 male: 1. Luca Davare (Ski Team Altabadia/41,63), 2. Moritz Wenger (Skiclub Ahrntal/43,47), 3. Elias Rudiferia (Ski Team Altabadia/44,40)
U16 female: 1. Alenah Taschler (Gsiesertal ASV/39,54), 2. Amy Happacher (3 Zinnen Dolomites/40,14), 3. Petra Dander (ASV TZ Jochtal/40,52)
U16 male: 1. Noah Gasteiger (37,61), 2. Matei-Alexandru Toma (both Gsiesertal ASV/37,82), 3. Simon Auer (3 Zinnen Dolomites/38,84)

Deutschnofen, Race 1
U14 female: 1. Emma Oberhuber (RG Wipptal/46,09), 2. Hannah Mahlknecht (46,47), 3. Julia Plunger (both Seiser Alm/47,60)
U14 male: 1. Simon Martinelli (Ski Team Latemar/43,44), 2. Mattia Vinatzer (SC Gröden/44,40), 3. Iven Plank (ASV Welschnofen/46,24)
U16 female: 1. Paula Baier (RG Wipptal/42,28), 2. Elisa Plunger (Seiser Alm/42,47), 3. Carmen Gschliesser (RG Wipptal/43,77)
U16 male: 1. Matthias Mahlknecht (39,17), 2. Valentin Petritsch (both SC Gröden/40,45), 3. Rafel Rabanser (Seiser Alm/40,74)

Deutschnofen, Race 2
U14 female: 1. Hannah Mahlknecht (Seiser Alm/44,30), 2. Emma Oberhuber (RG Wipptal/45,07), 3. Anna Oberhofer (SC Gröden/45,09)
U14 male: 1. Mattia Vinatzer (SC Gröden/41,53), 2. Simon Martinelli (Ski Team Latemar/41,71), 3. Stefan Prinoth (SC Gröden/43,72)
U16 female: 1. Elisa Plunger (Seiser Alm/44,58), 2. Paula Baier (44,64), 3. Carmen Gschliesser (both RG Wipptal/46,55)
U16 male: 1. Matthias Mahlknecht (42,03), 2. Valentin Petritsch (both SC Gröden/43,06), 3. Simon Kaser (Seiser Alm/43,69)

Masters race in Obereggen

As part of the 77th Bolzano City Trophy, the Raiffeisen South Tyrol Masters Cup continued in Obereggen on the Oberholz slope in the middle of last week. Around 120 racers took part. Here is an overview of the category winners.

Giovani-Senior female: Alexia Tabarelli (ASV Auer) 1.07,16
Giovani-Senior male: Martin Schmuck (Seiser Alm) 1.03,41
Master A male: Luca Tiezza (Ski Team Altabadia) 1.03,66
Master B male: Christian Oberthaler (SC Ulten) 1.06,78
Master C female: Mirjam Gschnitzer (RG Wipptal) 1.07,49