Nadine Trocker and Ivy Schölzhorn.

Several U18 Italian champions from South Tyrol

The South Tyrolean alpine skiing season came to an end this weekend. And it also brought the South Tyrolean Winter Sports Association new U18 Italian champions: Arianna Putzer, Nadine Trocker, and Alex Silbernagl were crowned national champions at the title competitions in Sestriere. Meanwhile, the postponed Marlene Cup final took place in Ratschings, as did the tri-national competition between Bavaria and North Tyrol in the Schnals Alpin Arena.

14 April 2025

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At the U18 Italian Championships in Sestriere, one South Tyrolean athlete in particular made a big splash. State squad athlete Alex Silbernagl (Seiser Alm Ski Team) won the national title in both the Super-G last Monday and the Slalom last Wednesday. In the Super-G, Silbernagl relegated Ettore Bussei Cannone and Simone Moschini to the lower podium places, while South Tyrolean Noah Gamper (state squad/Cermes) finished fifth. And in the Slalom, another South Tyrolean, Valentin Sparber (3rd/RG Wipptal), climbed onto the podium. Lorenzo Cuzzupe took second place, and Alberto Davare (Alta Badia) from Val Gardena finished fifth.

But Silbernagl isn't the only U18 Italian champion. Nadine Trocker (national squad/Seiser Alm Ski Team) was also unstoppable in the giant slalom, taking the win ahead of Marta Giaretta. Ivy Schölzhorn (national squad/RG Wipptal) also had reason to celebrate, climbing onto the podium in third place. Arianna Putzer also delivered a strong performance in the slalom, which was held in Claviere. The young Val Gardena native secured victory ahead of Vittoria Rossi and Emma Bastita thanks to an outstanding second run. Trocker, meanwhile, finished sixth. No South Tyrolean podium finishes were achieved in the men's giant slalom or the women's super-G; the best placings went to Davare (4th) and Putzer (5th).

Feichter and Pernstich celebrate at the Marlene Cup final

On Saturday, the U18 and U21 athletes traveled to Ratschings, where the Marlene Cup's giant slalom, organized by the RG Wipptal, was held as the grand finale. In perfect conditions, Nora Pernstich (Überetsch) and Jonas Feichter (Gsiesertal) took the win in the U21 category. Pernstich left Selina Trafoier (Ulten) and Valentina Fill (Kronplatz Skiteam) behind, while Feichter relegated Alois Köllemann Baldini (Vinschger Oberland) and Maximilian Wolfsgruber (Kronplatz Skiteam) to second and third place. In the U18 category, Alex Silbernagl was once again unstoppable. The newly crowned Italian champion won ahead of Noah Gamper and Alberto Davare, while Ivy Schölzhorn celebrated in the women's category ahead of Arianna Putzer and Sophie Schweigl.

Nora Pernstich had already shone earlier this week when she won an FIS slalom on Alpe Cermis. On Sunday, the TZ Überetsch-Unterland skier followed up with another victory at a national junior race in Pampeago, taking the giant slalom ahead of Arianna Putzer.

Three-country comparison dominated by Bavaria and South Tyrol

Last weekend, the Schnals Alpin Arena was a venue for international and high-class competition. The U16 tri-national competition between Bavaria and North Tyrol was on the agenda, and the participating athletes delivered worthy performances in mixed conditions—shining sunshine on Saturday and rainy Sunday. The Bavarian and South Tyrolean ski racers performed particularly well, with the Germans ultimately winning the team competition by a narrow margin over the South Tyroleans.

The three-country competition took place in the Schnalstal Valley. © Gregor Sieder

Two giant slaloms were held on Saturday and two slaloms on Sunday, which then combined into a combined ranking. In the young women's giant slalom, Nicole Piccolruaz was unstoppable, winning thanks to an outstanding first run ahead of Carla Oberhuber (Bavaria) and Alenah Taschler from ASC Gsiesertal. In the boys' category, Manuel Horvath (Bavaria) won ahead of Philipp Fischnaller (Sarntal) and Elias Mund (Bavaria). The slalom then went to two Bavarian athletes: in the women's race, Josefa Lapper prevailed ahead of her compatriot Lucie Uhl and Alenah Taschler from Gsiesertal. In the men's race, Ben Horvath was unbeatable, winning ahead of Severin Wieser from North Tyrol and Lukas Pfanzelt from Bavaria. Taschler won the combined ranking, and Piccolruaz came third. In the men’s competition, Matthias Mahlknecht from Val Gardena finished third behind Ben Horvath and Pfanzelt.

Maria Gasslitter secures a World Cup starting place for next season

Aside from her full alpine skiing schedule, freeskier Maria Gasslitter also had the European Cup finals in Corvatsch on her radar. And she made two podium finishes. The athlete from the Val Gardena/Gröden Ski Club won the slopestyle competition ahead of Kiho Sugawara of Japan and Nour El Khazen of Switzerland, and finished second in the big air competition, behind Sugawara and ahead of El Khazen. This also secured the overall rankings in the slopestyle and big air disciplines of the European Cup, securing a spot in the 2025/26 World Cup season.