Val Gardena and the World Cup: “A dream that couldn’t be topped”

s+ collected the voices of the various protagonists. Among others, the Val Gardena ski aces Nadia Delago and Alex Vinatzer, who could still be there in eight years, have spoken out. For them it is clear: A World Cup on your own doorstep couldn't be topped.

“I’m extremely happy, this first step is an extremely important one,” says Nadia Delago . The speed specialist is at home just a few meters from the Saslong World Cup track. “I hope that in four years Val Gardena will be awarded the final World Cup. Will I still compete in World Cup races and then the World Cup in 4? It's still a long time until then, I would be 2029 years old, but if I stay fit, healthy and am still at the top in terms of performance - why not?"

Nadia Delago still wants to be there in 2029. © Pentaphoto

Talks about a “sporting dream that couldn’t be topped”. Alex Vinatzer. “There is nothing better for an athlete than a home World Championships,” says the slalom specialist from Sëlva/Wolkenstein. And further: “I will definitely still be there in 2029 if my health is right. I already have a possible slalom slope in mind.”

Also Val Gardena’s World Cup boss Rainer Senoner was overjoyed after the vote, which the Ladins clearly won 8:2 against Sestriere. “That was unbelievable for me at first. But it has shown that the 10-member board of the Italian winter sports association FISI believes in our project and that they are fully behind us. Receiving this great trust makes us very proud, but it is a huge responsibility.” At the same time, Senoner makes it clear: “If we fail at the first attempt, we will continue to fight to bring the title fights to Val Gardena in 1 or 2031.”

Roland Demetz, Mayor of Wolkenstein. © WERNER WERNER PHOTOGRAPHER

“We are proud that Val Gardena has been selected,” says the mayor of Sëlva/Wolkenstein, Roland Demetz . He was at the presentation in Milan yesterday: “We have the honor of being nominated for Italy. After 60 years, perhaps it is time for us to be able to host an event like this again - this time in a more sustainable way than was usual a few decades ago." The infrastructure already exists, and not much needs to be built: that's why the World Cup should be held in Val Gardena also makes sense. “That would be a highlight for all of South Tyrol.” But that hasn’t been decided yet – Demetz also knows that: “The big work is still to be done. The FIS must be convinced by 2024. This second hurdle is certainly the more complicated.”

“This news is certainly positive,” says the mayor of S. Cristina/St. Christina, Christoph Senoner. Now we have to wait and see - it will take some time before the final decision is made: "The road is still long." The tourism organizations in the valley are certainly happy about the decision, but some people are also afraid of the traffic that comes with major events. “But I say: Other valleys have never had a World Cup and also have a lot of traffic.” It is not just major events that are responsible for increased traffic on the roads: “Perhaps the World Cup is an opportunity to solve our traffic problems in general.”

“As the venue for the men’s ski world cup, Val Gardena has a great tradition and charisma. We hope this helps bring the World Cup to the valley. But we still need a lot of patience,” says the Ladin regional council Daniel Alfreider convinced.

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Val Gardena and the World Cup: “A dream that couldn’t be topped”

It has been clear since Thursday: Italy's applicant for the 2029 World Ski Championships is Val Gardena. So will the international title fights take place on South Tyrolean soil? This won't be decided until 2024, but there is already great euphoria in the Saslong valley.

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