New faces in the national ski squad

Both FISI South Tyrol's head of skiing, Christian Thoma, and the two head coaches, Enrico Vicenzi for the boys and Tizian Gabrielli for the women, will remain in their positions. Rightly so, as the results of last season demonstrate. Strong performances in the various competition classes culminated in a swathe of medals at the Italian Youth Championships at the end of the season.

Led by Trentino native Enrico Vicenzi, the national men's team for the 2025/26 season consists of nine ski racers. Also included in the squad are David Castlunger (born 2007/Ski Team Alta Badia/from La Villa), Max Clara (2005/Ski Team Kronplatz/San Vigilio di Marebbe), Jonas Feichter (2006/ASC Gsiesertal/Taisten), Noah Gamper (2007/Ski Club Tscherms/Marling), Luis Schuster (2007/Ski Team Kronplatz/Rasen), Lukas Sieder (2005/RG Wipptal/Freienfeld), and Alex Silbernagl (2007/Seiser Alm Ski Team/Kastelruth). New additions include Alois Köllemann (2006/ASV Vinschger Oberland/St. Valentin an der Heide) and Christian Kostner (2008/Schi Club Gherdeina/St. Christina). Five of them, namely Castlunger, Clara, Gamper, Köllemann, and Silbernagl, are also members of the FISI Observatory Group, meaning their development is being closely monitored by the Italian Winter Sports Federation. Vicenzi has an experienced coach, Daniel Dorigo, as his assistant.

Vicenzi and Dorigo traveled with their protégés to Hintertux (Austria) and Les 2 Alpes (France) in May and June, and then focused on physical preparation in the summer. The coaching team was supported by Ivonne Malsiner, who provided the ski stars with nutritional input. At the end of August, they'll head to the indoor ski center in Wittenburg (Germany), before heading to the training camp in Ushuaia in the Argentinian Andes at the end of September.

Three new athletes in the women’s category In the women's competition, Truden coach Tizian Gabrielli and his assistant Florian Runggaldier are also welcoming a few new faces to their eight-person squad. These are Hanna Bachmann (2007/SC Roen Tramin/Tramin), Sophie Schweigl (2008/Kronplatz Ski Team/Olang), and Alenah Taschler (2009/ASC Gsiesertal/Gsies). Eva Sophia Blasbichler (2006/RG Wipptal/Brixen), Nora Damian (2007/Seiser Alm Ski Team/Tiers), Leonie Girtler (2006/RG Wipptal/Mauls), Hanna Hofer (2007/Amateur Sports Club Sarntal/Sarntal), and Nora Pernstich (2006/TZ Überetsch-Unterland/Aldein) are also still in the lineup. The national women's ski team. © Harald Wisthaler

Gabrielli and Runggaldier have also long since begun intensive season preparations with their "girls." A training camp in Hintertux was scheduled for May, followed by Les 2 Alpes in June, and a fitness week with Stefany Zonin, a former fitness coach for the Austrian Ski Association, at the end of July. The racers will also be heading to the indoor ski hall in Wittenburg in August and twice each to the glaciers of the Stilfser Joch and Stubai. In November, just before the start of the season, there will be a training camp in Sweden.

Christian Thoma has a strong team within the State Winter Sports Association. Christian Polig (VSS), Thomas Valentini (Grand Prix), and Thomas Rungg (Marlene Cup) take care of their assigned areas with great passion and professionalism.

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New faces in the national ski squad

The 2025/26 winter sports season is fast approaching. The South Tyrol Winter Sports Association's national squads have been known for some time. There are new faces in the Alpine ski racers' squad—but only among the athletes.

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