Nora Pernstich (left) and Nadine Trocker.

New slalom state champions and a fantastic women's state squad

The 2025/26 winter sports season is rapidly entering its final stretch. This is also evident in South Tyrol, where a packed program of events took place last week.

March 02, 2026

From: pm

The highlight was the Marlene Cup in Jochgrimm, which also served as the event for the new state slalom champions. Meanwhile, the women's state team competed in Valgrisenche and impressed with numerous podium finishes. Here's the usual overview of alpine skiing.

After the Marlene Cup stage in Watles, where the Super-G national champions were to be determined, had to be cancelled due to weather conditions a little over a week ago, everything was ready for the slalom on the Weisshorn piste in Jochgrimm last Saturday thanks to the organization of TZ Überetsch-Unterland.

The U21 state champions, from left Clara, Sieder and Castlunger.

Among the women, the young Gsies native Alenah Taschler took center stage: The regional squad athlete clocked the fastest South Tyrolean time of the day, 1:43.52 minutes, crowning herself the new U18 regional champion ahead of Laura Wenter Heiss (ASC Sarntal) and Lena Sottara (Skiteam Alta Badia). Taschler was also faster than the U21 athletes. In that age group, her Sarntal regional squad colleague Hanna Hofer became the slalom regional champion. She finished ahead of Rebecca Vetturini (Kronplatz Skiteam) and Elisa Engl (TZ Überetsch-Unterland).

In the men's competition, state squad athlete Lukas Sieder from Freienfeld completed the two runs fastest with a time of 1:33.66 minutes, thus crowning himself U21 state champion. His state squad colleagues Max Clara (St. Vigil in Enneberg) and David Castlunger (Stern) followed him onto the podium. In the U18 category, Noah Gasteiger (ASC Gsiesertal) prevailed over Giacomo Ploner (Skiteam Alta Badia) and Benjamin Graf (Skiteam Passeiertal).

Great women's national team at FIS slalom in Valgrisenche

A few days earlier, the South Tyrolean women's regional team, led by coach Tizian Gabrielli, competed in Valgrisenche in the Aosta Valley. The two FIS slalom races also counted towards the overall standings of the Gran Premio d'Italia, and the South Tyrolean women shone across the board. In the first slalom on Tuesday, four local skiers finished in the top five. Nora Pernstich from the regional team took second place in the U21 category behind winner Francesca Semprebon, while Valentina Fill from the Kronplatz Ski Team secured third. Selina Trafoier (SC Ulten) followed in fourth place, and Arianna Putzer from SC Gröden posted the fifth-fastest time, simultaneously winning the U18 category.

South Tyrolean skiers also achieved top results in the second slalom on Wednesday. Putzer secured another victory in the U18 category with a 13th-place finish. And in the U21 category, another South Tyrolean skier took the win: Nadine Trocker from the Seiser Alm Ski Team finished ahead of Emma Bastita. Nora Pernstich from the regional squad also reached the podium for the second time in two days, finishing third.

Raiffeisen Grand Prix district races in Ulten, Carezza and Sexten

Last Saturday, district races of the Raiffeisen Grand Prix were on the program for the U16 and U14 ski racers in Ulten (West Zone), Carezza (Central Zone) and Sexten (East Zone). A slalom race was held in each location.

In the Schwemmalm ski area in Ulten, the day's victories in the U16 category went to Letizia Wenter Heiss (ASC Sarntal) and Julian Plieger (ASC Sarntal), while in the U14 category Natalie Morandell (SC Kaltern) and Aron Lanpacher (ASV Tscherms) prevailed on the Schwemmeregg slope.

On the Masarè slope in the Carezza Dolomites ski area, Emma Oberhuber (RG Wipptal) and Simon Kaser (Seiser Alm Skiteam) took the victories in the U16 category. The winners in the U14 category were Julia Plunger (Seiser Alm Skiteam) and Elias Magoni (RG Wipptal).

Zone East was in action on the Weiberriese slope in the 3 Zinnen Dolomites ski area. In the U16 category, Amy Happacher (3 Zinnen Dolomites) and Hannes Valentini (Skiteam Alta Badia) emerged victorious. In the U14 category, Mia Molling (TZ Jochtal) and Elias Rudiferia (Skiteam Alta Badia) posted the fastest slalom times.

Masters Italian Championships at the Raiffeisen South Tyrol Cup on the Frommeralm

Carezza hosted the Italian Masters Championships from last Friday to Sunday. Hundreds of athletes competed to determine the new champions in Super-G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom. The competition kicked off on Friday with the Super-G. The following skiers took the day's victories in their respective age groups:

Giovani/Senior: Martin Schmuck (Seiser Alm Ski Team)
Master A1: Julian Kritzinger (Seiser Alm Ski Team)
Master A2: Alessandro Bogo (SC Cortina)
Master A3: Davide Grechi (SC Scaligero)
Master A4: Egon Kaser (Seiser Alm ski team)
Master A5: Roland Fredi Kofler (ASC Sarntal)
Master A6: Piero Federico Formenti (SC Albavilla)
Master B7: Maurizio Dallavalle (SC Val Carlina)
Master B8: Markus Dejori (ASV Welschnofen)
Master B9: Giampietro Bergamelli (Ski Mountain)
Master B10: Franz Berger (ASV Bruneck)
Master B11: Fausto Facchini (Croce d'Aune)
Master B12: Renzo Cortesi (SC Forlì ASD)
Master B13: Josef Webhofer (ASV Bruneck)


The following female athletes won the Italian championship title in their respective categories:

Master C1: Francesca Polentarutti (Cimenti Sci)
Master C2: Benedetta Di Stefano (SC 18)
Master C3: Camilla Chiusoli (SC Cortina)
Master C4: Elena Zatti (OS Noi ASD)
Master C5: Denise Rita Rigo (Nhoa Game Academy)
Master C6: Virginia Maria Garrafa (Snow Side Team)
Master C7: Marina Capretta (SC 18)
Master C8: Cinzia Valt (ASV Welschnofen)
Master C9: Sigrid Lang (ASV Welschnofen)
Master C10: Marta Ciatti (Sports Club Meran)


The following men were the day's winners in the giant slalom on Saturday:

Giovani/Senior: Martin Schmuck (Seiser Alm Ski Team)
Master A1: Julian Kritzinger (Seiser Alm Ski Team)
Master A2: Alex Martini (Ski team Alta Badia)
Master A3: Davide Grechi (SC Scaligero)
Master A4: Egon Kaser (Seiser Alm ski team)
Master A5: Gian Mauro Piantoni (Orezzo Valseriana)
Master A6: Marco De Toma (Ski Mountain)
Master B7: Massimo Treccani (OS Noi ASD)
Master B8: Markus Dejori (ASV Welschnofen)
Master B9: Giampieto Bergamelli (Ski Mountain)
Master B10: Franz Berger (ASV Bruneck)
Master B11: Lino Stefanini (SC Claviere)
Master B12: Giordano Sorarù (SC Marzotto)
Master B13: Gian Franco Guastini (SC Marzocco Firenze)


And the following were the daily winners in the women's category:

Master C1: Nadia Brunner (Ski team Valente)
Master C2: Benedetta Di Stefano (SC 18)
Master C3: Irene Zanetti (Corno Scale Kli)
Master C4: Regina Mair (Ski team Valente)
Master C5: Maria Francesca Laganà (Libertas Bolzano)
Master C6: Virginia Maria Garrafa (Snow Side Team)
Master C7: Marina Capretta (SC 18)
Master C8: Cinzia Valt (ASV Welschnofen)
Master C9: Sigrid Lang (ASV Welschnofen)
Master C10: Marta Ciatti (Sports Club Meran)


The final event on Sunday was the slalom race. The men's winners were:

Master A1: Daniel Bachmann (ASC Terlan)
Master A2: Simone Bellavita (Cristal Team)
Master A3: Davide Grechi (SC Scaligero)
Master A4: Günther Stockner (Skiteam Valente)
Master A5: Gian Mauro Piantoni (Orezzo Valseriana)
Master A6: Stefano Roma (Ski Club Pila)
Master B7: Roberto Siorpaes (SC 18)
Master B8: Alberto Ronconi (SC Marzotto)
Master B9: Enrico Rossi (SC San Domenico)
Master B10: Piercarlo Silva (Trentina Master Ski)
Master B11: Lino Stefanini (SC Claviere)
Master B13: Josef Webhofer (ASV Bruneck)

In the women's competition, the following athletes prevailed:

Master C1: Monica Minotti (AG Veneziano)
Master C2: Benedetta Di Stefano (SC 18)
Master C3: Iene Zanetti (Corno Scale Kli)
Master C4: Elena Zatti (OS Noi ASD)
Master C5: Maria Francesca Laganà (Libertas Bolzano)
Master C6: Claudia Bassetti (Sauze d'Oulx)
Master C7: Marina Capretta (SC 18)
Master C8: Doranna Melegari (SC 18)
Master C9: Francesca Bencini (SC Marzocco Firenze)
Master C10: Marta Ciatti (Sports Club Meran)