The FIS race directors inspect the World Cup slopes. © Saslong Classic Club

World Cup and World Cup: Val Gardena plans two-pronged strategy

Approximately 140 days before the first World Cup event on the Saslong, representatives of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) visited the local organizing committee. They reviewed the 57th Saslong Classic in December 2024 and laid the groundwork for the upcoming event on the last weekend before Christmas.

July 31, 2025

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Last year's Super-G was a major challenge for everyone involved. Heavy snowfall occurred overnight from Thursday to Friday, with some areas experiencing up to 40 centimeters of snow. But the Val Gardena piste crew, led by their boss Horst Demetz, made the impossible possible, and thanks in part to the use of heavy-duty snow groomers, the first of two speed races was held. To the delight of the organizers, the race ended with an Italian victory: Mattia Casse celebrated his first success in the highest alpine skiing race series in Val Gardena.

Saturday's downhill race, under bright sunshine and bitter cold, ended with Marco Odermatt's triumph. The Swiss superstar thus also won the South Tyrolean classic and could tick it off his checklist. "The organization in Val Gardena is absolutely top-notch. It's not for nothing that the races here below the Sassolungo are among the classics in skiing. Of course, there are still small improvements to be made, but these are just subtleties, details," said FIS Race Director Markus Waldner, who was accompanied by his colleagues Hannes Trinkl, Raimund Plancker, and Janez Hladnik to the annual FIS summer inspection.

Anchored in the territory

Representing the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) at this important meeting prior to each World Cup, Massimo Rinaldi thanked the Val Gardena Organizing Committee for its efforts. "We are delighted to see that preparations for the 2031 World Championships are already progressing. We are even more pleased that the territory has such strong roots here," explained Rinaldi.

The World Championships in six years were also the focus of the traditional slope inspection. This year, the Saslong was not used as usual. The route from the Ciampinoi mountain station led down the Ciampinoi 3 slope to the valley – where the women's and men's technical races will take place in 2031. The FIS race directors were enthusiastic about the condition of the slope. "This slope is fantastic. We will see exciting races here and have worthy world champions. Compliments also go to the lift companies, who have already begun various minor projects and will also partially renovate the facilities by the World Championships," the race directors said in unison.

Super-G on Friday, downhill on Saturday

The program for the December World Cup has been confirmed. Training begins on Tuesday, December 16. Wednesday and Thursday are also scheduled as training days, with Thursday also serving as a reserve day for a possible third race in case a speed race in North America is canceled. The Super-G will take place on Friday, December 19, while the final downhill race on Saturday, December 20, will be the highlight of the 58th Saslong Classic. The start time for training and racing is 11.45:XNUMX a.m.

The organizing committee in Val Gardena was represented by the president and race director Rainer Senoner, his deputy race director Werner Perathoner, piste manager Horst Demetz, the person responsible for the sliding team Alexander Rabanser, the office staff Marta Covi and Letizia Gualdi, and the head of communications Hannes Kröss.