A World Cup race takes place here in winter.

The World Cup premiere in Ratschings is taking shape

Snowboard fans from near and far will have to wait five more months until Saturday, January 30th, when the world's elite will compete on the Enzian slope for the first time. For the organizing committee, led by the Ridnaun snowboarders, preparations for the inaugural Snowboard World Cup in the Ratschings-Jaufen ski area have long been underway. This was evident during a recent site visit with representatives from Infront, the organizing committee, and the ski lift operators, where important details were finalized.

August 27, 2026

From: pm/det

In mid-July, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced that Ratschings would become the second South Tyrolean World Cup stage to be added to the calendar next winter, alongside Carezza Dolomites, which has been a fixture for over a decade and a half. While two of the first races of the upcoming winter will take place at the Karerpass on Thursday, December 17th, Ratschings, scheduled for January 30th, will be a highlight of the second half of the season, immediately following the competitions in Rogla (Slovenia) and the classic race in Bad Gastein (January 26th and 27th).

In the north of the country, anticipation for the premiere is correspondingly high. The organizing committee, led by President Ezio Zandonella Maiucco, is working intensively on the parallel slalom races, which represent a highlight for the region in the 2026/27 winter season. For the Ridnaun Snowsurfers club, the promotion to the World Cup is a major honor after 15 years of highly successful European Cup race organization.

The World Cup planning goes into detail

A key step towards the World Cup premiere was recently taken with representatives from Infront, the company responsible for the TV production, as well as the organizing committee and the mountain railways, led by President Josef Schölzhorn. During a piste inspection, various details were clarified – from camera positions to logistical issues such as the transport of materials from the valley station to the mountain station of the Ratschings-Jaufen gondola. The Summit facilities, which will house the athletes' lounge, the media center, and the VIP area during the World Cup, were also visited.

“With every organizational step, the World Cup premiere becomes a little more tangible for us. During the site visit, we clarified important details for the TV production and logistics – topics that have a completely different dimension at a World Cup than at our previous races. After 15 years of European Cup, this next step is something very special for our club. At the same time, we know that there is still a lot of work ahead of us,” says organizing committee president Ezio Zandonella Maiucco.