South Tyrolean medal hunt in the duty-free paradise

The drive from Bolzano via the Vinschgau Valley and the Swiss Ofen Pass to Livigno took approximately two and a half hours. From Saturday until the end of the Games, the single-lane Munt la Schera Tunnel, which connects the Engadine Valley with Livigno, will only be accessible with a special permit. Day tourists without hotel reservations in Livigno will have to use public transport. Paid parking lots (a hefty €80 per day) are available in Müstair and Zernez for car transfers. Onward travel is then by shuttle bus – some even to Bormio, but requiring a transfer in Livigno.

South Tyrol's parallel snowboard aces arrived in Livigno on Wednesday. Their race takes place on Sunday – and it's their only one. Only in Sochi in 2014 was a parallel slalom also held, which ended dramatically for South Tyrol with Aaron March finishing fourth. Mixed team parallel slalom has been a regular event at the Snowboard World Championships since 2023, but it didn't make it into the Olympic program. However, ski mountaineering is now an Olympic sport – with three medal events, including a mixed team event, but without any South Tyrolean athletes.

The aerial artists captivate Livigno. © ANSA / SERGEI ILNITSKY

Livigno presented itself yesterday as beautifully snow-covered, brilliantly sunny, and almost unusually warm for the start of the first qualifying competitions in the Big Air snowboard event, which took place in the evening. Until the mid-20th century, the town, affectionately known as Little Tibet, was practically cut off from the outside world for six months of the year and almost inaccessible in winter. This is why Livigno remains a duty-free zone to this day and, much like the nearby Swiss town of Samnaun, has always been a popular destination for countless South Tyrolean shoppers.

The low prices on duty-free items and goods – for example, a liter of diesel costs €1,15 and gasoline €1,26 – are not the reason why many South Tyroleans will be coming to Livigno on Sunday. In the nine men's giant slalom races held so far this World Cup winter, at least one South Tyrolean has been on the podium six times.

Roland Fischnaller, who famously missed the first two races in China due to injury, won at Karerpass, in Scuol, and on the Simonhöhe. He also finished second in Rogla in the last race before the Olympics after a photo finish decided by millimeters. Aaron March achieved four top-three finishes in the Olympic parallel giant slalom, winning in Cortina after finishing third in the opening race in China. He finished second behind Fischnaller at Karerpass and third on the Simonhöhe. If that isn't the best possible preparation for the Olympics, what is? The only previous South Tyrolean snowboard medal in giant slalom was won in 1998 in Nagano at the snowboard's Olympic debut, when Thomas Prugger raced to silver.

Back then, following the classic model of alpine skiing, two runs were held, the times of which were added together to determine the overall time. Four years later in Salt Lake City, the competition switched to a parallel event. A 21-year-old from Villnöss was among the competitors, narrowly missing the knockout round by finishing 19th. His name was Roland Fischnaller. Twenty-four years later, he's still competing. His name is already legendary, regardless of how Sunday's race turns out.

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South Tyrolean medal hunt in the duty-free paradise

Livigno is ready for the Olympics – in terms of sports, logistics, and atmosphere. Our Olympic diary takes you right into the heart of the action: from the unique journey there and snow-covered competition venues to South Tyrol's high medal hopes in parallel snowboarding.

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