Photos from the Hubert Leitgeb Cup in Ulten. © GAMPER ANDREAS

South Tyrol's winter sports talents are going full throttle

Whether in biathlon, cross-country skiing, luge, or snowboarding – local young athletes competed in events across the country in recent days, achieving some outstanding results.

08 January 2026

From: pm

The Hubert Leitgeb Cup continued in Ulten on Saturday with an individual competition, which also counted towards the Alperia Cup. Over 140 young biathletes competed in the U9 to U15 age groups (born between 2011 and 2018).

The winners of the individual categories at a glance:
U9: Lisa Plank (Ridnaun) and Hannes Pohl (Martell)
U11: Anna Lena Staffler (Ulten) and Leon Fischer (Passeier)
U13: Franzi Wolf (Antholz) and Adam Oberhauser (Gröden)
U15: Anna Wolf (Antholz) and Elia Steinkaserer (Antholz)

The cross-country skiers competed on the Rudolf Circuit in Bruneck, continuing the Raiffeisen Cross-Country Skiing Cup with an obstacle sprint organized by ALV Kronspur. Around 230 participants didn't want to miss the event so soon after the New Year.

The winners of the individual categories at a glance:
U8: Ilaria Rainer (Antholz) and Willi Weissensteiner (Deutschnofen)
U10: Rosa Hell (Toblach) and Leo Weissensteiner (Deutschnofen)
U12: Elena Kostner (Gröden) and Damian Gruber (Sarntal)
U14: Anna Profanter (Seiser Alm) and Noe Moser (Sarntal)
U16: Jana Gufler (Kronspur) and Paolo Pietroboni (Sesvenna)
U18: Emma Schwitzer (Carabinieri) and Noah Heinrich Senoner (Gröden)
U20: Livia Kargruber (5V Loipe) and Lukas Schwingshackl (5V Loipe)
Senior: Lea Demez (Gröden) and Riccardo Foradori (Sesvenna)
Master A: David Hofer (Val Gardena)
Master B: Christian Moser (Sarntal)

Snowboard: Mutschlechner points out

The snowboarders participated in two FIS Junior races in Simonhöhe, Austria, over the past few days. In the first parallel giant slalom, Tobias Mutschlechner (St. Vigil) finished third, securing a podium finish. Teammate Kevin Crazzolara (Gröden) was eliminated in the small final and finished fourth. The best result among the women was achieved by Lucy Call (St. Vigil), who finished seventh overall.

Twenty-four hours later, Mutschlechner did even better and took the day's victory. Manuel Haller, a member of the police sports group, finished third. Among the women, Sofia Federspieler (Villnöß) made it into the top ten, finishing tenth.

Luge athletes shine at the Junior World Cup in Passeier

The lugers of the regional team put on a strong showing at the Junior World Cup in Alpine Luge on the Bergkristall track in Moos in Passeier. Franziska Hofer took first place in the women's competition, ahead of her Italian national teammates Nina Castiglioni and Tina Stuffer. Alongside Hofer, two other regional team athletes, Elisabeth Maria Tinzl (9th) and Romi Oberprantacher (10th), finished in the top ten. In the men's competition, Lukas Marzari was the best Italian, finishing fourth, while Alexander Staffler (8th) and Matthias Telser (10th) also secured top-ten finishes.

The Raiffeisen Luge Cup kicked off on January 2nd for alpine and sport luge athletes in Latzfons on the Lahnwiesen track. Around 70 young lugers took to the starting line in crisp temperatures and perfect conditions.

The winners of the individual categories at a glance:
Luge, Pupils 1: Marie Wegmann (Laas) and Tom Breitenberger (Ulten)
Luge, Junior 2: Anne Breitenberger (Ulten) and Matthias Pallanch (Völs)
Luge, Youth 1: Greta Hillebrand (Völlan) and Simon Torggler (Latzfons)
Luge, Youth 2: Paula Fink (Latzfons) and Daniel Gamper (Feldthurns)

Sport luge, Pupils 1: Valeria Matzoll (Ulten) and Thomas Mitterrutzner (Latzfons)
Sport luge, Pupils 2: Sofia Stadler (Villnöß) and Julian Geiser (Laugen Tisens)
Sport luge, Youth 1: Johannes Pircher (Laugen Tisens)
Sport luge, Youth 2: Teresa Runggatscher (Villnöß) and Stefan Geiser (Laugen Tisens)

Two World Cup debuts for the ski jumpers

Last week, two South Tyrolean ski jumpers made their debuts in the top competition series. Maximilian Gartner from Val Gardena competed in the qualifying rounds of the Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen, finishing 60th in both events. Leonie Runggaldier, also from Val Gardena, participated in the women's competition. She was disqualified in the qualifying round in Villach during her debut, but finished 54th in the preliminary round the following day.