Silvia Runggatscher in action. © Sportissimus

From European Cup podiums and Italian championships

It wasn't just the Alpine ski racers who had a busy schedule last weekend - things were also hot in the other winter sports. Here is an overview of the strong results of the South Tyrolean athletes.

21 January 2025

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Biathlon: Victories and podium places at the Italian Cup

Stage number four of the Coppa Italia Fiocchi took place at the weekend in Zoldo (Belluno) at the Pala Favera biathlon centre. There were two sprints, in which around 200 ski hunters took part on both days of the competition.

In the first sprint, the Val Gardena twin sisters Thea and Tanja Wanker (both from the Finance Guard sports group) took second and third place respectively in the Giovani category. In the junior women's category, however, their Val Gardena compatriot Denise Planker (Army sports group) won.

Among the young men, there was a home double victory in the Aspiranti age group by Andreas Braunhofer (Carabinieri sports group) from Ridnaun and Rafael Santer (SC Ulten). Among the juniors, Maximilian Leitgeb (Antholz/Carabinieri) came third, and David Zingerle (Antholz/Heeres-Sportgruppe) won in the general age group.

On the second day of the competition, Anna Anvidalfarei (SC Gröden) took second place in the Aspiranti category (born 2008 and 2009) and remained flawless on the shooting range. In the boys' category of the same age, there was a South Tyrolean double victory by Julian Huber from Antholz (Carabinieri sports group) and Rafael Santer (Ulten), who lost 19 seconds to Huber. In the junior women's category (born 2003 and 2004), Planker (Army sports group) came second after her victory on Saturday.

Biathlon: Hubert Leitgeb Cup visits Alta Badia

The Hubert Leitgeb Cup powered by Raiffeisen continued on Sunday with the third of a total of five stages in Alta Badia. Almost 140 young ski hunters were in action and took part in a sprint competition in the cross-country skiing and biathlon center.

Here is an overview of the category winners:
U9: Ilvy Wierer (Antholz) and Lenz Complojer (Antholz)
U11: Franzi Wolf (Antholz) and Leon Fischer (Passeier)
U13: Mia Pedevilla (Antholz) and Adam Oberhauser (SC Gröden)
U15: Eva Hilber (Antholz) and Elia Steinkaserer (Antholz)

Cross-country skiing: Profanter shines in Trentino

The Skiri Trophy, which is also part of the Raiffeisen Cross-Country Cup, was held in Val di Fiemme (Lago di Tesero) at the weekend with 1500 participants. Anna Profanter (Seiser Alm Ski Team) achieved an outstanding result, winning the U14 age group. Thea Moser (ASC Sarntal/U10/4th), Liam Zemmer (Seiser Alm Skiteam/U10/7th), Magda Moser (ASC Sarntal/U14/10th), Anna Sagmeister (ASC Sesvenna/U16/7th) and Noah Heinrich Senoner (SC Gröden/Revival/10th) made it into the top ten in their respective categories.

Cross-country skiing: First podium for Bachmann

A stage of the FESA Cup, the European Cup for cross-country skiers, took place in Falcade (Belluno) at the weekend. South Tyrol's current and former national team athletes achieved some impressive results. Most notably Romina Bachmann from Gsies, now a member of the Carabinieri sports group, who came third in the classic technique sprint and thus made it onto the podium in the junior women's European Cup for the first time.

Romina Bachmann stood on the podium for the first time. © Sportissimus

In the U20 men's category of the same age, Ruben Wurzer (5VLoipe) from Welsberg-Taisten took 14th place. Marit Folie from Vinschgau (sports group of the finance guard) took eighth place in the U20 individual race over 10 km in the free technique and one day later took ninth place in the pursuit race over 15 km in the classic technique.

Snowboard: Samnaun brings luck

Samnaun was the venue for the FIS junior snowboard races at the weekend. The trip to Switzerland was worth it, as the local “board sliders” returned with some successes. In the first race for the young men, there was a triple victory by Philipp Mutschlechner (Enneberg), Kevin Crazzolara (Abtei) and Leone Da Col (Welschnofen). In the young women’s race, Anna Mammone (Welschnofen) came second, and Viktoria Lamber (Villnöß) finished the parallel slalom in third place.

On the second day of racing, Mutschlechner took second place, Da Col came fourth. Anna Mammone narrowly missed out in the quarter-finals and ended up in fifth place overall with by far the fastest qualifying time.

Freestyle: Competitions in different regions

The Seiser Alm hosted the European Freestyle Cup last week. In freeskiing, a local hero, Maria Gasslitter from Kastelruth, won at home. In the men's event, Niklas Oberrauch from Ritten came 13th, while Max Von Aufschnaiter collected his first European Cup points in 27th place and, as a reward, will be able to compete for the Italian national team in the next two European Cups. For the other local participants, it was an important experience in a strong field of starters.

Elia Baez and Heidi Pescolderungg. © Sportissimus

The Raiffeisen Slopestyle Tour began at the weekend with the first stage at Meran 2000. The South Tyrolean national squad was also there. Heidi Pescolderungg (Pfalzen) won the freeski in the Giovani age group, while Elia Baez Locher (Bolzano) took second place in the boys' age group of the same age.

Nicole Bazzanella (left) took second place. © Sportissimus

A stage of the Italian Snowboard Freestyle Cup also took place in Prato Nevoso (Piedmont) at the weekend. In Big Air, Nicole Bazzanella took second place in the Aspiranti category, and Jan Fulterer came third in the Juniors. Bazzanella was able to repeat her top result in Slopestyle, where she again took second place. The best result for the boys was achieved here by Ben Marmsoler, who came sixth in the Allievi age group.

Nordic Combined: Oberhofer in Harrachov

Anna Oberhofer (SC Gröden) from Gsieser took part in two competitions in Harrachov (Czech Republic) that count towards the FIS Youth Cup. In the competition to Gundersen on the small hill, the 16-year-old came sixth and seventh.

Tobogganing: Runggatscher Festival in Latzfons

Around 90 lugers took part in the Italian luge championships in Latzfons on the famous Lahnwiesen track. Here is an overview of the new national champions in the various categories, five of whom (out of 12) have the surname Runggatscher:

Ragazzi Youth 1: Teresa Runggatscher (Villnöß/2.34,59) – Markus Rainer (Jaufental/2.30,37)

Allievi Youth 2: Theresa Rainer (Jaufental/2.30,48) – David Mittermair (Olang/2.29,56)

Juniores Juniors 1: Iris Runggatscher (Villnöß/2.23,19) – Peter Runggatscher (Villnöß/2.22,91)

Juniores Juniors 2: Silvia Runggatscher (Villnöß/2.19,97) – Matthias Moling (Wengen/2.17,93)

Giovani Senior: Kathrin Runggatscher (Villnöß/2.20,34) – Sebastian Frei (Laugen Tisens/2.15,13)

Master: Florian Schölzhorn (Jaufental/2.17,07)

Double seater: Tobias Mair/Tobias Müller (Laugen Tisens/1.13,36) *only one run