The 23rd Südtirol Gardenissima, which unfolds on Saturday, March 30 next, looks set to be even more spectacular and exciting than ever. The renowned season-closing classic has attracted a particularly impressive line-up this year. Representing the Italian Blues will be leading national skiers Christof Innerhofer and Federica Brignone.
Saturday, March 30, marks a truly stylish return for the annual Südtirol Gardenissima, the world’s longest slalom as Val Gardena’s pistes play host to one of the classic closing event of the 2018/19 skiing calendar. The giant slalom course stretches over 6 kilometres from the top of Monte Seceda at 2,518 metres to the finish-line at Col Raiser via no less than 110 gates!
AN EXCEPTIONAL LINE-OUT. A total of 680 skiers will line out at the start, with 15 nations represented. There is huge excitement around the entry of Christof Innerhofer. The powerful Alto Adige athlete was crowned Super G world champion at Garmisch in 2011 and was twice on the podium at Sochi in 2014. This time out, he’ll be going head to head with skiers from all over Europe, including Daniel Danklmaier, Raphael Haaser, Alexander Prast, Hannes Zingerle, Giuglio Bosca, Cristian Javier Simari Birkner, Simon Maurberger und Alex Hofer, as well as the junior hopeful of Val Gardena, Alex Vinatzer .
In the women’s line-up all eyes will be Federica Brignone and the sisters Nicol and Nadia Delago.
But not only the big names of the ski circus arouse curiosity, but also other participants like Andreas Goldberger, the successful ski jumper of the 1990s, will also take part in the giant slalom in Val Gardena.
SKI LEGENDS. Today’s top skiers and up-and-coming talents will be flanked by a group of famous former skiing stars. Giorgio Rocca, bronze medallist of three World Cups, will be tackling the run and doing battle with Oskar Delago, Isolde Kostner, Daniela Zini, Paola Magoni and Thea Gamper. Jürgen Egle from Vorarlberg is the first forerunner. He is paraplegic after an accident and has won 11 medals on his monoski at Paraolympics and World Championships.
For the well-being of the participants and spectators the local hotelier and restaurant association as well as the farmers’ wives take care of the finish area.
The award ceremony will take place at 3.30 pm in the Iman Center in S. Cristina.
Afterwards the day can end at the “After Race Party Sëlva ” in the centre of Selva Gardena with the group “Ugle Cute & Volxrock“.
MAKE WAY FOR THE YOUNGSTERS. The main event doesn’t mark the end of the action, by any means. The adults’ race will be followed the next day, Sunday, March 31st, by the Südtirol Gardenissima Kids for very young skiers born between 8 and 13 years. The distance is shorter but follows the same format as the grown-up race: competitors start in pairs and do the first section of the giant slalom on parallel runs which then merge into a single one in the last section. Entries are open until March 29 for a promotional event that delivers a mix of fun and competition to attract more families and youngsters to the winter sports world.
New is the free Ski Test Gardenissima KIDS on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00 to 15:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Two time trial tracks will be set up for the ski test on the Curona slope on Seceda, near the Gardenissima track.
Head, Rossignol, Dynastar, Blizzard, Nordica and Elan will be at the test to present the latest racing skis for the 2019/20 season.
INFO: Südtirol Gardenissima
Val Gardena
From the 21st to the 24th of March the lucky winners of an online play will have the great opportunity to have an unforgettable experience in the Dolomites, in Trentino, with the Aquile di San Martino, the Alpine Guides of San Martino di Castrozza and Primiero. For the 5th year, participants will experience the most adventurous ski mountaineering and freeride in the Pale di San Martino, located in an area which is particularly appreciated by lovers of this kind of sports.
Those who took part in the contest can now finally live a four-day ski mountaineering adventure, surrounded by stunning landscapes and majestic peaks, sleeping one night in a mountain hut and one night at a base camp, in tents.
INFO: Salewa Get Vertical Winter Base Camp
San Martino di Castrozza
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From the 22nd to the 24th of February, San Martino di Castrozza will host the seventh edition of The King of Dolomites, a freeride photographic contest carried out in cooperation with Arc’teryx. Over the years, it has become one of the most important freeride events worldwide, in which international photographers and riders challenge each other on the snow of San Martino di Castrozza, in search of the most beautiful shots.
Participants have to take a picture of a rider in action in the Dolomites, equipped with helmet, backpack and self-rescue kit, taking into account the four themes of this year: landscape, alpinism, action and the KOD2019 theme. A jury of experts, chosen between famous journalists, photographers and riders, will then judge all the photos.
During this weekend, a rich programme of events awaits you on the snow of San Martino di Castrozza: the KOD Village on the Alpe Tognola, in which you can try the Roxa and Movement.
The King of Dolomites is three days of freeride, photography and entertainment that gathers together professionals and enthusiasts in San Martino di Castrozza, one of the most beautiful areas of the Dolomites, in Trentino.
For further click here.
San Martino di Castrozza
The beautiful and enchanting scenery of the Pale di San Martino, the charm of the villages at the bottom of the Dolomites and the surrounding unspoilt nature offer you much more than the usual ski holiday.
Oltre lo sci is a rich weekly programme that gives you the chance to discover and experience the territory of San Martino di Castrozza, Passo Rolle, Primiero and Vanoi in a different way. Not just skiing but also guided walks, snowshoes excursions, tasting of typical local products, historic and artistic tours, fascinating explorations and outdoor adventures.
Our mountain guides will make you discover the pleasure of excursions on snowshoes in the most beautiful areas of the territory. You can also choose to take part in the snow safety course, in which you will learn how to tackle winter activities safely. Otherwise, if you want to live an unforgettable night, seize the opportunity of having an aperitif by snowmobile in San Martino, under a magnificent starry sky, tasting our local products, try snowshoeing at night at Passo Cereda or book your dinner in a special location that is to be reached by snowmobile.
A special care is given to families and children activities. Have a ride on the Troika (a sleigh driven by horses) or spend a morning taking part in an exciting avalanche rescue drill with the dog-handling team of the Guardia di Finanza. In the Vanoi valley meet the friendly llamas for a relaxing and pleasant walk on snowy paths, while, in San Martino, watch an acrobatic ski-snowboard show followed by a mini torchlight procession with the ski instructors.
Children of all ages can benefit of our well-equipped areas for bobsleds, sledges and inflatables. In addition, children from the age of three onwards can have fun on the snow with a team of entertainers.
Cheese making is considered a kind of vocation in the Primiero and Vanoi valleys. For this reason, the “Caseificio di Primiero” (Primiero Cheese Factory) offers guided tours to discover the secrets of the cheese makers whose skilled hands produce cheeses such as Toséla, Trentingrana and Botìro di Malga.
During one of our mountain-style aperitif on the ski slopes, the so-called Happycheese, you have the opportunity of taste tempting delicacies and finger food made from Primiero cheese, accompanied by the renowned Trentino wines and the local craft beers BioNoc’ of the namesake brewery, which offers guided tours too.
Finally, those who are seeking a more adventurous holiday can choose between winter mountain-bike excursions along the winter cycling routes, an exciting paragliding experience over the ski slopes, ice climbing with a mountain guide or the Pistenbully Tour.
Oltre lo sci is an unusual and exciting way to experience the atmosphere of the mountain villages and the environment of the Natural Park Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino in the quiet of the winter season.
Have a look at the complete programme here.
INFO: San Martino di Castrozza, Passo Rolle, Primero e Vanoi.
On the 26th and 27th of January the Ski Area San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle Ski will be the theatre of the San Martino Telemark Event. Two days dedicated to the ancient technique of the “free heel” skiing, which combines elements of Alpine and Nordic skiing and still raises lots of interest.
Everyone can seize the opportunity of trying this discipline with the ski instructors of the Nuova Scuola Italiana Sci San Martino di Castrozza, which will teach you Telemark skiing and how to use the so-called Alpenstock.
The programme provides a wide range of activities: courses of Alpenstock clinic and telemark imprinting, but also a funny treasure hunt on the slopes of the “Carosello delle Malghe” and, news of this year, Freeride Telemark with the Aquile di San Martino, the local Alpine Guides. At the starting point of the new gondola Colbricon Express you can find the telemark village, in which you can also discover all the innovations of this sector with the opportunity of trying new state-of-the-art materials.
The day goes on with a special happy hour on the ski, the so-called “aperitivo al salto” and ends up with a dinner in San Martino di Castrozza.
San Martino Telemark Event is two days of ski, entertainment and music that bring together all the telemark enthusiasts but also who wants to discover the secrets of this discipline.
Don’t miss the opportunity to try Telemark enjoying the amazing scenery of the Pale di San Martino, the widest mountain group of the Dolomites.
For further info: Ski Area San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle
The fact that Val Gardena is the “Valley of sport welcoming athletes from all over the world” is well known but this year the period from 14 to 22 December is going to be a really incredible one.
Apart from the Mens Ski World Cup, which for years now has always had a race on the wonderful Saslong slope, this year the mens speed merchants will be racing on 14 and 15 December, the Ladies Word Cup races which were originally scheduled for Val d’Isère) will take place in Val Gardena on 18 and 19 December.
The series of races make for a vitally important and exciting week for the valley. One should know that the world’s top skiers have been coming to Val Gardena since 1970, the year when the Alpine World Championships were held here. On 18 and 19 December there will be a Downhill and a Super G on Saslong.
Taking part in races will be Nicol Delago, she recently achieving fifth place in the final race at Lake Louise (CAN). Nicole is the star of the Val Gardena youth team.
Completing this period of wonderful sport, an effort which only the incredible strength of the Val Gardena organisational machine would be able to perform, is the Raiffeisen ITF Woman Val Gardena Südtirol, it taking place from 15 to 22 December, and being an International Ladies tennis tournament. It is the 16th year it is being held at Ortisei. Also this year the prizemoney will amount to 15.000 $, and among the athletes competing will be local girl Verena Hofer; another sporting occasion which is not to be missed!
Pics Credits: www.wisthaler.com
INFO: Val Gardena
For the fifth year in a row, Val Gardena has been judged the best ski resort in Italy and the sixth best in the world.
At the World Ski Awards 2018, the international Oscars for ski resorts, the resort in the heart of the Dolomites was named as Italy’s top ski destination.
The World Ski Awards accolades are based on assessments from a panel of ski tourism experts as well as on a survey of the opinions of nearly a million skiers and boarders from 120 countries.
The awards come on the German website www.skiresort.de, acknowledged as one of the world’s most important authorities for the evaluation of ski resorts. It rates resorts according to 18 criteria. Val Gardena was awarded five out of five stars in the most important categories: size of ski area, choice of slopes, variety of downhill runs, lift system, snow guarantee, slope preparation, accommodation right on the slopes and suitability for families and children.
Meanwhile, the popular site for ski sport www.skigebiete-test.de has compiled a list of the best ski areas worldwide after analysing more than 250 ski sport locations.
Val Gardena was voted the best ski resort in the Dolomites, in Sud Tirol and in Italy. On the international stage the resort took an excellent sixth place. In addition, Trip Advisor in its Travellers’ Choice Awards has awarded Selva (Wolkenstein in German) in Val Gardena sixth place overall in a list of tourist destinations in Italy, including seaside resorts and art cities.
Finally, there were several awards for hotels in the valley and the reconfirmation of two Michelin stars to Raimund Brunner at the Anna Stuben Gourmet Restaurant in Ortisei and to Mario Porcelli at the Alpenroyal Gourmet Restaurant in Selva Gardena.
INFO: Val Gardena
An agreement has been signed between Dolomites Val Gardena and Jaguar Land Rover that will allow the birth of a long partnership between two famous and unique brands.
On the occasion of the presentation of the Val Gardena winter season, the keys of two splendid cars of the Jaguar Land Rover Group, with personalised livery, were handed over in Milan, underlining the birth of an agreement between two famous brands in their respective areas.
Starting from December, in fact (the ski season in Val Gardena will start on the 6th), two Jaguar Land Rover cars will circulate in this beautiful valley of the Dolomites: an ecological and elegant Jaguar I-Pace, the first electric car of the brand and of the premium segment, with excellent performances and a versatile and fascinating Range Rover Velar, a real off-road vehicle suitable to face any kind of conditions.
The agreement provides for the reciprocal exchange of visibility and the creation of a Car Display in Ortisei, where it will be possible to admire the cars and request a test drive. The choice, in particular of the Jaguar I-Pace, underlines the vocation of Va Gardena to protect its territory also through the use of cars with very low environmental impact.
Val Gardena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has for years been promoting events aimed at preserving this heritage, such as the Ecodolomites event in September or through initiatives such as the closing of last summer’s passes.
A “green” heart and soul, waiting for a “white” winter.
Fotocredit: Alex Runggaldier
INFO: Val Gardena
The winter season 2018-2019 opens with a new entry in the skiarea San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle. After the past seasons’ modernization of the snowmaking system, a new gondola called Colbricon Express is being installed on the ski area.
The new 10-seater lift serves the Ces area and replaces two chairlifts connecting San Martino di Castrozza with Valbonetta, considerably reducing time of ride (from 20 to 6 minutes). Like all lifts of the skiarea San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle, Colbricon Express will work thanks to 100% renewable energy produced in the hydroelectric plants of Primiero and Vanoi Valley.
The skiarea, which is part of the Dolomiti Superski carousel, boasts 60 km of slopes running in the Natural Park Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino, in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage.
INFO: San Martino di Castrozza
