Südtirol Gardenissima: next Saturday, March 29, athletes and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to compete on the very same course as champions and Ski Legends, in one of the most highly anticipated events of the late season. The following day will be dedicated to the young rising stars of the sport.
There is now very little time left until the 28th edition of the Südtirol Gardenissima, the longest giant slalom in the world and one of the most eagerly awaited events of the ski season in Val Gardena. Combining competition, passion, and fun, the event has long been a true institution for ski lovers and traditionally marks one of the final major highlights of winter on the Dolomite slopes. The ski lifts will, in fact, remain open until April 6, allowing visitors to extend their ski holidays for a few more days.
The heart of the event will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2026, when skiers of all levels—from professionals to amateurs—will be able to test themselves on a course approximately 6 kilometers long, experiencing the thrill of comparing their times with those of FIS Alpine Ski World Cup champions and renowned skiing legends.
Among the men are Alex Vinatzer, Christof Innerhofer, Mattia Casse, Max Perathoner, Daniel Hemetsberger, Manuel Traninger, Miha Hrobat, Romed Baumann, Simon Jocher, Albert Ortega Fornesa, Simon Mauerberger, and others.
Among the women: Nicol and Nadia Delago, Franziska Gritsch, Christina Ager, Emily Schöpf, Viktoria Olivier, Adriana Jelinkova, and others.
Among the ski legends, notable names include Isolde Kostner, Verena Stuffer, Paola Magoni, Brigitte Obermoser, Andrea Fischbacher, Tanja Schneider and, among the men, Kristian Ghedina, Peter Runggaldier, and many more.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Südtirol Gardenissima is precisely the unique opportunity to share the same race with champions and icons of alpine skiing: participants and spectators can meet them, talk to them, and even compete against them on the same course.
The race will start from Seceda, where around 700 skiers from 24 countries will tackle 115 gates along a course with over 1,000 meters of vertical drop.
The course unfolds across the sunny Seceda plateau, with the start at 2,518 meters above sea level at the foot of the imposing Odle peaks. In the first section, two skiers will descend in parallel for approximately 1,500 meters, offering the audience a direct and adrenaline-filled head-to-head challenge. The two routes will then merge into a single track leading to the finish line, located at the Col Raiser valley station (1,485 m).
The day’s program includes course inspection at 6:15 a.m. and the race start at 7:30 a.m. The event will also be followed internationally via a livestream, alternating athletes’ runs with spectacular footage and interviews conducted both at the старт and in the finish area.
Meet the champions and Ski Test
Another highly anticipated moment is the autograph session, organized during the race bib distribution: fans will have the chance to meet top skiers, take photos, and request autographs. The event is scheduled for Friday, March 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Pitla Sala Cultural Center in Selva di Val Gardena.
On March 27, 28, and 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., a Ski Test will also take place on the Curona slope, near the Gardenissima course. Enthusiasts will have the opportunity to preview and test the latest equipment for the upcoming season, provided by the most prestigious brands in the industry.
The award ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the finish area at Col Raiser.
The following day, Sunday, March 29, 2026, will host the 10th edition of the Gardenissima Kids, dedicated to the sport’s young talents. Around 300 children from 12 countries will compete on a 1.9 km course, starting from Seceda and finishing at the valley station of the Fermeda chairlift. The старт is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and the young athletes will face a vertical drop of 463 meters.
Final Party
The day will conclude on Saturday with the After Race Party, taking place from 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Col da Mulin Bridge, at the Aprés Ski La Stua Aprés Ski venue, featuring music by the Dorfrocker and Matty Valentino.
Livestreaming and further information: Südtirol Gardenissima
