February 8, 2025 12:00
For the first time, Val di Fassa hosts two races of the top ski cross circuit, in men's and women's versions, in the "Costabella" park at San Pellegrino
After the Alpine skiing events, Val di Fassa and the San Pellegrino Ski Area return to the World Cup with the seventh stage of the 2024-2025 ski cross calendar. The appointment is at the "Costabella" park, the official training venue of the Italian national teams, thanks to the "Piste Azzurre" project that since 2006 has transformed this Ladin valley into a training centre of excellence for the FISI (Italian winter sports federation).
The dates to mark are 8 and 9 February for the 13th and 14th races of the season. The ski cross, an Olympic discipline since 2010 and one of the most spectacular freestyle skiing disciplines, will see the best athletes compete on a track of about one kilometre, full of bends, jumps, moguls and parabolics, accessible from San Pellegrino Pass by the four-seater chairlift. Here, four athletes at a time race at speeds of up to 100 km/h, with the knockout (KO) format, where only the first two of each heat advance to the next round. These will be exciting duels, man against man and woman against woman, where precision and strategy are crucial to overcome obstacles and win precious points for the overall ranking. The home crowd is already quivering to support the reigning world champion, Simone Deromedis from Trentino of the "Fiamme Gialle" sports group, and Jole Galli from Livigno of the "Carabinieri" sports centre, the first Italian ever to stand on a World Cup podium.
The Val di Fassa Great Events Committee, with the support of the Catinaccio lift company, the ski clubs and the ski schools of the valley, is ready to manage another extraordinary challenge. The qualifiers will be held on 6 and 7 February, while the finals, scheduled for 8 and 9 February from midday, will be broadcast live on Eurosport and Rai Sport, with great interest from the Scandinavian, French, Swiss and international audience.
