Saslong Classic Club / Gardena - Gröden
Str. Dursan, 106    |    I - 39047 St. Cristina
Tel. +39 0471 793450
e-mail: info@saslong.org
pec: saslong@pec.it
codice destinatario: MJ1OYNU
VAT Reg No: IT01657370217

News

55th Ski World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden officially inaugurated

11.12.2022

The employees of the Saslong Classic know this feeling well: Sunday evening before the race and the kick-off meeting is a popular must-attend event for all volunteers receiving the most crucial information about the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Val Gardena/Gröden first hand.

Rainer Senoner, President of the Saslong Classic Club, was able to welcome not only his core team and numerous employees to the Kulturhaus Oswald von Wolkenstein. In addition, representatives of various institutions, including Selva/Wolkenstein's mayor Roland Demetz, did not miss the opportunity to participate in the opening event of the Ski World Cup, which has been a tradition for years.

In his short speech, Roland Demetz thanked the Saslong Classic Club for its outstanding commitment and also expressed his joy about a third, additional World Cup race in Val Gardena/Gröden. "For the first time in our long history, we got an additional downhill for our 100th World Cup race. The last weeks' fresh snow and cold temperatures have come in time. Nature has given us a gift. Additionally, the lift company Saslong AG is now well-positioned to provide the necessary snow in the shortest possible time. I wish the Saslong Classic Club all the best for this anniversary edition and hope that the weather will cooperate," said Demetz.

Rainer Senoner thanked those present in advance for their commitment and asked them to make a special effort this year in the context of the World Cup. "This year's World Cup races are an essential marketing tool for our big dream - the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. We can show that we are a worthy candidate. And by hosting the third additional race, we again prove that Val Gardena/Gröden can step up when necessary; we are a team that works. I am particularly pleased that the public so well receives the races. We are well on the way to selling out the races on Saturday for the first time," said Senoner.

There is also news regarding the program of the 55th Saslong Classic. After the team captains' meeting on Monday, December 12, at 8 p.m., the first and only practice session will be held on Tuesday, starting at 11:45 a.m. Provided that this can be handled properly, a rest day will be scheduled on Wednesday in agreement with the FIS to grant a preventive break to those athletes who will also be competing in Alta Badia following the races in Val Gardena/Gröden. On Thursday, December 15, a downhill will be held starting at noon. The super-G on Friday, December 16, on the other hand, will be the 100th World Cup race on the Saslong. The start time is the same at 11:45 a.m. as for the downhill on Saturday, which will conclude the 55th Saslong Classic.

Numerous officials are expected to attend the World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden. For example, FIS President Johan Eliasch, the Italian Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, South Tyrol's Governor Arno Kompatscher and the President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation FISI Flavio Roda have already confirmed their attendance at the events. We are set for an extraordinary 55th Saslong Classic.