It‘s all systems go: In just over three weeks, the ski world will have all eyes on South Tyrol when the Ski World Cup is coming to Val Gardena/Gröden. A Super-G is on the docket for Friday, December 15th followed by the classic Downhill on the Saslong the next day. But wait, there is more: Val Gardena/Gröden is also celebrating its 50th anniversary of the Alpine Skiing World Cup with a big TV show.

Today at a press conference in Bolzano/Bozen, the Val Gardena/Gröden Organizing Committee (OC) presented the races together with the organizers of Alta Badia. Luckily, the mood was a lot more relaxed than in previous years and for a very good reason: The weather conditions are right. "The top section of the Saslong is already perfectly covered in snow and the situation is also reassuring on the lower section" says OC President and Race Director Rainer Senoner. "No comparison to 2015 or 2016." The FIS will hold the official snow check on December 2nd.

Kristian Ghedina shared in the joy together with Massimiliano Blardone, guest of honor at the press conference. "For the racers, Val Gardena/Gröden is a very special venue because here you literally get absorbed by the history," said the Saslong winner of 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001.

In addition to the races, another highlight on the program is a big TV show that celebrates the great Val Gardena/Gröden World Cup history. "Circus artists, acrobats and light effects build a bridge between history and the present," explains Managing Director Stefania Demetz who is also looking forward to a number of prominent guests: "We expect a long list of former ski stars who have co-authored the history of Val Gardena/Gröden." Some names? Gustav Thöni, Herbert Plank, Franz Klammer, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Uli Spiess, Antoine Deneriaz, Erik Håker - all of whom have left their mark on the Saslong and will be here.

Admission is free to the show. For more information about the Super-G and Downhill ticket offers look here.

Val Gardena/Gröden now also has a permanent place in the calendar of the FIS races. On the ski mountain Piz Sella, from November 30th to December 3rd, there will be a Downhill, two Super-Gs and a Giant Slalom. There is also a second edition of a completely different type of race which is about conquering the race course from the opposite direction: the Val Gardena/Gröden Vertical-up race is on January 27th from the finish to the Super-G start of the Saslong race track. There are two categories: the speed and the backpack class. The choice of materials is free, but no engines are allowed.