On Friday evening, the lounge at the finish slope of the Saslong was transformed into an atmospheric stage of memories. At a festive gala, around 300 invited guests relived the legendary 1975 World Cup final in Ortisei/St. Ulrich – an event that made skiing history and evoked emotions that still resonate today.

Almost 50 years have passed since what is probably the most dramatic final in World Cup history took place in Ortisei/St.Ulich on 23 March 1975: before the final, three athletes – Gustav Thöni from South Tyrol, Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark and Austrian Fran Klammer – still had a chance of winning the overall World Cup. In front of a record crowd of an estimated 40,000 spectators, local favorite Thöni finally prevailed in a nerve-wracking final and captured the big crystal ball for the fourth time.

The enthusiasm among the fans along the course and in front of the screens was palpable at the time. The magic of this historic moment was revived at the stylish gala on Friday evening. While Stenmark was unable to attend, Thöni and Klammer were duly celebrated for their achievements. The standing ovations for the two ski legends, the dignified setting and the moving memories made the gala a perfect retrospective of this unforgettable chapter in ski history.