Optimise all that exists and avoid waste
Tangible actions and fewer words. Following this mantra, the people, associations and istitutions from Val Gardena have been working for quite a while now, aware of two things: the first is that living in a unique and universally beautiful place entails responsibility and a concrete commitment; the second is that preserving one’s environment is an important step towards leaving a true legacy to future generations, and this require projects, actions and initiatives.
Press clippings on Kriechmayr's victory on the Saslong
Vincent Kriechmayr's first victory on the Saslong was reported in many online media around the world.
Marc Gisin - one of the secret heroes of the Saslong
When Marc Gisin finished his training run in Val Gardena/Gröden, the Swiss was visibly relieved. However, this was not because the 1.98 m mountain of a man had clocked a particularly fast time but rather because he had successfully conquered the Saslong after his terrible fall last year.
"Everything is ready to go"
Almost three weeks ago, German speed racer Thomas Dreßen celebrated a dream comeback and won the downhill from Lake Louise exactly one year after his ACL rupture. Ahead of the speed classic in Val Gardena/Gröden, the 26-year-old high-flyer agreed to an interview with the Saslong editorial team - and had only praising words for the OC team hosting the races.
Ferstl is starting with bib number 1 in super-G
On Thursday evening, the starting bib numbers for the super-G on the Saslong were drawn during a warm celebration at the Medal Plaza "La Stua" in Selva/Wolkenstein.
"We confidently look forward to Friday and Saturday"
At the third team captains' meeting on Thursday, the focus was once again on the weather forecast of the next few days. Although the forecasts do not look too promising, nothing should stand in the way of the two races.
Norwegians dominate downhill training
On Thursday the first and only training run for the downhill classic on the Saslong took place in Val Gardena/Gröden. Kjetil Jansrud clocked the fastest time on a slightly shortened track.
What the online media write about the Val Gardena/Gröden training
The training victory of the Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud was the subject of many articles published in online portals all over the world. Here is a short excerpt.
This is what the racers had to say on the downhill training
Fast snow, long jumps and a track in very good condition: The Saslong presented itself from its best side during the training run for the downhill on Saturday. Here is what the racers had to say.
"King Aksel" is the great absentee
When one speaks of the speed classics in Val Gardena/Grôden, the name Aksel Lund Svindal has to be mentioned in the same breath. For the Norwegian, the Saslong became something like a personal race track in the course of his career. This year, however, the name of the likeable Scandinavian cannot be found in the starting list - last spring, Svindal announced his retirement attending World Cup events only from the sidelines.
VIDEO: Werner Heel as teacher for the younger ones
Following the end of his career, Werner Heel will be an onlooker at the race week in Val Gardena/Gröden for the first time this year. In the video, the South Tyrolean, who won the Super-G on the Saslong in 2008, explains how he supports the younger athletes and which winning faces he hopes to see at the two speed competitions.
Off to the fan parade!
For many years now the Fan Parade has been an integral part of the race week in Val Gardena/Gröden. The time has come again right before the classic downhill race on Saturday: Hundreds of fans will then march from St. Christina to the finish area of the Saslong.
Downhill training on Thursday shortened and moved up to 10:00 am
At the second Team Captains‘ Meeting on Wednesday evening, the cancelled training run was discussed in addition to a look at the training on Thursday.
VIDEO: Rainer Senoner about the changes in the downhill training
For the first time in the history of speed classics on the Saslong, a training run will start at 10 am. Rainer Senoner, President of the Organizing Committee of Val Gardena/Gröden, reveals how this happened and what advantages the early training start brings with it.
The training cancellation from the point of view of the international online media
The cancellation of the first training run was reported not only by the Saslong editorial office, but also in numerous online portals. Here is a short excerpt.
First downhill training cancelled
The first training run for the downhill classic on the Saslong had to be cancelled due to fog banks in the middle part of the track.
VIDEO: Peter Runggaldier on the conditions of the Saslong
We will see the World Cup super-G and downhill races on the Saslong again. We are right on the course which is going to be rather soft given the temperatures ahead. They will have to prepare the course accordingly and it will be interesting to see how the athletes will do with conditions that are markedly different from other years.
15 TV stations reporting live from the speed performances in Val Gardena/Gröden
The super-G and the downhill on the Saslong are among the great classics in the Alpine Ski World Cup - the comprehensive live coverage on TV underlines this in an impressive way.
350th race in the World Cup: a milestone for Peter Fill
When Peter Fill catapults himself out of the starting gate on Saturday in the downhill, then this local favorite breaks through a big sound barrier: The two-time winner of the downhill crystal ball is tackling his 350th race in the World Cup as part of the speed classics on the Saslong.
"Must look at it from day to day"
On Tuesday evening, the first team captains’ meeting was on the program in Selva/Wolkenstein. The main topic was the weather, which could provide some disturbances during the race week in Val Gardena/Gröden.
VIDEO: Markus Waldner on the bad weather prospects
Even though the weather forecasts for Friday and Saturday promise little to be happy about, FIS Race Director Markus Waldner remains calm. The FIS official from nearby Bressanone/Brixen wants to assess the situation from day to day with his team - and he has a solution ready even in the event of bad weather.
It’s all coming together in the media center
As in previous years, the press center for the Ski World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden is once again located in the gymnasium of St. Cristina. The centrally located building acts as the first point of contact for all media people during the race week and is now slowly filling up.
The Saslong editorial team is ready
Everything is ready inVal Gardena/Gröden for the speed classics on the legendary Saslong. While the track is just getting the finishing touches for the upcoming training sessions and races, the Saslong editorial team has also kicked off its work.
Feuz and Mayer come to Val Gardena/Gröden as discipline leaders
If one looks at this year’s results to predict who is going to win on the Saslong, then Beat Feuz and Matthias Mayer will be the ones to beat.
Tuning in to Paris, Feuz, Kilde & Co.
It is a taste of what the ski stars can expect during the 52nd Ski World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden. There is a lot going on at the bib draw on the Medal Plaza "La Stua" in Selva Gardena/Wolkenstein, on the evening before the two “classics".
Peter Fill: "The Saslong is already in a great condition"
The Italian national speed team trained on Wednesday and Thursday on the downhill course in Val Gardena/Gröden. The "Azzurri" found optimal conditions, as confirmed by Peter Fill.
Experience the Saslong classics in an exclusive atmosphere
For those who are looking for top-class skiing at the speed races in Val Gardena/Gröden as well for comfort, exquisite food and a great atmosphere, the VIP area SasLOUNGE is the place to be.
Claudia Rifesser: "It takes a team to make this happen"
She knows the World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden like few others. She is the hub where all threads and information come together. She is one of the few people who works year round for one of the biggest winter sport events in Italy and has been Secretary General in Val Gardena/Gröden for one and a half years. An interview with Claudia Rifesser, who has helped shape the classic races on the Saslong for 13 years.
Snow control passed - FIS gives the green light for the classic Saslong races
After the routine snow check on Saturday, it was no surprise that FIS officially confirmed the two World Cup races in Val Gardena/Gröden planned for Friday, 20 December (Super-G) and Saturday, 21 December (downhill) thanks to the heavy snowfalls in mid-November and the cold temperatures over the past few days, which made it possible to produce enough technical snow.
The Saslong shines in winterly splendor
The past few days have seen plenty of snow falling all over South Tyrol. This is also the case in Val Gardena/Gröden, where the legendary Saslong is covered in a layer of more than 2 feet of fresh snow.