The crisp air of Val Canale it vibrates with a different energy, full of expectation. A handful of days before the first race Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup in Tarvisiothe Di Prampero tracktoday majestic and silent in all its whiteness, presents itself as a precision construction site now completed. A stage ready for the curtain, in the shadow of Mount Lussari.
The last checks
At the arrival area in Camporosso, the organizational effort can be seen first-hand: the 1,114-seat stands, ready to be filled, watch over the final sprint. Next to it, the large white tensile structures – the press room and the VIP room – are already standing. Operators with walkie-talkies walk the length and breadth of the route, checking the barriers. In the distance, along the mountainside, the serpentine line of track poles and safety nets outline the route that will see the best sprinters on the planet compete. «Everything is ready now – observes Alberto Senigagliesi, race director of the fast disciplines of the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) World Cup –. The track is perfect, let’s hope the weather cooperates.”
The organizational machine
The numbers tell the story of a community on motorbikes. The organizing committee, 34 people from Promoturismo and collaborators who have been working for weeks, coordinate a machine of over 400 units for a track almost 4 kilometers long and with a height difference of 800 metres. Local ski clubs provide over 250 volunteers. They are the ones who took care of the preparation of the track. Then there are the 50 contractors for the technical systems and one hundred mountain rescue, law enforcement and healthcare units. A “system-building” also thought of in the shuttle buses which, on Saturday and Sunday, will connect the Boscoverde station to Camporosso for those arriving by train.
«A complete track»
The work, explains Senigagliesi, began months ago: «In the summer we carried out safety interventions. Then, with the arrival of the snow, the most intense phase began: the laying of kilometers of mobile nets and barriers, wetting to compact the surface, the creation of the competition jumps.” For fans from Friuli, but also from neighboring Slovenia and Austria, this is an event that has been awaited since 2011: «Tarvisio has always organized major international events. The World Cup has been missing here for 15 years. The track is very beautiful and designed for speed.”
For this reason, who will attend the free descent et al Super G «You can expect a lot of speed and technique, this is a complete track. There is also a spectacular jump before the finish.”
The program of events
Alongside the competitive tension, the organizing committee has curated a schedule full of events. On Thursday at 7pm, the Julius Kugy cultural center will host the screening of the documentary “Mission Mt. Mangart”, in the presence of director Chris Anthony. The highlight of the fun is expected at the end of each race: on Saturday and Sunday, the après-ski with Rtl 102.5 will liven up the arrival area with live music. The drawing of bib numbers, a moment awaited by athletes and enthusiasts, will also be at the bottom of the track: Friday for the downhill, during the team captains’ meeting; while for the Super G it will be Saturday at 6.15pm, after the day’s awards ceremony. As regards the facilities, the Lussari cable car will remain in regular operation, guaranteeing access to the village and the rest of the ski area. Di Prampero, however, will remain closed until January 19th and will be armored: the match will only be visible from the grandstand.
The atmosphere downstream
Going down the valley, the atmosphere changes but the anticipation is equally palpable in a still dozing Tarvisio. «The event brought visibility at an international level – comments Gianni Stefani from the Tschurwald bar –. There are more foreigners than usual, in addition to the usual Austrians and Slovenians.” Similar feedback for Valter Buzzi, clerk at the Cmp store: «There will certainly be comings and goings and many families. The hotels will start to fill up in the next few days.” Andrea Scaglia, bartender at the Nevada hotel, notes however that «these are quiet days. From Friday onwards I expect a change, but the hotels will be full of athletes and staff.”
Similarly, Magda Michelotti of the Doni di Bacco food shop finds that «today there is no great excitement but perhaps as the date approaches the center will liven up. However, these are events that bring people.” The stars of skiing will certainly be seen in Tarvisio, closer than ever to Milano-Cortina 2026.
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