On the weekend of 20 and 21 December 2024, Val Gardena, the jewel in the crown of the Italian Dolomites, was alive with the excitement of two major Alpine Skiing World Cup events: a Super-G and a Downhill. On the legendary Saslong piste, the world’s best skiers put on a weekend packed with excitement and surprises.
Val Gardena: an alpine skiing mecca
Val Gardena, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region in the heart of Italy’s Dolomites, is an iconic destination for winter sports fans. With its spectacular scenery and warm hospitality, the valley has become a key venue for alpine skiing, hosting World Cup events since 1969. In fact, Val Gardena has been chosen to host the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2031.
The Saslong piste, the jewel in Val Gardena’s crown, is one of the most prestigious and feared on the world circuit. At 3,446 metres long, it is renowned for its technical features and legendary sections, such as the Camel Humps, a series of imposing moguls requiring perfect control and balance, and the fearsome Ciaslat-Wiese, a field of natural moguls that puts skiers’ physical fitness to the test. Legends such as Franz Klammer, Kristian Ghedina and Aksel Lund Svindal have left their mark on this legendary slope.
Super-G on 20 December: first victory for Mattia Casse
During the Super-G on Friday 20 December, it was 34-year-old Italian Mattia Casse who pulled off the feat of winning his first World Cup race. In front of a jubilant home crowd, he mastered the course perfectly to beat his rivals and give his supporters a memorable moment. This victory was all the more significant in that it came against an extremely strong field of competitors. With a time of 1 minute 28 seconds and 23 hundredths, he beat American Jared Goldberg by just one hundredth of a second. Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, winner of the giant last week in Val d’Isère, was third on the podium, 43 hundredths behind the winner, despite an unfavourable gust of wind during his run.
The race was marked by a spectacular fall by Austrian skier Daniel Hemetsberger, who lost control in the technical ‘camel’ section. Fortunately, the skier escaped without serious injury, but the incident meant thatthe race had to beinterrupted for several minutes to allow time for the rescue teams to intervene and secure the piste.
On the French side, Nils Allègre put in a solid performance to finish seventh, while Blaise Giezendanner finished ninth, confirming the competitiveness of the French team in this discipline.
Hostile weather conditions for the Super-G
The weather conditions during the Super-G at Val Gardena on Friday 20 December did not make the skiers’ task any easier. The race began under overcast skies. Unsurprisingly, the conditions quickly deteriorated with the arrival of snow halfway through the race, gradually reducing visibility. The wind also began to blow more strongly as the race progressed. In addition, the quality of the snow was rated as average. These factors made the competition even more demanding, requiring remarkable technique and adaptability to finish at the top of the leaderboard.
Marco Odermatt finally adds his name to the list of winners on this stage
Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt ‘s victory in the downhill at Val Gardena this weekend was a key moment in the Alpine Skiing World Cup season. Up until this season, this slope had resisted Marco Odermatt, despite his impressive record of success.
Marco Odermatt took to the slopes in ideal conditions, with fast, well-prepared snow. Thanks to a perfect combination of technique and daring, he attacked each section with precision. His ability to maintain a high speed while mastering changes of pace was decisive, particularly in the more technical sections. His passage over the ‘Ciaslat’, where so many athletes lose time, was a model of efficiency, allowing him to gain precious fractions of a second.
This downhill victory is particularly significant for Odermatt, who generally excels in giant slalom and super-G events. She demonstrates a versatility that is rare at this level of competition, consolidating her status as a complete athlete. She also marks her 40ᵉ World Cup victory, equalling Swiss legend Pirmin Zurbriggen.
The competition was tight right to the end, with strong competition. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen, who put in an excellent performance, finished second, just 45 hundredths behind his compatriot. This internal rivalry within the Swiss team illustrates the high level of its members this season. The podium was completed by American Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who also put in a fine performance.
With this triumph, Marco Odermatt continues his impressive domination in a season in which he seems untouchable.
