Santa Caterina Valfurva is a regular destination for competitive athletes of all levels who often gather in Alta Valtellina to train and compete. The Deborah Compagnoni slope-which celebrates the great female skier of the past-has repeatedly been the focus of major alpine skiing events, with numerous World Cup stages capable of thrilling and entertaining fans.

The Valtellina resort in just under a month will once again take center stage, once again hosting the European Cup. In fact, two men’s super-Gs are scheduled for Tuesday, December 6 and Wednesday, December 7, which will inaugurate the racing season in Santa Caterina Valfurva, while the opening to the general public is scheduled as early as Saturday, December 2.

Another exciting challenge for Omar Galli and Maurilio Alessi, who have been engaged for years in the organization of major events included in the calendars of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. Santa Caterina Valfurva will host the continental circuit for the fourth consecutive time, after a first interlude dated 2007 dedicated to both women and men.

The Valtellina stage will be the second on the men’s calendar, the first in Italy and the first for speed specialists. Instead, the season opener is scheduled a week earlier in Austria, with two giant slaloms scheduled on the slopes of Gurgl.

Work to snow the race slope has already begun. A few inches of natural snow has fallen in the past few weeks, now it is being continued with the help of the snowmaking system, waiting for the mercury column to make another downward leap allowing snow production to increase considerably.

Meanwhile, the national teams continue preparation on the glaciers of Italy and Austria, while the first registrations are beginning to arrive at the secretariat of Technic Ski, the Fisi-affiliated sports club that will organize the event. It is still too early to know the names of the athletes who will compete on the challenging Valtellina slope, much will also depend on who the respective federations will call for the overseas World Cup races.

In addition to Technic Ski, Santa Caterina Impianti-with Beppe Bonseri at the forefront-and Proloco Valfurva are also active in organizing the European Cup stage. Alongside the event is no shortage of support from the Lombardy Region.