The Italian Paralympic alpine ski team and the Austrian national team train on the Lacedelli slope in Cortina, which will host the Paralympic Ski World Cup finals in March, in preparation for upcoming international events.
Cortina d’Ampezzo (Belluno), 6 January 2023 – The countdown has started for the Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup in Cortina, 20-22 January, when the world’s top speed skiers will battle it out on the Olympia slope in the Tofane. This is not the only World Cup for which the Queen of the Dolomites is preparing. On 3 and 4 February, Cortina will host 2 days dedicated to the Paralympic Snowboard Cross World Cup on the San Zan slope in Socrepes, while on 14 to 17 March, the finals of the Paralympic Alpine Ski World Cup will take place on the Olympia slope in the Tofane.
These days national athletes of the FISIP, the Italian Federation of Paralympic Winter Sports, together with athletes from the Austrian national team, are training in Cortina, on the Lacedelli slope in Cinque Torri, in order to prepare for upcoming international events. The collegial is made possible thanks to a collaboration with Cortina Ski World, the cableway operators of Cortina d’Ampezzo, San Vito, Auronzo and Misurina. The initiative is guided by local athlete, René De Silvestro from San Vito di Cadore, winner of two Olympic medals in Bejing, in the Standing category (silver in giant slalom and bronze in slalom).
«Training in Cortina is the best because the landscape around you is fantastic and the slopes are always perfect. In March Cortina will host the World Cup finals and for me this is an extra incentive as I will have many friends and fan here, but it is also a great opportunity to show my opponents this beautiful territory. We will race on the Olympia slope in the Tofane, a really tough, very technical track. I think it suits me a lot», explains René De Silvestro.. «Paralympic alpine skiing is growing» confirms Paolo Tavian, President of FISIP «We are collaborating with Fondazione Cortina to set up the World Cup rehearsals and rallies dedicated to speed. In March, Italy will be the absolute protagonist of the 2023 season, with the World Cup finals in speed disciplines to be held in Sella Nevea and technical disciplines taking place in Cortina».
«Paralympic alpine skiing is growing» confirms Paolo Tavian, President of FISIP «We are collaborating with Fondazione Cortina to set up the World Cup rehearsals and rallies dedicated to speed. In March, Italy will be the absolute protagonist of the 2023 season, with the World Cup finals in speed disciplines to be held in Sella Nevea and technical disciplines taking place in Cortina».
«In Cortina we found great collaborators and perfect snow conditions» explains Alessandro Intilia,coach of the Italian FISIP alpine ski team. «We are working very well ahead of the next World Cup stage and the World Championships, but our long term goal is to arrive at Milan-Cortina 2026, ready to win!»
«Our February and March appointments of snowboard cross and alpine skiing respectively, represent two very important events for our team» explains Michele Di Gallo, Director of Fondazione Cortina.. «We must grow our experience and expertise in Paralympic sports, in light of our role as host to the 2026 Paralympics. It is a challenge we are passionate about, with the full support of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation. With this in mind we are forging collaborations with associations, hotels and sports organisations in and around Cortina d’Ampezzo».