A men’s super-G and a downhill race are on the programme each year on the world-class pistes in the Val Gardena
Image gallery: Saslong Classic - FIS World Cup Val Gardena
The World Cup in the Val Gardena is a long-standing tradition: the races have been organised in the Val Gardena Skiing Area since 1969. Including the 1970 Ski World Championships, more than 66 international men's and women's races have taken place here on the Cir, Ciampinoi, Ronc, and Saslong pistes. Athletes from all over the world have won the downhill, including multiple winners Kristian Ghedina, Michael Walchhofer, Peter Müller, and Rob Boyd.
The super-G has also seen notable winners, including local hero Werner Heel, Didier Cuche, and Lasse Kjus. The first super-G on the Saslong piste was held in 1983 - the winner was the Swiss skier Pirmin Zurbriggen. The races are accompanied by a varied entertainment programme.
The racecourse runs from the top station of the Ciampinoi cable car, below the Sassolungo Group, down towards Santa Cristina. The start of the downhill is 250 metres higher than the super-G start and includes the steepest part of the Saslong: the Spinel section, with a gradient of 56.9%.
