After the speed races in Val Gardena, the Alpine Ski World Cup Tour will continue on the legendary Gran Risa slope in Alta Badia with a Slalom and Giant Slalom.
Alta Badia is a ski resort in the Dolomites of northern Italy, in the upper part of the Val Badia in South Tyrol. It is included in the territory of the municipalities of Corvara, Badia, and La Val. Alta Badia is one of the 12 ski resorts of Dolomiti Superski.
The prestigious ski resort in the heart of the Alto Adige Dolomites will welcome the 39th Alpine Ski World Cup on Sunday 17th December 2023, on the Gran Risa slope in La Villa, with the traditional Men's Giant Slalom, followed by another Giant Slalom on Monday 18th.
On 15 December 1985, the first men's World Cup Giant Slalom was held on the Gran Risa slope. Marcello Varallo, the current President of the Organising Committee, has achieved his dream of bringing an Alpine Ski World Cup event to his home in Alta Badia. The winner of the day was alpine skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark, followed by Austrian Hubert Strolz and local champion Roberto Erlacher.
The Gran Risa piste is one of the most technically interesting and demanding pistes in the ski circus.
The start of the piste can be reached from La Villa with the Piz La Ila cable car and via the ski slopes of the Piz La Ila - Piz Sorega plateau.
The descent through the forest begins just below the junction of the black and red slopes of Piz La Ila and leads through the pine forest near La Villa.
The slope is mainly north-facing and runs through woodland for long stretches. This means it is in the shade all day. This makes it particularly slippery and even icy at times.
After overcoming the steep slope at the beginning, a distinctive curve leads down into a steep, narrow gully. The descent then leads to a second change of direction to reach the finish line.
Gran Risa Racecourse Facts
Start altitude: 1,868m (GS), 1,625m (SL)
Finish altitude: 1,420m
Elevation difference: 448m (GS), 205m (SL)
Length: 1,255m (GS), 610m (SL)
Steepest section: 69 %
Average gradient: 36 %
Alta Badia (ITA)
December 22nd Giant Slalom / Men 10:00 CET 1st run 13:30 CET 2nd run
December 23rd Slalom / Men 10:00 CET 1st run 13:30 CET 2nd run
Last season, Marco Odermatt won the two Giant Slalom races held in Alta Badia.
On December 17, 2023, after setting the best time in the first run Odermatt must gave it all to beat a super second run of Filip Zubcic who had set the best time. The Swiss and the Croatian were in a league of their own. He finished 0.19 seconds ahead of the Croatian, and +2.26 seconds ahead of Zan Kranjec.
The skier from Nidwalden continued his dominance in the Giant Slalom discipline on the Gran Risa racecourse the day after. He finished 1.05 seconds ahead of Marco Schwarz, and +1.22 seconds ahead of Zan Kranjec. For the 4th time, he won on the technically demanding Gran Risa.
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