Alpine SkiingAt Berchtesgaden
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Berchtesgaden (Bavaria, Germany) - First, second, third, fourth and fifth. That is, Gros, Thoeni, Stricker, Schmalzl Pietrogiovanna classified'' in order to end the giant slalom in Berchtesgaden, the place in Eastern Bavaria where once stood the legendary "Eagles Nest", a winter retreat of Adolf Hitler. There'' s Italian Mario Cotelli (and technicians, talented, and Orestes Luciano Panatti Peccedi) rewrote the history of the Italian Alpine skiing, placing five athletes in the top five, never happened before or after. An Austrian newspaper, the next day, spoke of "Blue Avalanche". It's been 40 years today.
Tuesday 7 January 2014 5 minutes reading time
'' There were Italian journalists, oddly enough, that day. Even the shooting, because the cameras, he said, were too heavy to be transported from the cable car is not exactly modern, of the place. However, in Germany, that day, (re) wrote the history of Italian skiing, never equaled in similar numbers after. It was January 7, 1974.
Berchtesgaden, Bavaria east, on the border with Austria'': 24km from Salzburg, less than 200 from Monaco. '' The Italian is a little lower. That can awaken memories of that name, Berchtesgaden? Well, the "eagle's nest", the famous retreat of Hitler. Already. After the war, instead becomes a popular tourist resort and spa, are not Winter.
The national men's alpine skiing, guided by the 1972 season - 73'' by Mario Cotelli, after the glories of'' Vuarnet was capable of bringing Gustav Thoeni the Olympic title and two World Cups general, therefore, had already won a lot, but that day it came to'' absolute pinnacle.
It's been exactly 40 years exactly. In the snow of the Alps above a small village, the scene is the third season of the giant World Cup men 1973-1974: the first two have been won by the Austrians Hinterseer and Berchtold, but Schmalzl and Gros are already on the podium, respectively second and third in the first race. Slope short, angled tracking, tough race. At the end of the first round Gros, Thoeni and Schmalzl are the first three places. It is not a surprise. And in the second confirmed.
But Erwin Stricker, the legend of Mario Cotelli, with the Austrians was betting on a possible third place, which seized with a furious second round. Then Tino Pietrogiovanna, Valtellina, in the future "mentor" Deborah Compagnoni, with bib 43, he managed to slip in 5th place.
Recap: 1st Piero Gros, 2nd Gustavo Thoeni 2'' 23'', 3'' to 2'' Erwin Stricker 83, 4th Helmut Schmalzl 3'' 48'', 5th Tino Pietrogiovanna 3 ' '' '77. Five Italians in the top five in a race of the World Cup Alpine skiing. Never happened before, never happened more after. The bravest of the Norwegian Erik Haker was beaten sixth to more than 4''''.
Mario Cotelli told so, Flavio Vanetti of Corriere della Sera, the'' origin of the name "Blue Avalanche": "The nickname" Blue Avalanche "was born, however, the following Sunday, in France. Massimo Di Marco (in the future Director of Skiing, now in the hands of his son Marco), the Gazzetta dello Sport, was absent in Germany. came to Morzine and asked me to tell the pokerissimo. told him that the five had been like that snowball, rolling, become avalanche . headline like that. " He was cleared through customs a specific period in history, formed by various athletes, "Gustavo and Piero were the strongest, but the others were trying to achieve: competitive spirit was decisive."
Here is our small tribute to a team probably unrepeatable.
The official result of the race.
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