On 20-21 December a special Gran Risa, the first without an audience: 35 years of emotions in Alta Badia

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Just over ten days to the World Cup weekend, with the legendary giant and the return of the slalom. Andy Varallo: "We lack people and human contact, but we have to set a good example".

Wednesday 9 December 2020 7 minutes reading time

Thirty-five years of history written on the steep slope of the most beautiful giant slope in the world. The Gran Risa will return on 20 December for its most special and particular edition, the first without an audience on the track of the men's World Cup race that Alta Badia hosted for the first time on 15 December 1985. a champion like Ingemar Stenmark to "baptize it". This year, after five editions of the parallel giant at night, with the reinterpretation of the calendar due to Covid, slalom will return on Monday 21 December, and will be the first of this season (followed the next day by 3Tre of Madonna di Campiglio ). The last time that the narrow poles were protagonists on the Gran Risa was on 19 December 2011 and Marcel Hirscher triumphed ahead of Giuliano Razzoli; coincidentally, the Salzburg champion is the multiple winner in Alta Badia in an absolute sense (8 successes, including a PGS), with the six consecutive gems in the most anticipated giant, from 2013 to 2018, which shine above all. An event born from a dream of Marcello Varallo, former blue downhill skier: "In the Gran Risa I have always seen a strong potential and I thought it would become a track to which the best in the world would respect", says the one who, after the A competitive career, he then used all his know-how to bring a World Cup ski race to his home in Alta Badia. “The 1985 edition was just the beginning: the most difficult challenge at the time was to demonstrate the great added value of the World Cup races in Alta Badia for the FIS calendars”. Thanks to the great commitment of all the volunteers, the first edition was a huge success, guaranteeing approval from the national and international federation. The Alpine Ski World Cup in Alta Badia has therefore become a fixed appointment, scheduled every year for the last Sunday before Christmas. To benefit, not a single town or municipality, but the entire valley and all of South Tyrol. In order to guarantee a maximum safety environment to media representatives, volunteers and all the people involved, the Organizing Committee has been working for months on the development of a 360 ° safety concept. Also part of this project are the “Be Defender” fabrics, which will be used in all departments. The Italian firm Gelmi, during the hardest months of the pandemic, started a research project in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Medicine of the University of Padua, having as its object the study of the permanence of Sars CoV2 on textile surfaces. A treatment with antibacterial and antiviral properties has therefore been developed, applied on these particular fabrics, to prevent bacterial proliferation and accumulation of viral load. During the competition days, Be Defender pillow covers in TNT with tested antiviral treatment will be distributed, with the aim of evoking protection and care when traveling and sleeping on a pillow that is not really. The safety project is supported by the South Tyrolean company Leitner. "Now there is very little and we are experiencing the preparations in a semi-desert atmosphere - the words of the president of the organizing committee, Andy Varallo - We lack human contacts with those who used to prepare the construction of hospitality areas in the finish area already in November, with those who were preparing to launch online ticket sales and with those who passed by for any final face-to-face comparisons on what to do. We miss the comings and goings of people, the moments of joy spent together with volunteers and partners, but it is our task and duty to set a good example in wanting to lower the numbers of epidemiological care, with the intention of being able to reopen the doors as soon as possible of the winter season so dear and desired to us all ". THE PROGRAM The first heat of the now traditional giant slalom will start at 10.00 on Sunday 20 December, while the second descent is scheduled for 13.30. On Monday 21 December, always at 10.00 the slalomists will be staged, who will face the second heat at 13.00. And at least for this year, the public will have to be content with enjoying the show of the Gran Risa on television, hoping to return to the track and to the parterre in December 2021.

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