Matteo, one year on: in Santiago, Chile, Franzoso’s light went out — what is being done for safety

One year without Matteo Franzoso.

It was Monday morning in Santiago, Chile, when the light of the Ligurian athlete, born in 1999, went out at the clinic where he had been admitted, already in desperate condition after the terrible impact with the barrier positioned so close to the safety nets on the La Parva training slope.

He would have turned 26 the following day, September 16, and that tragedy occurred almost a year after the death of Matilde Lorenzi, once again bringing to mind how not enough had yet been done for safety on skis.

Twelve months later, FISI remembered Franzoso as follows: “The void Matteo left within the great family of Italian winter sports is still deep and tangible. We preserve and honor his contagious smile every day, always present and radiant, both in moments of joy and in those of greatest effort. His pure determination, the unconditional commitment he put into every single training session and the grit he showed at the starting gate. The values of sport, the embodiment of sacrifice, loyalty toward his teammates and absolute respect for the mountains.

Matteo taught us what it means to pursue one’s dreams with courage and dedication. Although he is no longer physically with us, his energy and spirit continue to inspire the entire Italian team, from the most experienced champions to the youngest athletes who are beginning to compete.

On this day of moving remembrance, the Federation, together with all the athletes, coaches and staff, embraces the Franzoso family warmly and sincerely, renewing its unconditional support. We also stand close to the Lorenzi family, as the second anniversary of Matilde’s death approaches, a commemoration that will fall just over a month from now. Goodbye, Matteo. You will forever continue to ski in our hearts and on every course your teammates tackle.”

Yesterday, a round table was held in Rovereto, organized by the Rovereto Association for Justice, with the support of Tentino sviluppo and Itas mutua, entitled “Federation rules and practice in competitive skiing”. It was a return to the issues surrounding safety in competitive skiing, which had already been the focus of an important event at the conference organized last year.

Taking part in the round table were Federation President Flavio Roda; Giacomo Bisconti, technical director of Stf and Coscuma; Luigi Borgo, president of Col.Naz; Alessandro Molinari, managing director of Itas Mutua; and Mauro Vendruscolo, a member of Anef and president of Funivia Col Margherita. The meeting was moderated by lawyer Enrico Ballardini.

Roda wanted to remember Matteo Franzoso and Matilde Lorenzi at the beginning of his speech, before moving on to a specific and human aspect linked to safety issues. “Every coach is instinctively attentive to safety. If that were not the case, it would be impossible to do this job. Then there are the homologator and the course setter: all figures who have a clear understanding of the concept of safety on the slopes.

Then there are the external conditions and the athlete’s overall situation. Everything that is done can help protect athletes. It is important always to put athletes first, but I believe that coaches also play a central role in the broader safety process.” The discussion then covered the various aspects of safety in competition and, above all, in training. It was a day of constructive discussion as part of the ongoing drive for improvement and the ever-greater professionalization of those working in the service of snow sports.