On 24 and 25 January in Sestriere, on the slopes of the Vialattea ski area, the second edition of the gathering of the “Sciatori d’epoca” Association will take place. This year’s event is dedicated to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Claudia Giordani’s silver medal in Slalom at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics.
Born in Rome and Milanese by adoption, Giordani developed her competitive skiing career on the slopes of Sestriere, as a member of the Sestriere Ski Club.
“Sestriere, with its mountains and its slopes, continues to hold a special place in my heart and in that of my family,” commented Claudia Giordani. “It is the place of my youth and the beginning of my competitive adventure with the colours of the Sestriere Ski Club, one of the most prestigious and important even at that time, together with the instructors of the Ski School and the coaches who allowed me to learn a style and technique of great quality. On the Alpette slope, the iconic Kandahar G.A. Agnelli, a temple of the World Cup, World Championships and the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games, I competed in my first race in 1967. This was followed, gradually but within just a few seasons, by the most important and significant competitions. The strong bond with Sestriere has always remained, through the arrival of the Vialattea, from the wonderful ski days with my children to the many major sporting events that have taken place over time, including my experience as Media Manager at the Olympic Village in 2006. Returning to Sestriere is always a joy! I am very grateful to the Sciatori d’Epoca Association for the dedication, for their commitment to keeping memory alive and for the unique friendship that sport gives us.”
“Initiatives like this,” added Luisella Bourlot, CEO of Sestrieres S.p.A., “highlight for Vialattea the historic value of our ski area, taking us back in our minds to when the first skiers were already skiing our slopes in the 1930s. Pioneers who laid the foundations of skiing in our Piedmont Alps. Between past, present and future, Vialattea represents the ideal destination to nurture and grow a passion for skiing.”
The programme of the second edition of the “Sciatori d’epoca” Association gathering includes, on Saturday 24 in the morning, a group ski session with vintage equipment on the Vialattea slopes. In the afternoon, at 5:30 p.m. at Casa Olimpia, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Claudia Giordani’s Olympic medal will take place.
On Sunday 25 January, starting at 10:30 a.m. in Sestriere, on the lower section of the Standard slope, a Giant Slalom race/exhibition will be held with vintage skis, boots and clothing. The event is promoted by the Metropolitan City of Turin and the Municipality of Sestriere, with the support of Vialattea.
Competitors will be required to use equipment made with reduced sidecut, characteristic of the technical setup used until the mid-1990s. The competitors will be divided into four categories: Pioneers (using wooden skis with non-plastic bases and leather boots), Classics 1960–1975, Vintage and Telemark. Prizes will be awarded to competitors wearing clothing most appropriate to the era of production of their skis and boots.
