A shorter version of the Gardenissima race staged at Val Gardena at the start of April will see children aged 6 to 13 (born between 2003 and 2010) tackle a 2km long ski race on Sunday, April 2nd.
The kids race will follow the full ‘Südtirol Gardenissima’ which has been one of the big end-of-season events at Val Gardena skiing season 1996 and which will be staged on April 1st this year.
The unique giant slalom race is open to all snowsport lovers of 14 years old and over and starts from the top of Monte Seceda (2,518 m) then delivers a rollercoaster run of around 6 kilometres right to the finish-line at Col Raiser.
In between the two spots is an elevation change of 1,033 metres and more than 110 gates which participants tackle in a four-minute adrenaline rush that will make them feel like they’re in the middle of a World Cup race.
The Südtirol Gardenissima Kids, back for the fourth time, also starts at the top of the Seceda but sees the children ski down to the Fermeda chair lift station, a run of 2 kilometres over a drop of 463 metres.
“Since it was first held in 1996, the Südtirol Gardenissima has grown in popularity from year to year. We would like the Südtirol Gardenissima Kids to do the same” said Günther Pitscheider, director of Val Gardena-Gröden Marketing.
And it looks like his wish will come true as participant numbers in this junior version are going from strength to strength each year. Entries are split in to age-related categories: Superbaby, Baby, Cubs and Teens.