FIRST TASTE OF THE LI ZETA FOR THE SPEED MEN, LIVIGNO SOLD OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD CUP
The top speed specialists test the race course, as the Valtellina resort prepares to experience a historic debut on the World Cup circuit in front of a full house.
Livigno, 26 December 2025 – The Alpine Ski World Cup arrives in Livigno for the first time in the resort’s history, with an unprecedented Super-G scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, 27 December, with the first athlete set to leave the start gate at 11:30 a.m.
This morning at 10:00 a.m., athletes were able to test the Li Zeta slope, as required by regulations for every new course making its debut on the World Cup circuit, in order to familiarize themselves with the turns and rolls that will see them in action tomorrow.
“I like the course, it’s very beautiful,” said Marco Odermatt, leader of both the overall standings and the Super-G ranking. “The fact that it is exposed to the sun is an advantage for all of us athletes. The snow is aggressive even though it isn’t extremely hard—it will be great to ski on.”
The course’s exposure to the sun was also highlighted by other World Cup protagonists, including Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, winner of two Super-G crystal globes: “It’s fantastic to be able to ski in the sun along the entire length of the course. The snow will certainly become harder by tomorrow—it will be a great day.”
The start is set at 2,374 meters at Rifugio Costaccia, with the first few flat meters leading into the opening steep pitch beneath the Croce di Valandrea. A traverse then precedes the second, very steep wall—the Larici section—where the more technical athletes will be able to showcase their skills and take advantage of the course setting that will be laid out this afternoon by the Norwegian team’s technician. At the end of the Larici wall, a spectacular jump will launch the athletes into the final section of the Li Zeta course.
“The course is beautiful, with a simpler opening section before the more demanding parts,” said Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni, who claimed his first podium in the most recent Super-G. “It’s great snow to ski on—it reminds me of American snow with temperatures this low. I think tomorrow’s race will be very tight, with small time gaps.”
The public response has been exceptional: the Livigno stop sold out in just a few hours, confirming the strong interest surrounding this historic debut and the resort’s ability to attract top-tier international events.