December 19, 2026 09:30
Men's special slalom on the black slope at the "Aloch" ski stadium in the centre of Pozza, valid for the continental race circuit and the "Pastore" Memorial
For one day, the Aloch opens its doors to the public. The slope in Pozza, normally reserved for team training sessions and competitions, offers the chance to watch the men's European Cup slalom up close. Around a hundred athletes from some twenty countries will compete in two runs, at 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, through the closely set gates of the Ski Stadium. The race also awards the Elke and Alceo Pastore Trophy, dedicated to the founder of the Fassa Ski Team.
You only need to look at the course to understand why the competition takes place right here. With a vertical drop of 220 metres and an average gradient of 27%, the Aloch is one of the Dolomites' most technically demanding courses. Since 2006, it has been an official training centre for the Italian national team as part of the Piste Azzurre project run by FISI and Dolomiti Superski. International teams from the United States, Sweden and Germany also regularly train here, along with athletes from the Apex 2100 International Ski Academy, the Val di Fassa Ski Academy and Chris Knight's Ladies International Team.
In the most recent edition, victory went to France's Auguste Aulnette, who climbed from sixth place after the first run to win with a combined time of 1'46"72. Just 48 hundredths behind was Tommaso Saccardi from Parma, who had led after the first run, while France's Hugo Desgrippes completed the podium, 51 hundredths behind.
The European Cup is the circuit where many of the best young alpine skiers take the next step towards the World Cup. At the Aloch, you can watch them race before some of those names become regulars on the World Cup results sheets. Admission to the stands is free.
