Emma Aicher, Lara Colturi and River Radamus
Strong start to the season: two podium finishes and a fourth place for Val di Fassa's three Ambassador Pro athletes.
For winter 2026/27, the Val di Fassa Tourist Board and the Val di Fassa and Carezza Cableway Consortium are continuing the Ambassador Pro project. Lara Colturi returns for her third season, Emma Aicher for her second, while American skier River Radamus joins the team for the first time. The three athletes share more than a sporting partnership with the Dolomite valley. They train here, prepare for competitions and spend part of their everyday lives in Val di Fassa.
Lara Colturi: A rising star with strong ties to Val di Fassa
Born in Turin in 2006, Lara Colturi is one of the brightest talents in international alpine skiing. She made her World Cup debut in 2022, shortly after turning 16. In the 2024/25 season, she secured her first three podium finishes in slalom and giant slalom, adding another four during the 2025/26 Olympic season. She also made her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. Val di Fassa has long been an important training base and a second home for Lara and her family team. This includes her mother and coach Daniela Ceccarelli, Olympic super-G champion at Salt Lake City 2002, her father Alessandro Colturi, her brother Yuri and the coaching staff. Together, they train in the valley and prepare for competitions throughout the season. Now in her third year as an Ambassador Pro, Lara knows Val di Fassa well beyond its ski slopes. She also spends time here with her family outside the racing season, experiencing the valley throughout the year.
Emma Aicher: Germany's all-rounder on the rise
Emma Aicher begins her second season as an Ambassador Pro following an exceptional winter. The 22-year-old German is one of the few athletes on the World Cup circuit capable of competing at the highest level across all alpine disciplines, from downhill to slalom. During the 2025/26 season, she competed in 36 World Cup races, more than any other alpine skier, and challenged Mikaela Shiffrin for the overall World Cup title right up to the Finals. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, Aicher won two silver medals, in downhill and team combined, where she recorded the fastest slalom time. Her World Cup career tally stands at 13 podium finishes and five victories. Val di Fassa also holds a special place in her racing achievements. In March 2026, she finished second in the World Cup downhill on the La VolatA course at Passo San Pellegrino, just one hundredth of a second behind the winner.
River Radamus: The American who has made Val di Fassa his home
The newest member of the Ambassador Pro team is River Radamus. Born in Colorado in 1998, the American is an established giant slalom specialist on the World Cup circuit. He has competed at two Winter Olympics, finishing fourth at Beijing 2022, just 26 hundredths of a second away from a medal. In 2023, he won World Championship gold in the team parallel event, while in 2025/26 he finished among the top ten in the overall giant slalom standings. His connection with Val di Fassa dates back to the 2019 Junior World Championships. Competing in the valley, Radamus won gold in the super-G on the La VolatA course at Passo San Pellegrino and in the giant slalom on the Aloch course in Pozza di Fassa, as well as silver in the team event. Today, that connection has become part of his everyday life. Radamus lives in Moncion, a small mountain hamlet above Pozza di Fassa, using the valley as his base between training sessions and competitions. Away from racing, he is also committed to environmental and social causes. He supports Protect Our Winters and, through his ARCO Foundation, helps young skiers overcome the financial barriers to competitive skiing.
Skiing at the heart of Val di Fassa's identity
The Ambassador Pro project was launched in the 2022/23 season by the Val di Fassa and Carezza Cableway Consortium. Since last season, it has been managed by the Val di Fassa Tourist Board, with the Consortium continuing as a partner. The project is built around the athletes' personal connection with the valley. Through their own social media channels, they share insights into training on the Dolomites' slopes, preparing for competitions and everyday life, including local traditions, Ladin culture and the mountain environment. Nicolò Weiss, Director of the Val di Fassa Tourist Board, explains: «The value of this project lies in the close connection Lara, Emma and River have with our valley. They train here, compete here and spend part of their lives here. Through their personal stories, we want to show an international audience what makes Val di Fassa special: a community where skiing is much more than a sport. It is a passion and an integral part of our culture.»
Photo credit: Sölden 2026 © SkiAustria / Jakob Zeller
