Published: 11.01.24

Raimund Planker technician for many years of both the women‘s and men‘s Italian Alpine skiing team. Since 2022, he has been assistant race director of the men‘s World Cup fast disciplines, i.e. Hannes Trinkl, as well as setter of the 26th Gardenissima.

Now a regular and reassuring presence in the white circus, when and how did your relationship with skiing begin?
I was three years old when I started skiing. As an athlete, first in the Gardena Ski Club, then in the national team, as well as in the Carabinieri Sports Centre. End of career conditioned by physical problems. Then began the new ‚adventure‘ as an instructor and national coach. I was lucky enough to turn my passion into a profession.

There are many promising young international and local skiers. How much is the level of these young people rising?
With the intensity that top athletes have nowadays, you have to be really strong, which is a common reality in all sports. Nevertheless, the national and international stage trains an important number of young athletes every year.Despite the difficulties encountered, starting with the financial ones, thanks to the organisational structures, and not only, present in the valley, the movement is growing well, but this does not detract from the fact that the difference between a good athlete and a champion is the ‚hunger‘ and the desire for pride, success and to achieve the set goals.

What are the prospects for skiing in Italy?
Italy is one of the countries with the most FIS members. Unfortunately, however, many young people retire early. This is partly due to the fault of the system, but also because of the great competition of being able to choose other sports, which are sometimes more attractive, especially team sports.

Out of interest, any names of young people to follow in the coming years?
It is very difficult to make predictions, because those with less talent often advance, but with a very important character strength, which is decisive for achieving certain successes.

At the level of experience, which is really a lot, what distinguishes the marking of a race over 100 gates long, such as the Gardenissima, from other races, starting with the Ski Club races and ending with the World Cup races?
It is a completely different race. In the World Cup you work a lot with GPS, whereas the Gardenissima is a special course. The first part is a parallel, with two courses close together, with equal measurements consolidated over time, which then merge into one. In fact it becomes a middle way between a Super-G and a Giant, which allows greater safety for everyone. The second part is plotted according to weather and snow conditions. In any case, the safety of the participants is prioritised. For these reasons, there are differences along the piste every year.

What special attention should be paid to such a track?
It must be a course accessible to all, so we avoid pitfalls and try to ensure as much visibility of the gates as possible, considering the high number of participants.

What are, for the athletes, the biggest pitfalls of the course?
The key is to ski impeccably in the first part, as well as the entrance to the Col Raiser gully, because there‘s a change in light, transitioning from sun to shade, and it‘s essential to interpret that section well to carry as much speed as possible towards the last gates before the finish line.

What is the crucial step to aspire to win the Gardenissima?
Trying to draw in a fairly neutral way, the crucial passage is not just one. There are points that have to be approached in the right way in order to win the race, such as the first, more technical part, it is important to gain an advantage, so that, with the right physical preparation, you retain the advantage until the finish.

What kind of skis does the Gardenissima setter recommend for participants? Both for World Cup athletes and for fans of the sport?
Usually, for the professionals, it is preferable to use a Super-G ski, as it gives more impetus in the flat parts, where smoothness is also required, and for everyone else, absolutely, giant slalom skis, which are more suitable and in particular safer and easier to control for the majority of participants.