At 7:30 on Saturday 3 April 2027 the Südtirol Gardenissima gets under way, a giant slalom open to all: 6 km and 115 gates from the Seceda to Col Raiser. Entries are open, 85 euro until 30 November and 105 after that; the young racers go on the Sunday.
The Südtirol Gardenissima is a giant slalom open to everyone, held in Val Gardena since 1997. The course is 6 km long, with 1,033 metres of vertical drop and 115 gates: it starts on the Seceda at 2,518 metres and finishes at the Col Raiser gondola valley station in Selva, at 1,485 metres. The tourist board bills it as the longest giant slalom in the world; the fastest racers finish in just over three minutes.
Racers start in pairs on two parallel courses that merge just below the Baita Daniel hut, where you must pass between the two red and blue gates. Entry is capped at 700, and alongside amateurs there are former World Cup racers in the Ski Legends category. The 2025 race was cancelled; in 2026 the winners were Simon Jocher and Christina Ager.
Sunday belongs to young racers born between 2011 and 2020 in the Gardenissima KIDS: 1.9 km and more than 350 metres of drop from the Seceda to the Fermeda chairlift valley station. The ski club with the most points, provided it fields at least 20 children, wins the 3,000 euro Club Trophy.
Where Südtirol Gardenissima falls in the Dolomites year, and what happens in the other weeks: Best time to visit the Dolomites: a month-by-month guide.
Good to know
- Admission: The official site says nothing about tickets for spectators. To race: 85 euro by 30 November 2026, 105 from 1 December, and 155 for the last 50 charity bibs (50 euro goes to Sporthilfe Alto Adige, South Tyrol's sports aid fund). Gardenissima KIDS costs 30 euro, or 25 if a parent races the adult event.
- Entries opened on 11 November 2026 on the official site. To withdraw with a refund, email the organisers before entries close (they close at 700 racers) and in any case by 1 March 2027, with a medical certificate stating you are unfit to race; you can transfer your entry to another name until 1 March 2027.
- Requirements: born before 31 December 2010, a sports medical certificate (competitive or amateur), ID on race day, a helmet (compulsory) and a back protector (recommended).
- Friday 2 April: ski test at the Seceda top station from 10:00 to 14:00, bib collection from 15:00 to 19:30 and autographs from 17:00 to 19:00 in the ‘Pitla Sala’ of the Oswald von Wolkenstein cultural centre in Selva. Saturday 3: course inspection 6:15 to 7:15, start at 7:30, prize-giving at 15:00 at Col Raiser and a party from 16:30 at the Ciampinoi valley station in Selva.
- For spectators: food, drink and music in the finish area at Col Raiser from 8:00 to 14:30, and on race day the Col Raiser and Seceda gondolas open at 6:00. Racers get 50% off the Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi ski pass from 2 to 4 April, only at the ticket offices at Col Raiser, Seceda, Ciampinoi in Selva and the Alpe di Siusi cable car in Ortisei.
- Organised by the Selva Val Gardena tourist office: gardenissima@valgardena.it, +39 0471 777900.
Official website (tickets & info) ↗
Dates, times and prices change every year: always check the official pages before you go.