By André Santos
The interest for Visma Ski Classics and long distance skiing, in general, is rising in Italy.
There has been an increase in the number of Italian Pro Teams and athletes who participate in the Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour during previous seasons.
There is also a revolution happening. Earlier young skiers developed their careers with the ambition of being a member of the Italian national team and aimed to win medals at the World Championships and Olympics. Now there is a growing number of Italian athletes who focus their development on long distance skiing instead.
In season XI there will be three Italian Pro Teams competing in Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour: Team Robinson Trentino, Sottozero Trentino Team Zorzi Max and Team Futura Trentino Alta Quota – all of them coming from the region of the legendary Marcialonga, and all of them dedicated to enhancing the development of long distance skiing in Italy.
Team Robinson Trentino was the first Pro Team in the circuit and they have now established the “Double Poling Academy,” where the Pro Team Director Bruno Debertolis coach young athletes to develop their abilities towards being competitive in long distance skiing.
24 years old Lorenzo Busin is one of those athletes who have been inspired by the work of Debertolis.
“I found that long distance races are much more suitable for me, and also much more enjoyable”, says the Italian athlete who has won Dolomitenlauf Classics, Gran Fondo Val Casies Classic and finished 57th in Marcialonga 2019.
Over the years Lorenzo Busin has been working on his endurance and double poling technique. He trains more than 20 hours a week while working as an accountant in an office.
“It’s not easy but I managed to find a good way to do both things; my employer understands my passion and gives me some free days when I need during the winter” says Busin.
Lorenzo is thankful for the chance Team Robinson Trentino gave him. He believes it has made him a better athlete.
“In season XI, I hope to be in the top 30 in Visma Ski Classics races and to win one of the Italian events. I really want to be one of the strongest long distance skiers in Italy,” says Busin.
Florian Capello, also 24 years old, is another Italian athlete from Team Robinson Trentino. He was struggling to find the motivation to continue skiing shorter races. He decided to attend La Venosta and the joy of cross country skiing came back to him. Florian train as much as possible while working with apple plantations in Italy.
“Team Robinson Trentino has shared their experience with me, telling me how to race in long distance events but the most important lesson they taught me is that I have to be really passionate if I want to perform well,” says Florian.
He has been showing his ambition by finishing in top 30 in a few races and he has the desire to make his team proud.
“Visma Ski Classics is getting more attention in Italy. Hopefully, some of our athletes can reach the podium in the coming years,” says Capello.
Another Italian Pro Team – Sottozero Trentino Team – also has its share of promising young athletes. One of them is Gabriel Koehl, a young athlete who has been part of the South Tyrolean Team for the last years and this season will make his debut as a long distance skier, after being invited by Pro Team director Michelle Pasqualotto.
“I have been training and learning so much with the Pro Team. Training with experienced Italian athletes like Mauro Brigadoi has helped me a lot. In season XI I want to show everybody how much I have improved says the young Italian athlete.
Team Futura Trentino Alta Quota is also working on getting younger Italians into Visma Ski Classics events, so it is very likely that, in the coming seasons, some Italian athletes will become competitive and reach top positions. But one thing is certain – long distance skiing is now a popular sport in the south of the Alps.
