Ciaspolissima 2015, scheduled for January 24 and 25 on the snows of Malborghetto-Valbruna

At the end of January, the village of Valbruna in the Municipality of Malborghetto transforms into the regional capital of snowshoeing. During the two days that characterize the event, the quiet and enchanted village becomes a gathering place for fans of snow, snowshoeing, and dog trekking. On the plain in front of the village, the start and finish area is set up alongside a colorful, lively village featuring an exhibition and testing of technical gear, a sled dog area, fat bikes, and food and wine stands. On this occasion, the entire valley fills with sports enthusiasts, families, and sled dog lovers, while the night is characterized by bonfires, the twinkle of headlamps scattered across the snow-covered meadows, and torches that make the setting magical and evocative.

The soul of the transformation of this event, which started quietly in 2009 and grew steadily to reach over a thousand participants, lies in the dedication of a group of enthusiasts who work almost all year round to organize it in the best possible way, thanks to the important support of local associations and organizations, institutions, and manufacturers of technical products who see Ciaspolissima as a wonderful initiative to support and promote.

The 2015 program begins on Saturday morning with an introduction to snowshoe orienteering organized by the regional FISO, followed by an orienteering race featuring courses of varying difficulty. During the morning and early afternoon, it will also be possible to try snowshoes free of charge. Over the weekend, visitors will also be able to see the sled dogs of the Italian Mushers Association in action, along with trials and demonstrations of winter Nordic walking and “fat bikes“—bicycles with extra-wide tires designed for riding on snow. The most evocative and magical part is the night walk, where participants move in a group for a walk through snow-covered woods and meadows by the light of torches marking part of the route and headlamps. To take part, all that is required is a pair of waterproof footwear accompanied by suitable winter clothing, as snowshoes can be rented on site.

On Sunday, in addition to the snowshoe races and walks, there will also be a dog trekking gathering (dog and owner), and visitors will be able to see the sled dogs from the award-winning Vanisela kennel in action as forerunners for the snowshoe races.
The main race itself, reserved for the best-prepared athletes, consists of a competitive event over a 10 km course with 250 meters of elevation gain, featuring top-level athletes such as the winner of the 2014 edition, world snowshoe running vice-champion Filippo Barizza. There is also a 5 km non-competitive walk with minimal elevation gain open to everyone, as well as a dog trekking gathering where the dog runs alongside its owner. Many participants organize themselves into groups both to take advantage of the discounts and prizes reserved for them and to spend an enjoyable weekend among friends.
The new features for the 2015 edition, taking place on January 24 and 25, will be an introduction to snowshoe orienteering and the opportunity for guided rides on “fat bikes”, bicycles with extra-wide tires for pedaling along snow-covered trails.

Program:

Sunday 25/1 Ciaspolissima and dog trekking: