La Ciaspolada is the biggest popular winter sporting event held in Italy, and the most famous snowshoe race in the world. Year after year, the queen of winter events proves to be a grand celebration—both for the presence of top Italian sports champions and for the massive turnout that doubles the population of Val di Non for a day.
Since way back in 1973, when 18 enthusiastic pioneers gathered for the very first edition of “La Ciaspolada,” a lot has changed, and what started as a small local competition has grown into the World Snowshoe Championship.
The runaway success of a discipline that was overlooked for years in favor of alpine skiing is now enjoying its moment in the spotlight, celebrating its 40th edition in 2013.
Earning World Championship status, however, was no walk in the park: it required a hard-fought bid against countries such as Sweden and Finland, where snowshoeing is widely practiced and represents a staple of the Arctic winter. The bid submitted in 2008 paid off, elevating the event to the pinnacle of international snow sports and giving Val di Non a prestigious global stage.
On January 6, 2013, the snow of Trentino will welcome thousands of snowshoeing enthusiasts alongside pro athletes competing for the 2013 world title; lining up at the start will be the 2 reigning world champions: David Le Porho (Canada) and Maria Grazia Roberti (Brescia), with Roberti aiming to claim her fifth “La Ciaspolada” victory and cement her place on the Italian event’s roll of honor.
As every year, hotels and bed and breakfasts across Val di Non are completely sold out, generating a major tourism boost that showcases Trentino on the international stage. Also noteworthy in terms of sport and tourism is the twinning with the CiaspDoloMitica, which will take place one week later in the Veneto mountains of Val Comelico, featuring a combined overall classification.
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