Val Gardena - Italy

Val Gardena - Italy

Gherdëina (Italian: Val Gardena) is a valley in the Dolomites of northern Italy. It is best known as a skiing, rock climbing, and woodcarving area. The valley's main river is the Derjon. The three municipalities in Gherdëina are Urtijëi, Sëlva and Santa Cristina which were served by the Fërata de Gherdëina from 1916 until 1960. Gherdëina is one of five valleys with a majority of Ladin speakers (two of these valleys are in South Tyrol). The form of the Ladin language spoken in this valley is called Gardenese in Italian, Grödnerisch in German and Gherdëina in Ladin. The valley hosted the 1970 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Gherdëina is home to the Saslong Classic, a men's World Cup downhill race that has been held almost every year since 1969. Since 2002 (and in 1983), the downhill has been paired with a super G race, and from 1979 to 1982 a combined event was held. The Saslong course is considered one of the five "classic" men's downhill races, along with Garmisch-Partenkirchen's Kandahar (GER), Kitzbühel's Hahnenkamm (AUT), Wengen's Lauberhorn (SUI), and Val d'Isere's Criterium (FRA).

It is well known for the "Camel Humps" (or "Bumps"), a series of three small jumps which racers must negotiate in quick succession. Two men have managed to win the Saslong title four times in a career: Austrian Franz Klammer (1975, two races in 1976, and 1982) and Italy's Kristian Ghedina (1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001). If super G wins are also included, two other men have matched that feat: Peter Müller of Switzerland and Austrian Michael Walchhofer.

A women's slalom and parallel slalom were also held in 1975.

Gherdëina is part of the Sella Ronda alpine ski touring circuit.

The Gardena Spring Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition held every spring in the Valley.

Gherdëina has a Serie A2 ice hockey team, the HC Gherdëina.

Article source: Wikipedia; more information you can read on ValGardena.it