Here we are: on January 4th, the 52nd edition of the legendary sporting event La Ciaspolada will take place! What? You didn’t know about it? Then let me tell you a story that began over half a century ago.
La Ciaspolada is more than 50 years old—52, to be exact!
We can safely say that La Ciaspolada is the mother of all snowshoe competitions.
It was born in 1972 from the intuition of a brilliant figure from Val di Non, Alessandro Bertagnolli. While observing some residents of Tret, in Upper Val di Non, crossing snow-covered forests on snowshoes to bring food to hungry roe deer, he realized that snowshoes could also be used for play and competition.
No sooner said than done: in January of the following year, 1973, the very first “Ciaspolada” took place. There were just 18 competitors at the start, and the first course—through the village of Tret—was about 4 km long.
At the time, snowshoes were extremely scarce, so the race was held as an individual time trial, allowing participants to share the snowshoes by swapping them after each lap.
The snowshoes used back then were certainly not lightweight or ergonomic: they were made of wood and rope and tied directly to the feet.
This first edition was only a timid beginning, a small experiment that soon caught on and evolved into a major competition. The format changed technically, adopting a mass-start race with all competitors starting together and the winner being the first to cross the finish line.
Around the 10th edition, La Ciaspolada became a major event, associated with the iconic logo of the little mascot wearing snowshoes. It had already become famous throughout Northern Italy, attracting busloads of participants from various cities—especially Bologna, with which a strong friendship developed between organizers and group leaders.
La Ciaspolada continued to grow and became the leading sporting event in Trentino by number of participants: from the initial 18 competitors to the historic edition with 6,343 participants!
Today, La Ciaspolada continues thanks to the organization of the Società Podistica Novella, run by a board of 9 members, a charismatic president, and around 400 volunteers who are always ready to play their part. The event is supported by all public institutions, from local municipalities and valley communities to the Trentino–Alto Adige Region and the Province of Trento. There are currently three main sponsors—Melinda, Casse Rurali Trentine, and Itas—along with 19 official sponsors.
La Ciaspolada: a course of beauty
In the early 1990s, La Ciaspolada moved from the small village of Tret to the wide meadows of the “Pradiei,” still in Upper Val di Non, between the villages of Fondo and Romeno. This move was driven by logistical reasons: participation kept increasing year after year, and tiny Tret could no longer accommodate everyone.
Over time, not only the location but also the length of the course began to vary, depending on where the race was held and on the availability of natural snow along the route.
This factor became especially crucial in recent years, as snowfall became less reliable. As a result, new locations were added, first Mount Roen and later the “Regole di Malosco” plain. The former offers ski slopes with artificial snow, while the latter features a cross-country skiing loop.
Because of the lack of snow, there were also two particularly memorable editions held entirely in the village of Fondo. In the first, a circuit was created and repeated nine times through the narrow streets overlooking the Rio Sass canyon; the second was organized as a nighttime race.
The lack of snow ultimately became an opportunity to introduce innovation, offering new stylistic variations to long-time participants.
Today, La Ciaspolada can take place in one of three locations: the Pradiei meadows, the Regole di Malosco, or the Mendola Pass.
The choice depends on snow conditions, and accordingly the start, finish, elevation gain, and—slightly—the length of the course vary (with the goal of covering at least 7 km each year).
Despite climate change, which has sometimes meant little or no snowfall by race day, in 49 editions the snowshoe race has turned into a running race only three times. In emergencies, the organizers have always managed the situation using artificial snow, not only for the race but also for other winter sports activities.
Snowshoeing at La Ciaspolada
The first participants in La Ciaspolada were few and all locals. Today, competitors arrive from all over the world—from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as from closer countries such as France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, and Germany, and of course from every region of Italy.
This international reach is due in part to the fact that in 2004 and 2019 the race was officially recognized as a stage of the World Championship circuit.
In recent years, participation has stabilized at around 3,000–3,500 people. The most devoted participants start registering as early as October, especially to secure accommodation—particularly larger groups already familiar with the area. They are joined by supporters accompanying the runners.
Every year, as soon as the organizational machine gets going, excitement spreads throughout the valley. Those at the starting line can truly feel the buzz in the air!
You might wonder whether only athletes now compete in La Ciaspolada—the answer is no. La Ciaspolada is for everyone: athletes, families, groups of friends dressed up as Befana, and anyone who simply loves outdoor sports.
All the numbers and names of La Ciaspolada
The 2009 edition was the most attended ever, with 6,343 participants from all over the world.
Do you know how many total participants there have been in over 50 years of La Ciaspolada? More than 150,000.
And the total kilometers covered over these 50 years? Nearly 350 km (7 km × 50), walked and run by snowshoers—athletes and non-athletes alike!
The main difference between snowshoers is that competitive athletes arrive better prepared, often coming from mountain running or middle-distance backgrounds.
These athletes, registered in the competitive race, follow specific training programs on snow—or, like Luigi Pastore, even on sand. Once the course is ready, they always carry out a careful inspection to study elevation, distance, and difficulty, so they can manage their energy during the race.
Among the most well-known athletes who have taken part in this major sporting event, we recall—in the men’s category—Salvatore Bettiol, Gelindo Bordin, Orlando Pizzolato, Osvaldo Faustini, Jonathan Wyatt (world champion in mountain running), and Cesare Maestri (world champion in mountain running and four-time winner of La Ciaspolada).
In the women’s category: Laura Foli (marathon runner and five-time winner), Ludmilla Pedrova (marathon runner), Maria Grazia Roberti (world champion in snowshoe running in Vancouver in 2010), and Annalaura Mugno (world champion in snowshoe running in 2019).
Among those with the most victories, we recall in the men’s category: Luigi Pastore (5 wins), Cesare Maestri (4), Giuliano Battocletti (3), Antonio Molinari (3), and Alex Baldaccini (3).
In the women’s category: Laura Foli (5), Maria Grazia Roberti (4), Annalaura Mugno (3), Isabella Morlini (3), and Laila Andreu Trias (3).
For amateur participants, the goal is quite different: to have fun and enjoy a special day—out of the ordinary—alone, with friends, or with family, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
And for those who prefer not to wear snowshoes, there’s always the option of watching and cheering: the audience at La Ciaspolada is usually huge, enthusiastic, and passionate, lining the entire course!
La Ciaspolada in practice
Registering for La Ciaspolada is very easy: online via the dedicated website (www.ciaspolda.it) or, for locals, by visiting the organizers’ office in Piazza San Giovanni in Fondo. Every participant receives a commemorative gift to take home as a keepsake.
All information and fees can be found by clicking here.
It is tradition for La Ciaspolada to kick off the event the day before the race with a ceremony that includes the presentation of athletes to the press, a torchlight procession, and spectacular fireworks lighting up the sky to mark the start of the new edition.
On race day, the event begins with the start of the competitive race, followed by the non-competitive “fun run”—a true parade of motivated, cheerful participants!
As with all great races, awards for the winners take place directly at the finish area, while in the afternoon a special ceremony celebrates larger groups and category winners, concluding with the draw of the fantastic “Try Your Luck with Snowshoes” lottery.
Today, La Ciaspolada is an event that changes every January while remaining true to itself. The course varies from year to year depending on snow conditions, but the spirit remains the same.
It is precisely this spirit that attracts competitors from all over Italy and from some twenty other countries worldwide, drawing the attention of television and newspapers alike.
Thanks also to this event, snowshoes have evolved from a means of transportation for basic needs into a form of recreation—the winter continuation of summer hiking, a way to socialize and experience the mountains, and a pastime that recalls the traditions of the past.
So get ready for January 4th, 2026, with snowshoes on your feet. It doesn’t matter whether you race to win, to play, or simply to enjoy a day out watching the event. That’s the beauty of La Ciaspolada: it brings everyone together in one big celebration and returns every year at the start of the new year with its magic.
