by InTrieste
In a mountain town better known for its quiet forests and postcard peaks than for international fanfare, nearly 1,000 young skiers carved bright arcs across the snow this weekend, transforming the slopes into one of the liveliest arenas in Italian winter sport.
The occasion was the 42nd Trofeo Biberon, a youth ski competition that has grown from a regional fixture into a cross-border gathering of Alpine promise. Now in its 21st year as an international event, the race drew athletes not only from Friuli Venezia Giulia and eight other Italian regional committees, but from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary.
At the end of two brisk February days, it was SCI CLUB 70 — the event’s organizing club — that claimed the overall trophy, finishing ahead of Noah Tarvisio and SC Pordenone. Yet the victory seemed almost secondary to the scale and spirit of the event itself.
This year’s edition was widely described by participants as memorable, thanks in part to a new format that expanded competition in alpine skiing to include the “Children” categories — Ragazzi and Allievi — for athletes registered with the regional FISI committee. For 14- to 16-year-olds, it meant entry into one of the most anticipated races on the regional calendar.
“We have reached the 42nd edition of the Trofeo Biberon, the 21st at an international level, with an important novelty for the young skiers of our region,” said Roberto Andreassich, president of the organizing committee. “By extending the event to the Ragazzi and Allievi categories, we gave these athletes the opportunity to compete in one of the most awaited ski events in Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
The expansion came at a logistical cost. Alpine and Nordic races unfolded simultaneously across multiple locations, with close to 1,000 competitors to coordinate. “These were demanding numbers,” Andreassich said. “They required an even greater effort from our organization.” He credited the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and PromoTurismoFVG — the regional tourism agency — as principal partners, along with volunteers and sponsors who helped shoulder the load. “The result was undoubtedly very positive,” he added. “We believe we will confirm this format again next year.”
For the visiting teams, the event offered more than podiums. Delegations from Central and Eastern Europe praised the organization and atmosphere, expressing eagerness to return in 2027. In the finish area, clusters of children swapped pins and stories in a mix of languages, their skis stacked in colorful rows against the snow fencing.
Forni di Sopra, tucked into the Carnic Alps, has increasingly positioned itself as a family-friendly winter destination. Events like the Trofeo Biberon serve as both sporting milestone and civic showcase — a reminder that small mountain communities can host competitions of surprising scale.
For the fifth consecutive year, the weekend also marked the opening stage of the “Energia Pura Kids Series,” a circuit for the youngest “Cuccioli” categories that rewards consistency over the course of an entire season rather than a single race. The initiative places emphasis on education, inclusion, integration and sustainability — values organizers say are meant to accompany athletic performance.
The closing ceremony, held against a backdrop of snow-dusted peaks, underscored the event’s institutional support. Iacopo Mestroni, the general director of PromoTurismoFVG; Maurizio Dunnhofer, president of FISI Friuli Venezia Giulia; and Iginio Coradazzi, the mayor of Forni di Sopra, presented the special prize to SCI CLUB 70. The award: a limited-edition race suit for each athlete on the winning team, branded with the Trofeo Biberon insignia and “Io sono FVG,” produced by the Italian sportswear company Energiapura.
The symbolism was not lost on parents gathered in the cold afternoon light. In youth sport, trophies may tarnish and times may fade, but belonging — to a club, a town, a region — endures.
Organized in collaboration with CONI, FISI and the Municipality of Forni di Sopra, and supported by sponsors including Rossignol, Energiapura, Treesport and Il Giulia, the Trofeo Biberon has become a fixture of the Alpine winter calendar. Full race results are available on the SCI CLUB 70 website.
As the final medals were handed out and the loudspeakers fell silent, the slopes gradually returned to their usual calm. But for a weekend at least, this corner of Friuli Venezia Giulia felt like the center of a much larger world — one built on snow, speed and the wide-eyed determination of children racing downhill toward whatever comes next.
