Despite being young, Stefania Corradini has been around the Italian cross-country ski scene for a while. The skier is a member of Ski Classics Pro Team Internorm Trentino Zorzi Max by SottoZero. Still, she also fights for the top positions in traditional skiing – and almost got qualified for the Winter Olympics.

Pro XC Skiing talked to Stefania to know more about how the season was and her ambitions for the next season.

How would you describe the past season?

“This last season has been a good one for me, my best season so far. I have had a good summer season with a lot of training. But then, unfortunately, I got sick in the middle of November, and my season started a little bit later. However, since the first race in December, my shape has improved every race. I was able to be on the podium in the national races on several occasions. I won my first race in the Italian Cup at the beginning of January. Later, thanks to the great results, I almost qualified for the Olympics and the World Cup, but I didn’t make it. At the end of the season, I was able to win one more national race and finished 4th in the Italian Championships. So, in general, I am proud and satisfied with the results I have achieved during this last season.”

What has been the importance of the Sottozero Team to your career?

“Sottozero is a great team, made of passionate skiers and competent leaders that have given me the chance to race and compete in cross-country skiing for the last two years. Their focus is on long-distance races and Ski Classics, but they have allowed me to compete and focus on more traditional races. Moreover, I would also like to take the chance to thank my family and sponsors, who make it possible for me to train and compete at a high level.”

How will be your summer training? What have you planned so far?

“As usual, after the season, I have been taking a few weeks from training, and at the beginning of May the training for the next season has begun. Normally, my summer training routine includes a lot of roller skiing, running, hiking, biking, and some strength training. About the training plan, I am lucky to have been born and raised in Val di Fiemme, where we have all the facilities that a cross country athlete could need. Here in Val di Fiemme, we have a lot of possibilities for training, so I will probably stay home and train here during the whole summer. Then later in the fall, I suppose we will travel to Livigno, as usual, to have the chance to ski already in October and get a good feeling on the snow.”

What is the popularity of cross-country skiing in Italy nowadays? What could be done to make it bigger?

“Cross country skiing has a good and successful history here in Italy, with many international successes and medals. Unfortunately, in the last decades, it has not been as successful nor popular, even though we have a lot of younger skiers who are passionate and good at what they do. It is hard to tell what has been done differently or what could be done better to increase the popularity and attractiveness of the sport. However, the next Olympics in 2026 will be held in Italy between Milano and Cortina, and the cross-country races will take place right here in Val di Fiemme. I hope that will raise the interest in the sport, as well as I hope that the Italian team will be competitive and fight for the top positions there.”

Finally, what are your goals for next season?

“After such a good season, I am motivated by all the hard work that must be done during the summer months, and I am looking forward to it. For the next season, my main goal is to ski fast, and then we will see what kind of results I will be able to achieve.”