After a few podiums, the Sospirolese won her first race in the Czech Republic. In winter she is a teacher on the ski slopes: “The technique is similar, only the way of braking changes”
Alpine ski instructor in winter, grass ski champion in summer.
Margherita Mazzoncini, from Sospirolo, born in 1997, has just returned from Predklasteri, in the Czech Republic, where she won the first World Cup victory of her career.
But when did your passion for skiing, and in particular for grass skiing, go back?
«I started skiing on the snow at the Coldai ski school in Alleghe. Instead, I approached grass skiing shortly after moving to the Youth category. It was then, in fact, that I met the coach Fausto Cerentin, the current technical director of the national grass skiing team. And it is under his guidance that, at the age of seventeen, I tried this specialty for the first time ».
Since then Margherita Mazzoncini has grown a lot, so much so that she quickly joined the national team …
«Initially I was part of the Azzurri B team. For three years, however, I have been part of the A national team. Last year we were unable to play practically any matches, due to the pandemic situation. This year, however, we are taking away some satisfactions. And we are a nice group training in the provinces, in Quantin or in Tambre ».
Alpine skiing, grass skiing: similarities and differences?
«The technique is practically the same. The only substantial difference is that in the summer there is no great possibility to control the speed. Also to brake, we have to draw wider curves than on snow. But the technique is basically the same ».
Are, therefore, two reconcilable activities?
«Absolutely yes, indeed in my opinion grass skiing in the summer can represent a valid alternative to glaciers. And, for our part, we are trying to broaden the audience of athletes who are approaching grass skiing. However, there are already many young people skiing on snow in winter and on grass in summer ».
Do you still ski in winter?
«Lately I don’t participate in competitions anymore, during the winter season, even if I continue to train, individually. In winter, however, I dedicate myself to teaching ».
What are the successes you are most attached to, in the world of skiing and, in particular, grass skiing?
«Let’s start with the last one, the one in the World Cup in the Czech Republic, because it was my first victory in this competition. Before, in 2019, I had obtained other podiums, but never the first place. Then I remember with great emotion a first place in Cortina: it was quite unexpected, because it arrived in the slalom which is not exactly my favorite race ».
Summer is still long and Margherita Mazzoncini has a series of very interesting commitments ahead of her …
«Now the World Cup stops for a few weeks, but we have a couple of Coppa Italia matches in sight. In the last weekend of July we will return to the World Cup, in Cortina, while at the end of August the World Cup will arrive in Tambre, exactly on the track where we train. Finally, the absolute grass skiing world championships are scheduled for the second week of September ».