Ever since I was a child, I've been passionate about alpine skiing and skicross racing.
My first competitive appearance was during my first ski races, when I was still skiing on the slopes, doing giant slalom and slalom, and it was for the Italian Senior Championships.
I was a member of the national skicross team for several years. I won several junior national titles, and also the opportunity to participate in some of the World Cup and Junior World Championships, competing against the most qualified athletes on the major circuit.
The turning point in my career came at 18, when I became a freerider. During skicross training, I realized that I loved the freedom of skiing without any rules, wherever I wanted. I was thrilled by the challenges of off-piste skiing, which made skiing less boring. Our two Swiss coaches had us whizzing down the slopes in fours, one behind the other, jumping off rocks and flying through the woods or mountains.
And that's why I relive the emotions and unforgettable moments of my first, most significant competitions. The Bruson Freeride in Verbier, where I achieved a sensational result, finishing second on the podium alongside other riders who were already professionals in that discipline, and the one in Jasna, a magnificent location in central Europe, the largest ski area in Slovakia, as well as the pinnacle of freeride disciplines.
In the spring of 2017, however, I accomplished an unusual feat: with another freerider, we toured the Aosta Valley on skis. 22 days in the presence of the "Four Giants of the Alps"—Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and Gran Paradiso—following in the footsteps of those who, in 1970, had completed the first ski mountaineering tour of the Aosta Valley mountains.
Today I'm also a ski instructor and mountain guide, but if I hadn't had perseverance and tenacity, a pinch of creativity, and even a little recklessness to think outside the box, I wouldn't have succeeded in all this! The most important ingredient, however, is definitely a healthy diet: this is tenfold!
A healthy diet is essential in everyday life as well as in sports, where our bodies are often pushed to the limit and we need to be careful about the nutrients we ingest. Dried fruit, for example, is an essential food for an athlete: it improves performance, is good for your health, and tastes delicious! It should never be missing in competitions and training: regardless of the season, I can always have it on hand.
That's why the Fruits & Nuts ZIG line packs are more convenient and versatile to take to the mountains! I love them!!
Healthy eating is a legacy of my family, which, among other things, has an excellent culinary culture. Therefore, since I was little, I've been accustomed to avoiding junk food.
What wonderful memories of making homemade tagliatelle with my grandmother. She was an excellent cook who carefully mixed the ingredients for the sauces. What a wonderful feeling to harvest the raw ingredients for our lunches from the garden, guided by my father, the person with the most passion for food and cooking I've ever met.
And today my favorite dish is pasta with beans. Grains and legumes are essential for me, a protein-rich and delicious base.
I'll say goodbye by revealing the secret of Shanty bars, the best bars in the world with a very simple preparation procedure: toast some dried fruit, wrap it with honey and chocolate, then put it all in the freezer: amazing!
