I’m from Albosaggia in Lombardia and started skiing at the age of six. My father, Graziano, was a professional so naturally I followed in his tracks. He used to pull me along by a rope for practice. I really inherited his passion for the mountains and skiing early on, going to watch him race, enthralled by the landscapes, the atmosphere and the racing. I took part in my first races at the age of 14, which led to being selected to race for Italy, in 2008, a year after my father retired from the national team. Dad still trains with me and races now and then. He is very much central to my coaching, advising me as a professional skimo racer.
Skimo (or ski mountaineering) will become an Olympic event in 2026, and it’s taking place here in Italy. Of course, this is something I’m very focussed towards, but I’m perhaps a little too old for the sprint discipline which this will be. For the explosive power you need, the younger guys are usually better, but we shall see. I’m just happy to be competing in the beautiful mountains.