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Characteristics, secrets and interesting facts about the iconic slope so beloved by the great champions and now ready to host the amazing spectacle of Alpine skiing at Milano Cortina 2026.
The legend of the Stelvio slope has been growing since 1982. In more than 40 years, memorable feats, epic challenges and many Olympic and world championship events have ensured the unique appeal of this icon of the Alpine Ski World Cup. And now it’s all set to also be a key venue for the Milano Cortina Olympic Games, hosting the men’s Alpine skiing events.
From its beginnings to the magic of Christmas
“Ermine” turns? Are Tina and Milo also on the slope?
At 3,250 metres long and with a vertical drop of 1,010 metres, the Stelvio has some pretty amazing stretches. The Rocca jump (over 30 metres long), Canalino Sertorelli, the Carcentina diagonal, the Ciuk, the San Pietro jump and the turns called the Ermellini or ermines. Does that name ring any bells? That’s right: the ermines Tina and Milo, the two cute mascots for the Milano Cortina Games! But these turns weren’t named after them: leading to the most difficult diagonal on the slope, they have been called this for a long time, but… what a coincidence!
The legend that is Dominik
Over the years, the greatest speed skiers have earned an important place in the Stelvio pantheon of winners. Right at the top is Dominik Paris, the sportsman whose name is most closely linked to this slope, with a total of seven victories in all, six for downhill and one for super G.
Stelvio golds: from performances by ‘Big Alberto’ to Deborah’s beaming smile
The skiing hall of fame also has room for Hermann Maier, Luc Alphand, Bode Miller, Marco Odermatt, Fritz Strobl, Michael Walchofer, Aksel Lund Svindal, and Matthias Mayer. Not to mention Alberto Tomba’s slalom performances. And Benjamin Raich and Ted Ligety. The beaming smile of an elated Deborah Compagnoni, the sheer class of Vreni Schneider and Renate Gotschl, the shouts of joy from Katja Seizinger, Janika Kostelic, and Mikaela Shiffrin.
Perfect Harmony: like walking into La Scala
What the Stelvio means to all snow enthusiasts was summed up perfectly by Gian Franco Kasper, former IOC director and FIS president, who was the first to call the slope the ‘La Scala of winter sports’. Because it’s just a stone’s throw from Milan perhaps? Of course not. More than four decades of history are what have earned this slope, without equal the world over, its legendary fame.
