DON'T STOP ME NOW

BY SILVIA GALLIANI

Martina Valmassoi

She set the new female 24-hour uphill ski record. Between March 21st and 22nd, Martina Valmassoi climbed non-stop 17,645 metres and skied down the same hill of Monte Agudo, in Auronzo di Cadore, signing a new record right on her home mountains.

“I have known Martina for many years and I must say that she achieved a really great result,” says Gil Pintarelli, team manager of Team Crazy that sees Martina as one of its athlete. “Obviously there were many question marks and problems that she could have encountered in 24h, but in the end she was very methodical and precise and she took home the record thanks to a great performance. Also you can see that she had a lot of fun, in pure Crazy style!”

Hi Martina! How and when did you approach the world of outdoor sports? My whole family loves practicing sports so I can say that I have been going to the mountains all my life. Having grown up in the Dolomites it was quite easy for me to start practicing sports, I started with cross-country skiing competitions that I did until I was a teenager. Then I started practicing ski mountaineering with my mom who was already doing some competitions back then. More or less immediately I joined the National Team. I have been doing ski mountaineering competitions since 2007.

What does a typical week of training look like for you? Right now I am a freelancer and for two years I have been working as a social media manager in the outdoor field so the time available is always short and I try to manage it in the best way possible. This winter my typical day was structured like this: wake up early, go out and ski and then go to work.

These times of restrictions and less freedom seem to have led many people to approach the mountains for the first time. What advice would you give to those approaching this world for the first time? It is essential to go step by step. Many times even a trip considered easy or a very popular place can change depending on the conditions that modify from time to time. You also need to know what it is an easy trip and what it isn't. Education is key to know how to interpret the various situations and the possible dangers connected to them. For those who have recently discovered this world and would like to go to the mountains even more, avalanche courses are the next step to get an idea of how to behave in an unexpected situation.

Do you think ski mountaineering and trail running are heavily male-dominated worlds? What can be done to bring girls closer to these sports? I’ve seen more and more participation from women in recent years, certainly more than in the past. This year, due to a mix between the current situation, closed lifts and, perhaps, more free time, there has been a real boom in ski mountaineering. I see also that the market is now starting to realize that more and more girls are approaching the mountains. About this topic, Crazy has always been way ahead in the outdoor field thanks to its attention towards the female audience. Their products have never been differentiated only by co-

lor but by their wearability designed for female “shapes". Refined materials and perfect fit and above all the continuous search for lightness, Fast & Light garments distinguish Crazy compared to other brands.

Tell us about your latest record. Where did the idea come from and how did you train for it? This year we had some amazing snow conditions, something never seen before, and this allowed me to go skiing in places I had never visited. In January I realized that I had been skiing every day for about 50 days without ever stopping so, jokingly, one day I told a friend of mine that I wanted to try to stay out on skis for 24 hours. Of course he laughed at me! But the idea stuck in my head and last month I finally decided to give it a try.

I was already well trained and when I convinced myself to try, I spent a month planning all my days towards achieving the goal. I don't particularly like skiing on slopes even if it is a kind of training that this record requires in theory, so I did some tests, I needed to understand what pace would I need to keep. One month before the record I did two weeks of heavy training which, combined to what I did throughout the winter, gave me a good starting point. I skied on the slope 3 times a week for about 3 hours, and then I tried to climb 5000 meters of altitude on the record circuit. In addition, I went out several time on racing skis but I also did some easier trips, the important thing for me was to be out in the mountains.

Was there something that you were scared about? Certainly there were many unknowns in this record because I had never been out for more than the 13 hours spent at the 90km of Chamonix, which however took place in the summer. What scared me most was the possibility of finding a hot day because I could have suffer more from blisters and foot problems. As for the night I was supposed to spend outside, I was actually quite curious about it because it would have been the first time for me.

During the record, has been there a moment when you thought about giving up? If you had any difficulties, how did you manage to overcome them? I had some difficulties but I think I have always been mentally strong because I was very motivated. It was cold at night and there was a lot of wind so I had some stomach problems but I didn't panic, I dressed more in order to be more protected and recover faster without stopping. I have always remained rational and reactive. When it started to lighten, I started to feel some pain in my feet but I immediately decided to stop and change my socks to avoid blisters. Instead of waiting and postponing, I preferred to waste some time but save my feet rather than go on for hours in pain.

Future projects? I'm not a record breaker! The project I’ve just achieved was something I had in mind for a long time so I'm glad I did.

I know someone will beat me sooner or later, even if it won't be easy, but that's right! I think I will start racing a bit depending on how the Covid situation will evolve, and if it will be an almost normal season I will certainly have a lot of work commitments, but I will certainly do some races too!

“In January I realized that I had been skiing every day for about 50 days without ever stopping so, jokingly, one day I told a friend of mine that I wanted to try to stay out on skis for 24 hours.“