Madonna di Campiglio is back to its normality: the iconic location of elite winter tourism, sport, and lifestyle, shines of beauty and glamour like in the pre-pandemic. After a few weeks of waiting, the winter has finally started delivering generous snowfalls just in view of Christmas, and of 3Tre, the flagship event that helped the Pearl of the Dolomites to make a name for itself in every corner of the World. 

The 69th edition of the FIS World Cup night slalom will light up the Canalone Miramonti tomorrow, Thursday, December 22nd, with two runs (starting at 17.45 and 20.45, CET) among the most eagerly awaited of the alpine skiing season. One of the hardest and most cherished slaloms of the season will enjoy its classic atmosphere, made of spotlights in the night context and the warmth of the people on the sides of the slope. 

The temple of Italian slalom has witnessed the feats of the greatest names in alpine ski history, from Colò to Klammer, from Thoeni to Gros (who won in Madonna his first ever World Cup slalom 50 years ago), from Stenmark and Tomba to Rocca, up to the Hirscher-Kristoffersen dualism and last year's twist of fate, elevating Norway's Sebastian Foss-Solevaag to the top step of the podium.

While Men's slalom is still searching for an actual dominator after Marcel Hirscher's days, one team currently stands above the rest for the quality and quantity of its interpreters. It's Norway, that boasts the last two 3Tre champions, Foss-Solevaag and Henrik Kristoffersen (pursuing a historical 4th win after 2015, 2016, and 2020), but also youngsters like Atle Lie McGrath and, above all, Lucas Braathen, winner of the first slalom of the season in Val d'Isere.

Facing the Attacking Vikings, unbeaten in the World Cup through 5 consecutive slaloms and winners of 7 of the last 10 World Cup slaloms, are French Olympic Champion Clement Noel, who could already smell the blend of the TrentoDOC wine when he missed the last gate in the second run last year, Austrians Manuel Feller and Johannes Strolz and Swiss Daniel Yule (twice a winner at Campiglio), Ramon Zeinhausern and Loic Meillard seem to be among the obvious contenders for the Maglia Fulmine, the precious memorabilia that has re-emerged from the history of 3Tre, one that only the kings of Canalone Miramonti can boast.

The Italians sit further back in the chart: Alex Vinatzer, once on the podium in Madonna, is the most awaited Italian athlete, despite his presence in Madonna's slalom is in doubt due the meniscal lesion caused by a straddle in Alta Badia’s Giant Slalom. Italy has missed a win in Madonna for 17 years, since Giorgio Rocca's great night in 2005.

Before and after the race, it will be a whirlwind of emotions in Madonna di Campiglio: it will begin today, on Wednesday, December 21st, with the public bib draw in Piazza Sissi at 6.30 pm (CET), followed by a Meet&Greet organized by UYN, the new technical partner of the 3Tre Committee, featuring the Italian ski icon Kristian Ghedina and the athletes of the national selections of Italy, Austria, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovak and Slovenia at its new flagship store in Piazza Brenta Alta.

On Thursday, December 22nd, instead, the program begins at 5.45 pm (CET) on the Canalone Miramonti, with the first run of the World Cup slalom, opened by a unique frontrunner: for the first time in 3Tre's long history, a Paralympic Champion like Giacomo Bertagnolli, Trentino's native and ambassador, winner of 4 gold medals at the Paralympic Games, will be the first skier down the Canalone Miramonti.

All the entertainment of the 3Tre Hour will happen between the two runs, starting at 6.30 pm (CET) in Piazza Sissi, with shows, music, and fun for everyone, which anticipates the second descent at 8.45 pm (CET), the following award ceremony and the 3Tre Party Night, scheduled from 11.00 pm (CET) in Piazza Sissi.

As usual, the trackside audience will be joined by the millions of TV viewers in front of their screens in every corner of the World thanks to the production and distribution entrusted to Infront Sport & Media.

Madonna awaits a panel of guest stars as a 3Tre tradition: from Piero Gros (who celebrates the 50th anniversary of his first slalom win in Madonna) to Gustav Thoeni, Helmuth Schmalz, Tino Pietrogiovanna, Paolo De Chiesa and Giorgio Rocca. Also, numerous cycling characters are awaited for the 69th 3Tre, Daniel Oss, Matteo Trentin and Francesco Moser.

As a curiosity, a representative of the recently-born Dubai Ski Federation is also in Madonna to observe and study the organizing setup of one of the longest-established ski races in the World: alpine ski passion United Arab Emirates, where it is possible to do indoor skiing.