A Race for the History Books: 40 Years Later
History is written when suddenly everything comes together in a historic moment. Or if something unusual happens. On March 23, 1975, on the Ronc slope in Ortisei both were equally the case.
A parallel slalom not only decided the overall World Cup of that season but skiing history was written in front 45,000 spectators. This July, 40 years later, Val Gardena/Gröden hosted Gustav Thöni and Ingemar Stenmark one more time.
Equally modest, just as quiet and still as endearing as ski enthusiasts remember them from their active time, is how Thöni and Stenmark presented themselves on July 28th at the Cultural Centre in Ortisei/St.Ulrich, where they appeared on the invitation of the Tourism Association in occasion of the book presentation "Thöni vs. Stenmark. L'ultima porta " ( Thöni vs. Stenmark. The Last Gate) by the Italian author Lorenzo Fabiano. The protagonists of that time - which included alongside Thöni and Stenmark, the organizers Erich Demetz and Edmund Dellago - managed once again to draw the audience into their spell - just like 40 years ago
At that time, there were no less than 45,000 people who crowded along the Ronc slope, in addition to the 20 million Italians watching the World Cup Finals in front of their television screens. The scenery wasn't the only memorable thing; the Finals themselves evolved like the script of a thriller. The facts at the start already promised for a suspenseful event: Franz Klammer's victory on the Downhill on the Saslong allowed him to catch up with the two current leaders in the overall World Cup. Thöni, Stenmark and Klammer went into the Finals with equal points, which made for a thrilling race given that it was the first time in the history of skiing that the Finals were decided in a parallel slalom.
Absolutely everything ran perfectly as if meticulously planned by a film crew. Speed specialist Franz Klammer exited the race early on (against former FIS race director, Helmuth Schmalzl, by the way), while Stenmark, then 19 years old, and Thöni (24) fought all the way to the end - despite great nervousness on both sides: "The tension before the race was very elevated, also because I had only participated in a few parallel slaloms" said Thöni. "It was not easy to race against an opponent that I can only see from the corner of my eye." Things weren't that different with Stenmark who told a crowd-filled room in Ortisei/St.Ulrich: "I was very nervous because the World Cup was decided in this one race."
Tension not only existed on but also off the slopes "I had to ask for support from the local police force, the Carabinieri, because two camps formed after intense discussions" said Erich Demetz, then Race Director. The reason is that the jury could not decide whether Stenmark missed a mark in the second final round. "The gate judge would have known but the Jury deferred to the television recording" says Demetz - in an early video evidence, as it were. It showed Stenmark acrobatically turning his leg and ski around, therefore legally passing the gate.
The overall World Cup 1974/75 was decided not just in a single race, but in a single run, the third and decisive final round. Thöni raced with a slight lead, but the final decision came when Stenmark missed the third gate before the finish, this time for real. Gustav Thöni captured his fourth Crystal trophy, at only 24 years of age. And this in front of his home audience, a crowd that afforded him indescribable scenes of joy after his triumph.
Stenmark, who joined the event in St.Ulrich/Ortisei thanks to his mentor and supervisor Hermann Nogler's family's efforts, responded to the defeat in his typical manner: "Even though I did not win, I was very happy" said today's most successful skier of all time, because: "I lost against my idol."
The organizers in Val Gardena/Gröden anything but lost, knowing that the race was writing skiing history. Things could have turned out differently: "The FIS Congress in Cyprus decided in 1973, to put a Parallel Slalom in the Finals program." says Demetz. Val Gardena/Gröden did not fight to host this competition: "We originally requested a Downhill on the Saslong, but were forced to also host the Parallel Slalom if we wanted the Downhill." said then Race Director Demetz. Organizationally, this was luckily not a problem for us: "The Organizing Committee was well established after the 1970 World Cup" said Edmund Dellago, today's Saslong Classic Club President.
This ski thriller in Val Gardena/Gröden in 1975 meanwhile catapulted the ski sport into a new era: "For the first time in the history of RAI a consignment opened with skiing" remembers the sports journalist Ettore Frangipane, who not only moderated this year's anniversary event in Ortisei/St. Ulrich but was also the commentator of the broadcasted race at the RAI. And author Fabiano underlined that from that day on, skiing developed into a mass phenomenon. "It was the race that released the greatest emotion" says Fabiano.
When it comes to marketing, new ways were introduced with the Parallel Slalom in Val Gardena/Gröden: international dairy giant "Parmalat" bought the rights for the entire race for then 25 million Lire. Dellago recalls how, specifically for the marketing of Val Gardena/Gröden, this event introduced the stylized "G", which is still used today by Val Gardena Tourism Marketing.
What are the two ski stars of that time doing today? Gustav Thöni is hotel owner in Trafoi in South Tyrol's Vinschgau and an enthusiastic Grandfather to eight grandchildren. Stenmark does not much, as he remarked smiling in Ortisei. Or, as Erich Demetz pointed out: Stenmark is happy being Stenmark. And so the only sport he practices is polishing 86 crystals. Why exactly 86? It's simple: The quiet guy from Tärnaby has won no less than 86 World Cup victories - more than anyone else.
Unique was also the decision to have a Parallel Slalom decide a World Cup Final. Although the drama was more than satisfying, it became clear that this type of race could lead to potential manipulation. But those who were there, waste no time with worrying: they all know exactly what they did on March 23, 1975 - even 40 years later.