Courtesy "The Associated Press"

The 37-year-old will race the World Cup downhill in Val Gardena on Dec. 16.

"I didn't have a farewell race last season, so this will be my farewell to everyone," Ghedina said Thursday on his Web site.

Ghedina retired at the end of last season. His four victories in Val Gardena tie him for the record with Austrian great Franz Klammer.

"The Saslong is my race, it's a course on which many people have rooted for me and celebrated my victories and that's why I want to say farewell here," Ghedina said.
Ghedina will use the same equipment from his downhill debut on the Saslong course 17 years earlier.

"I'm still looking for some of the right pieces," he said.

Like the rest of the Alps, Val Gardena has been plagued by warm weather lately and officials won't confirm until Saturday whether the races will be held.