Great success for the fifth partnership between La Sportiva and the Festival dello Sport

Trento is tinged in yellow, black and pink, the colours of La Sportiva and the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, ready to host the most important names in international sport. A city in celebration, overflowing with the enthusiasm of hundreds of fans, who have come from all over Italy to celebrate sport and its values. So, between a talk and a block at the climbing camp set up by La Sportiva in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, among the streets of Trento, it was possible to enjoy a cappuccino while sitting next to Stefano Ghisolfi, or get the chance to ask Anton Krupicka for an autograph.

The Sports Festival, which was held from 12 to 15 October and which, again this year, was made possible thanks to the support of La Sportiva, was this and more: four days full of activities, workshops and debates, all free and dedicated to the world of sport. The partnership between La Sportiva and the event is one that underlines the company's commitment to promoting sporting culture and its local area.“For La Sportiva, participating in the Sports Festival is all about joining a celebration of sport and its values. It is also an opportunity to let more and more people try climbing, and allow them to get to know its key athletes", according to Vittorio Barrasso,  Brand and Communication Corporate Manager of La Sportiva.

On the agenda, there were many events with athletes supported by the company from Val di Fiemme (Trentino, Dolomites), with debates and activities at the climbing camp involving athletes such as: Andrea Lanfri, Stefano Ghisolfi, Angelika Rainer, Matteo Zurloni . This gave fans of the discipline a chance to try their skill on the blocks alongside these legendary figures, who gathered in Trento to inspire participants and celebrate the sport. In the Philharmonic Hall of Trento, La Sportiva also hosted American ultra-runner Anton Krupicka, who shared with the audience his experiences and the passion that has always drawn him to the mountains and the world of ultra trail. “By involving the team of athletes of the La Sportiva family, we aim to transmit the experiences of those who experience the mountains at the highest levels, in different disciplines, sharing sports stories that can motivate others to practice outdoor activities", continued Vittorio Barrasso.

The Trentino company also organised two important fringe events at the Sports Festival: on Friday 13 October an evening with Anton Krupicka, in collaboration with RunTrento, at the La Sportiva store in Via Mazzini 5, and on Saturday 14 October, a morning run open to the public always together with Anton Krupicka and with the technical support of La Sportiva product specialists. “For us, satellite events are a moment for meeting and discussing with the local community of enthusiasts. These experiences provide inspiration to improve more and more: the direct relationship with the community of runners offers stimuli for our everyday work, for the design of equipment for mountain activities, and for discussing the issues that revolve around the conscious and sustainable practice of Outdoor activities”, according to Vittorio Barrasso.

During the Friday evening with Anton Krupicka, organised by RunTrento, a physical and virtual space open to the public and intended for the creation of creative projects related to runningThere was much food for thought, aimed at the trail running scene in Trentino and more generally in Italy, there was much food for thought. “It's difficult to say what the differences are between the ultra-running scene in Italy and the United States. It seems to me that in Europe we often run with the aim of giving the best possible performance, while in the United States running is more a way of life, although perhaps less widespread. In general, perhaps it is also something to do with the fans - in Italy there is much more widespread enthusiasm - and with the fact that many races begin and end in the centre of cities that are packed with fans, unlike in the States. Ultimately, however, I think there are many more parallels than differences: trail runners are simply trail runners, they love to go into the mountains and run in the woods, no matter where they are", according to Anton Krupicka.“Thanks to La Sportiva, which allowed me to travel to Italy many times, over the years I have created a special bond with the Italian ultra-running community. I was able to run in the Dolomites and get to know the many enthusiasts of this sport better. It's always nice to see the interest there is in Italy for the American ultra-running scene and for what I do, and perhaps to be an inspiration for someone", continued the ultra-runner, addressing the dozens of people gathered in the La Sportiva store.

Beyond the interesting interview with Anton Krupicka, made special by a good understanding between the audience and the people speaking, the documentary was screened during the event “Return to Leadville - The Evolution of Anton Krupicka”, which tells how the American ultra runner, in 2021, after a five-year layoff due to various injuries, returned to take part in the iconic running race Leadville, the first one he won, and the one he is most attached to. The short film tells the story of the relationship between  the American athlete and this competition, which is highly symbolic for him. “It's always nice to see how Anton Krupicka is actually not at all a character: he is spontaneous, human, and very natural, in every situation. Although his figure has changed over the years, his thoughts continue to be those he had when he first started: he has a rather outdated attitude towards the world of sport and, although he is a professional athlete, he prefers to do what he likes rather than what the sponsors want. I would have liked to create broader moments of sharing to let him get to know the Trento community better, I think he would have had fun!”, said Filippo Caon, co-founder of RunTrento. The event was well attended, the atmosphere was pleasant and the evening ended with an apéritif offered by La Sportiva.

Even during the morning run on Saturday morning, which started from the shop of the Val di Fiemme company in the city centre, and was open free of charge to all enthusiasts, Anton Krupicka stood out for his authentic style and humble nature.  During the race, you had the opportunity to try the footwear made by the Trentino brand: "La Sportiva first started out by making boots for work in the woods: over the years, the company then wanted to use this know-how to develop footwear for running in the mountains. The shoes you have on your feet today are well structured in the upper part, and use technologies to ensure the durability of the soles, and have an increasingly greater grip on all terrains", stated Pietro Fariselli, who deals with internal and external technical training for La Sportiva, for both footwear and clothing. “Today we will test three shoes: the Jackal, a mountain running shoe dedicated to off-road running on ultra distances and prolonged training on medium distances, the Jackal II Buoy, a high-performance mountain running shoe for ultra-long distances, and the Cyklon, performance shoe ideal for skyraces and off-road races on technical terrain over medium distances. Obviously technologies move forward, satisfying the demands of the public, so La Sportiva adapts, and the great innovations that we will see in the next season will be the Prodigio and the Levante ”, concluded Pietro Fariselli. Most of the race participants, around fifteen people, were part of RunTrento, but some outsiders and La Sportiva staff were also present. The group of runners covered approximately seven kilometres, and two hundred metres of altitude difference: starting from via Mazzini, they headed towards via Grazioli, then along the Mesiano climb, and arrived at the University of Povo. They then crossed to the town of Gabbiolo, went down to the Gocciadoro park, then passed by the Santa Chiara hospital, arrived along the Fersina river, then walked along Corso Tre Novembre, finally returning to the shop, where a rich breakfast had been prepared. Thus, those who had participated in the race had the unique opportunity to drink coffee with Anton Krupicka and discuss with him: “I am a person interested in trying intense experiences and I am curious: about the world, about trying new things, about getting to know myself better. Running is one way to do it, but it's not the only way,” said the American athlete.

“It is essential to develop a relationship with the natural world in places close to home : we spend a lot of time checking our surroundings, whether we are in the car, in the office, at home, or in any building. It is therefore an act of honesty to accept with humility to place ourselves in front of the natural world and perceive the indifference it feels towards us, and the power it expresses and represents, and feeling small and insignificant in that moment,” continued Anton Krupicka, who confirmed himself, during all the sharing moments of the Festival, as a profound, sincere, honest and sensitive person. These values are shared by many athletes and were the soul of the fringe events organised by La Sportiva as part of the fifth edition of the Sports Festival. It is a precious authenticity, which we sometimes forget to look for and which sport can help us rediscover.