There are stars that are born in the quiet tranquility of a small mountain village.
Giorgia Pollini is one such star. Born in 2008, her big brown eyes hide a certain shyness that is not to be confused with a lack of grit – because Giorgia has grit for days. Born and raised in Pelugo, Val Rendena, a small town where everyone knows everyone, she began climbing with her parents in the mountains above her home as a child. Beneath her reserved nature lies a firm, silent determination that has taken her to the top of the world with her gold medal at the Under-18 World Ski Mountaineering Championships in Morgins (SUI). By her side on the Italian national team is Umberto Ferrazza (19), a rising talent who is gradually carving out his place on the international scene. Together, these two young champions represent the future of a sport as pure and challenging as the mountains themselves.
When did you first get involved in mountaineering? What is your earliest skiing memory?GP: When I was a child, my parents went ski mountaineering almost every Sunday. One day, when I was seven, they decided to take me with them. I remember it was one of those evenings when some of the slopes stayed open for night skiing. I fell several times on the climb because I couldn’t find the right rhythm with my skis. From that day on, every time my parents went, I asked to go with them.
UF: I got into ski mountaineering in 2020, the winter of COVID. The slopes were closed, so my sister gave me a pair of mountaineering skis. That’s when it all started. I started going up the mountains for fun, looking for fresh snow and some quiet. Over time, I realized that this was my world. Alpine skiing no longer gave me the same thrill, and ski mountaineering made me feel free.
When did you realize that this sport could become more than a passion?GP: It all started in middle school and continued with enrollment in an alpine secondary school and joining the Brenta Team. Outings became more and more frequent, on Sundays or in my spare time after school. And I had more fun every time. I liked the idea of climbing up and skiing down. It gave me a different kind of satisfaction.
UF: I realized it when I began feeling part of a community. Thanks to people like Rino Pedergnana and Ivan Antiga, who welcomed me in and supported me like family, I saw that ski mountaineering was not just a sport or a workout, but also sharing and friendship. That’s when I decided to really go all in.
And your first World Cup experience? What emotions did you feel?GP: My first World Cup race was in Valle d’Aosta, in Crévacol. It was a sprint. The night before, I was super nervous, and in the morning I was a bundle of nerves, but once I started the qualifying race, everything went really well. I set the best time, and in the final I finished second behind the Chinese athlete Ani Pumi. It was an incredible feeling. I knew I could do well in the sprint, because it’s my favorite discipline, but I didn’t expect to finish second in my first World Cup race.
UF: It was in the 2023 season, in Crévacol. Everyone else had a lot more experience, so I was anxious and a little uneasy. But it was a wonderful adventure, full of thrills and lessons learned – my first real international experience, which I will always carry with me.
How do you see the future of ski mountaineering among young people?GP: The environment is great because we’re all together and share the same passion. In Italy, there are fewer young practitioners compared to other countries like Switzerland, Spain or France. Ski mountaineering should be promoted more, conveying to young people that the effort is a great thing and always pays off in the end.
UF: It’s still a little-known sport, and I’m sorry about that. Many people don’t realize how much dedication it takes, but those who try it immediately see its beauty – freedom, nature, and challenging yourself. It needs more visibility to be truly appreciated.
What do you do to take your mind off skimo?GP: Even though skimo takes up a lot of my time, I still manage to switch off every now and then. I like to cook and go out with friends. Of course, you have to make some sacrifices. Sometimes I don’t go out because I have training or a race the next day, or I might skip a party for a big ski. But in the end it’s worth it. It all comes back to satisfaction.
UF: I spend time with my family and the people who love me. With them, I find balance and serenity, and I recharge to face everything with more lightness.
What awaits you for the 2026 season?GP: As always, I’ll be participating in the Italian Cup circuit, the Italian Championships, and then there will be the World Cup races – Germany, Norway, and the World Championships in France. One of the best things about this sport is traveling – seeing new places, breathing the air of new lands, even if there’s no time to really explore them.
UF: A whole lot of hard work! (laughs)
