Massimiliano Blardone

Massimiliano Blardone was a giant slalom specialist who in 2005 triumphed at two of the most difficult World Cup courses – the Granrisa at Alta Badia in Italy and the Swiss Kuonisbergli at Adelboden. He also won at Beaver Creek in 2006 and a year later at Bad Kleinkircheim.

Competing for the military club Fiamme Gialle, Blardone was a top technician with best seasonal World Cup giant slalom finishes of third in 2004 and second in both 2006 and 2007. Nationally he won two titles, Alpine combined in 1999 and giant slalom in 2001. Blardone retired from competition at the end of the 2015/16 season, after a third-place at the giant slalom in Naeba (Japan), his final podium finish. In 2016 he became a sports commentator for RAI, the Italian public television.