02.02.2019
Alex Vinatzer, the 19-year-old son of the family, attended the Stams Ski Academy and is now a member of the Fiamme Gialle sport team. At 16 he took part in his first FIS race in the USA. In January 2017 he made his debut in the Europa Cup and just a few weeks later took part in the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum, Turkey. He won the gold medal in both Giant Slalom and Slalom – in the latter beating the nearest competition by 3.42 seconds. At the end of the season he took part in four races at the Junior World Championships, in Åre, Sweden, narrowly missing out on a medal when he came fourth in the Slalom.
Alex’s World Cup debut took place on 12th November 2017 in Levi. Two and a half months later the 18 year old was called up to the Italian squad for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. At the Junior World Championships in Davos that year he justified his nomination by winning the Silver medal in the Slalom. At the Olympics in South Korea, Alex was eliminated in the first run of the Slalom. He also took part in the Team Event and was the only Italian to win his quarter-final heat, against the reigning World Champion Alexis Pinturault, as the Italian team took 5th place.
In December 2018 Alex was placed 16th in the Slalom at Saalbach and won his first World Cup points. At the next race in Madonna di Campiglio he surprised everyone by coming 8th in the first run, but straddled a gate in the second run.
The son of the Savoy Dolomites Hotel had a very successful February 2019: at the World Championships in Åre he won a Bronze medal in the Team Event. The Italian team, made up of Alex Vinatzer, another South Tyrolean Simon Maurberger, Irene Curtoni and Lara Della Mea, were able to beat Germany in the “Small Final” round and won the Bronze medal. Just a few days later at the Junior World Championships 2019 in Val di Fassa, Alex won the Gold medal in the Slalom. He lived up to his role as favourite and gave a flawless performance. In the first run he had a super time, with the 2nd placed Benjamin Ritchie (USA) lagging by 1.13 seconds. In the decisive second round, he safely crossed the finish line and became the first South Tyrolean to be crowned Junior World Champion in Slalom.