Ski Pioneers

In the winter of 1939-1940, Vittorio Venturi’s “sled” went into operation in Serrada. It was the forerunner of the ski lifts on Alpe Cimbra: it was actually a sled equipped with seats that was pulled from the village with a rope up the Martinella hill, up to an altitude of 1520 m. Skiers paid one lira for the ride. The first real ski lift dates back to 1947: on 15 August of that year, the Francolini-Sommo Alto single-seater chairlift was inaugurated in Folgaria.

For the Christmas holidays of 1948, the Serrada-Martinella single-seater chairlift was inaugurated. In 1949, the Toll slope of Serrada was stormed by the pioneers of Alpine skiing on the occasion of the very first edition of the 3Tre, conquered by the great Zeno Colò. A 3Tre that at the time was held over several days of competition and in three locations; a special slalom in Serrada di Folgaria, a giant on the snows of Monte Bondone and a downhill in Fai della Paganella, and this small Trentino combined championship took the name of Tre Tre. Hence the name 3Tre – TRE gare in TREntino.

In 1950 the race took place entirely on the slopes of Folgaria: the giant on the Martinella slope and the special and the downhill on the Francolini slope