"SENATORS" TELL ABOUT MARCIALONGA

Costantino Costantin, Ivo Andrich, Luigi Delvai, Armando Zambaldo, Giovanni Mariani, Aulo Avanzinelli, Odillo Piotti, Marco Aurelio Nones, Luciano Bertocchi, Fabio Lunelli: These are the names of ten “legendary” skiers who took part in all Marcialonga editions, for a total of 2,918.5 km on skis, along the beautiful valleys of Fiemme and Fassa (Trentino region, Italy). The famous 70-km ski-marathon from Moena to Cavalese has seen the participation of 230,000 skiers in 44 years, but only ten took part in all of them, thus obtaining the title of “senators”.
“Senators” met last weekend to tell about their experience and to share with all cross-country skiing enthusiasts the emotions lived in 44 years of Marcialonga, while anxiously waiting for the next to come, on the 29th of January 2017. The “first episode” of Marcialonga Legends took place in Predazzo, upon invitation of Chairman Angelo Corradini and Director general Gloria Trettel. Fabio Lunelli spent on the fascinating Marcialonga track 268h13’12” corresponding to more than 11 days… The goal of these ten competitors is to rake part in the 50th edition in 2023. An ambitious goal, especially for Luciano Bertocchi, 83 years old, animated by the desire to fulfill his dream together with his “mates”. The group is heterogeneous in terms of regions of origin: Two come from Trentino, i.e. Marco Aurelio Nones and Luigi Delvai, three if Fabio Lunelli is included, who was born and grew up in Trento, before moving to Bolzano first and then to Milan. Two come from Belluno, one from Brescia, one from Lucca, one from Friuli, one from Verona and one from Milan.
The meeting in Predazzo marked the beginning of the film that Marcialonga is producing about these men. The idea was to learn from them the most curious stories and special moments they have lived. One of the most interesting anecdotes was told by Avanzinelli, who skied with a broken coccyx from Soraga to Cavalese, after falling in the Avisio river, in order not to lose his status of “senator”. After the race, Avanzinelli drove home to Lucca, in Tuscany. They also talked about doping, after the recent events involving Norwegian Johaug. Marco Aurelio Nones firmly stated “I only drink orange juice, I never take any energy drink. At the beginning of the last climb there is my wife with some coffee: That’s my only doping!” Luigi Delvai told about the contest with his son, who made his best to beat him at least once. Nones loves Marcialonga: “The emotions of the first one are exactly the same of the last”. They also spoke about ranking because “senators” always compete to their limit, despite passing years. Costantino Costantin was the fastest in the past 43 editions (164h28’21”). The day went by with many “Do you remember…” and many other stories. The film Marcialonga Legends will certainly be spectacular and a perfect way to remember the deeds of these “bionic men”.