The Val Pusteria hosts various national and international cross-country ski competitions and is very popular also with non-professional cross-country skiers and tourists
Many exciting cross-country ski competitions for both top athletes and non-professionals are held in the Val Pusteria. In fact, the Val Pusteria is one of the most important centres of cross-country ski in the world.
One of the most traditional cross-country ski competitions in Europe is the Pustertaler Skimarathon organised for top athletes as well as for non-professionals. It is hosted by the municipalities of Dobbiaco, Villabassa, Braies, San Candido and Sesto and is also a big attraction for the local residents and tourists. It comprises both a skating and a classic style competition.
The Dolomiten-Lauf in the heart of the Lienz Dolomites has been organised for 50 years. Every year, more than 2,000 athletes from all over the world take part in the Dolomiten Classic and Skating Race of 42, 20 and 5 km.
The Gsieser Tal Lauf in the Val Casies is one of the races organised by the European federation for popular long distance cross-country ski races (Euroloppet). Both top athletes and non-professional cross-country skiers from more than 30 different nations compete on a 42 and 30 km long track.
By the way, in the Val Casies many restaurants and taverns along the run offer light and healthy dishes for cross-country skiers.
Another cross-country ski highlight is the Volkslanglauf Dobbiaco - Cortina. The skating race runs from Fiames to Dobbiaco, the classic style race from Dobbiaco to Cortina. This FIS-homologated run contains exciting bridges and galleries and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain panorama.
