The Trofeo Mezzalama Foundation presented the "Marathon of the Glaciers," scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, with Sunday, April 27, as a backup day in case of bad weather. The 24th edition of the Trofeo Mezzalama will be ISMF Long Distance World Championship and final of “La Grande Course”, a circuit of the most exclusive ski mountaineering races across the Alps and the Pyrenean mountain range.
The presentation began with a news that had already been circulating in the competitive ski mountaineering community: technical director and mountain guide Adriano Favre confirmed that the next Trofeo Mezzalama will be contested by teams of two, modifying the historical format that, for 90 years, required teams of three.
"Until now, we have respected the traditional team formation of three athletes," said Favre, “but mow, it is time for Mezzalama to adopt two-athletes teams. The changing conditions of high mountains demand it: the noticeable retreat of glaciers, the increasingly snow-poor seasons, and the growing presence of live ice on slopes and ridges. In these conditions, a two-person team is more agile and efficient, both in rope maneuvers and glacier-bound descents. Essentially, we want to ensure greater safety."
Along with Adriano Favre, François Cazzanelli and Emrik Favre, young alpine guides who have recently joined the Mezzalama technical team, were present. The two guides actively collaborated with the Technical Director in evaluating this important decision. With a curriculum that distinguishes them as both climbers and ski mountaineers, and having firsthand experience in the "Marathon of the Glaciers" as athletes, Cazzanelli and Favre managed to balance safety needs with the push for innovation.
At the end of this first technical phase, it was also announced that on April 26, the ISMF Long Distance ski mountaineering world titles will be awarded, adding further prestige to the competition.
A second important news was announced by Christian Zanolli, mountain guide and member of the Pro Montagna Foundation:  the launch of an inclusive project. In 2025, some athletes with disabilities will take part to a demo-race along part of the Trofeo Mezzalama route, as a first step towards an an official competition in 2027.
"It is an ambitious project," explained Zanolli. "Together with the Trofeo Mezzalama Foundation, Sportfund Italian Foundation for Sport, and the Mazzola Foundation, we are working to allow athletes with disabilities to compete along the Marathon of the Glaciers route. In April, we will invite some athletes to a demo race to study the details and feasibility of an official competition in 2027.
Regarding inclusivity, the Director of Regional Tourism for Aosta Valley Giulio Grosjacques said: "Valle d'Aosta is an inclusive region. The project 'Ski for All Abilities' has already entered its implementation phase, aiming to make the area accessible to people with motor, sensory, and/or intellectual disabilities, offering more opportunities for sports and recreation, even in winter. The Aosta Valley Ski Masters Association and the Union of Aosta Valley Mountain Guides are involved in using facilitators to enable days on the ski slopes and in climbing areas. This experience has shown that collaboration between public entities, private organizations, and associations is essential for achieving tangible results. Building on this success, we are ready to launch a new project combining culture, hospitality, and sports, for inclusive Alpine tourism. Among the initiatives are accessibility to cultural sites and castles in Valle d'Aosta, Skyway Monte Bianco (the highest accessible point in Italy), an ethical hotel, and a karting track. Additionally, out local railway system will soon allow all stations to be fully accessible. Lastly, the In3Vie project, promoted by our department together with Piedmont and the canton of Valais in Switzerland, aims to develop a cross-border network of accessible and welcoming tourist destinations for people with disabilities."
The presentation of the 24th edition concluded with a speech by Mr Luigi Bertschy, Vice President of the Aosta Valley Region, who officially presented the new trophies . Starting in 2025, for the first time in the history of the Mezzalama, a trophy has been created specifically for women's teams.
The trophies, which will be awarded to the team winning the competition for three editions, whether consecutive or not, were created as part of a competition that preceded the Foire d’été 2024.