Riccardo Tonetti

ABOUT ME: 
I’m a member of the World Cup National Team of Italy. I really like my sport, because it permits me to travel around the world doing what I love most: skiing.  
I’ve had the good luck to meet a lot of people of different nationalities and I’m honored to be part of this big family. 

• What MOMENT do you ski for? 

I think every moment on skis is a good moment for me. Although we train to achieve our goals on race days, the best moment on skis is the first run of the day. You can really enjoy the perfect snow conditions and at the end of the run you turn around and can see all your perfect turns that draw a nice picture on the mountain. 

MORE:  

• How do you recharge your batteries for the next challenge?  

We race a lot and we travel a lot, so we have to relax and recharge our batteries several times. I’m able to recharge best with an easy book to read in my bed at night or during our long trips in planes and cars. 

• What’s your favorite quote? Why does this quote resonate with you?  

Smile to life and life will smile back to you. I think that people will respond to you the same way you treat them. So think and be positive and you will enjoy life and also other people will enjoy it with you. 

• How do you conquer difficult situations?  

During a long season you will have a lot of good but also a lot of bad moments. For me, the best thing to do after a difficult situation is to go back to my family and switch off my mind and enjoy being home. After that I go back to work and work even harder to achieve my goals.   

• What sacrifices have you had to make to get to where you are today and were they worth it?  

Every sacrifice I did in the past was rewarded with some good races so I’m happy about all the decisions I’ve made. It was not always easy. It took away a lot of time from my friends and my family, but they understand me and they have always pushed me to give more to my sport. 

• How does your mindset (or attitude) influence your performance?  

I think for a ski racer the mind is the strongest thing he has. I try to always think positive and enjoy what I’m doing. That helps me to give my best every day in training and in the races.  

• What do you do when you aren’t skiing?  

I love it to be at home just relaxing with family and hanging around with friends.  I live in Bolzano so we have the opportunity to go on beautiful hikes in the Dolomites and other breathtaking places. I also like to ride my mountain bike to the nearest lake to have a cooling swim.