Marta Bassino Ends Two-Decade Partnership With Salomon
Longstanding alliance concludes after a season of struggles and reflection
Marta Bassino nonetheless beams from the athlete gallery on Salomon’s web site—however not for lengthy. On July 17, the 29-year-old Italian and the French ski model collectively introduced the tip of their 20-plus-year partnership. The announcement got here through Instagram.
“After greater than 20 years of shared ardour, efficiency, and success, Salomon and Marta Bassino are parting methods,” the assertion learn. “From the Crystal Globe to World Championship titles, this partnership has contributed to unforgettable moments in alpine ski racing. We’re happy with all the pieces we’ve achieved collectively.”
No Shock After a Troublesome Season
The information didn’t shock insiders. Bassino’s 2024–25 season failed to satisfy expectations. She salvaged a constructive ending with a fourth-place end within the super-G on the World Cup Finals in Solar Valley—her prime results of the winter—however the remainder of the season left a lot to be desired.
The low level got here in Åre, Sweden, when Bassino was disqualified after the primary run of the World Cup large slalom. Officers cited a violation of Rule 222.8, which bans fluorinated waxes.
From Junior Star to World Champion
Bassino first made waves in February 2014 on the Junior World Championships in Jasna, the place she claimed gold within the large slalom, beating teammate Karoline Pichler. Her profession shortly accelerated.
In 2021, she received the parallel occasion on the World Championships. Two years later, she turned the super-G World Champion in Méribel-Courchevel. Her breakout season got here in 2020–21, when she opened with large slalom wins in Sölden, Courchevel, and each races in Kranjska Gora. She capped the 12 months by incomes the small crystal globe because the self-discipline’s prime skier.
Nonetheless, she has not reached a World Cup podium since inserting second within the Kranjska Gora large slalom on Jan. 7, 2023. She has since slipped to twenty eighth on the World Cup begin checklist in her signature occasion.
A Grateful Goodbye
In line with a press launch, the separation was mutual.
“Salomon will at all times maintain a particular place in my coronary heart,” Bassino mentioned. “All of the successes I’ve achieved up to now have been with Salomon, and I’ll at all times be pleased about that.”
Bassino has not but revealed which ski model she is going to race on in the course of the upcoming 2025–26 Olympic season.
Credit score: Story initially written by Peter Gerber Plesch for skinews.ch. Used with permission. Translated and tailored for AP type by Ski Racing Media.
