Lara Colturi
Thirty-seven degrees Celsius, towering palm trees and ice-cold drinks by the pool at the end of July in Tirana — at first glance, nothing about the setting suggested a celebration of winter sports. But anyone who knows Elvis Toci, president of the Albanian Ski Federation , also knows to expect the unexpected.
As organizers unloaded massive blocks of ice from a pickup truck and prepared for Ski Excellence Night, Toci explained that the federation created the evening to honor the entire ski community.
“We have prepared many awards because, in a country where skiing is still unfamiliar, it takes a lot of effort, hard work and passion to develop the sport,” Toci said.
He described the federation’s members as ski lovers who believe Albania can become an established part of the international alpine skiing community.
“We are gaining experience and developing quickly.”
Throughout the evening, awards recognized athletes and representatives from sports, tourism, the media and the international ski community. Toci and members of his media team presented handcrafted trophies in front of a backdrop styled as “Audi FIS Ski World Cup Tirana.”
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Colturi takes center stage
Lara Colturi received the Best Athlete of the Year Award after earning four World Cup podiums and finishing 10th in the slalom at the Olympic Games last season.
“It’s a huge honor because this is a really important award. I’m very proud of everything I’ve achieved so far in my career, and this means a lot to me. I’ve had to sacrifice so much and work incredibly hard. Thanks to my family, their support and, of course, the federation, I’m standing here today,” Colturi said as she held her trophy.
The Best Coach of the Year Award went to Colturi’s mother, Daniela Ceccarelli, the 2002 Olympic super-G champion. Denni Xhepa, a three-time Olympian for Albania, received the Best Male Athlete of the Year Award.
Colturi strengthens her connection to Albania
Colturi spent part of her summer vacation exploring Albania by camper van.
“We traveled across the country from north to south in 10 days, and I wish we had had more time. Albania is truly beautiful. I love this country — from its high mountains to its stunning beaches. The people are incredibly kind, and I recommend everyone visit Albania.”
Although born in Italy, Colturi chose to represent the Mediterranean nation. She said Albanian fans increasingly recognize her in public and stop to say hello.
“Yes, I’m still getting used to it. Sometimes people come up to me and ask if they’re allowed to talk to me because they’re not sure. But I’m an open person — I don’t bite,” she said with a laugh.
A new chapter on HEAD skis
Colturi recently announced that she will race on HEAD equipment next season.
“It’s a new chapter, something completely different, and we’ll see how it goes. After testing in Kvitfjell, I decided to go for it. But there’s still a lot of work ahead of us — first in Saas-Fee at the end of July and then in New Zealand, where we’ll continue our training.”
Albania’s small World Cup program often trains alongside athletes from larger national teams, allowing Colturi and her staff to share training environments and resources.
“It’s really beautiful to see how we help each other internationally. We’re friends. Yes, we compete against each other, but once the race is over, it’s over. Then we might go for dinner together or even spend part of our vacation together. That’s one of the best things about our sport.”
Colturi said her team has developed a particularly strong relationship with Swiss athletes and plans to train with them again.
Swiss-Ski executive praises Albania’s progress
Among the evening’s special guests was Diego Zueger, co-CEO of Swiss-Ski.
“It’s a great honor to be here, and I’m truly impressed by what I’ve seen tonight. In Switzerland, we are practically born with skis on our feet. We learn to ski before we learn to walk. That’s why what you’ve achieved with Lara and your other athletes is truly remarkable and incredibly impressive.”
The federation also recognized the next generation of Albanian skiers. Organizers presented new skis to two youth athletes with support from a Czech partner.
While Albanian children may not be born with skis on their feet, the federation hopes more will have opportunities to discover the sport.
Voice of the Slopes
Nick Fellows, director of FIS TV, received the Voice of the Slopes Award for his work covering international alpine racing.
Explaining ski racing to a new audience
The Albanian television production team also received recognition. Commentator Etrit Xhuglini said broadcasters face a distinctive challenge: presenting alpine skiing to viewers in a Mediterranean country where many people have little firsthand experience with the sport.
“They want to see Lara on the podium,” Xhuglini said with a laugh.
“No, seriously — I love sports, and I was thrilled when Elvis invited me to join the project. I genuinely enjoy it. Since many people here don’t know much about skiing, we focus more on the emotions than the technical details.”
The broadcasts explain the sport and provide context while also introducing Albania to the international ski racing audience.
“During interviews with the athletes, we also have the opportunity to introduce Albanian culture and our country to the skiing world. People love seeing Albanian fans supporting our athletes around the globe, so alongside the racing itself, we feature them in our reports and interviews.”
Xhuglini said that the approach has helped build public interest in alpine skiing, including through the television team’s social media coverage.
Recognizing the fans
Giving fans a place in the spotlight is essential to the sport, according to Toci.
“Sport without fans is dead. Can you imagine the FIFA World Cup without fans? Fans create the show, and the athletes perform better because of them. That’s why, at every FIS meeting, I keep emphasizing that alongside all the other key players, fans must be a strong force pushing the engine of our sport forward.”
With that philosophy in mind, Ski Excellence Night honored Colturi’s supporters, Albanian fans and international fan clubs with the Spirit of the Slopes Award. The award recognized the passion and atmosphere supporters bring to alpine ski racing.
The ceremony offered a glimpse of how Albania’s ski community continues to grow despite the country’s limited tradition in international alpine racing. Colturi’s success has provided a visible focal point, but the evening also highlighted the broadcasters, officials, partners, young athletes and fans working to build the sport.
Albania, Tirana and the warmth of their people left a lasting impression on me. I found a country filled with positive energy, laughter, color and a genuine desire to share its culture with the skiing world.
In the end, Ski Excellence Night was about more than trophies. It celebrated a community united by its belief that alpine skiing can take root in unexpected places.
About the Author: Darka Sefcik Starnova
