Marta Bassino Ends Two-Decade Partnership With Salomon
Longstanding alliance concludes after a season of struggles and reflection
Marta Bassino still beams from the athlete gallery on Salomon’s website—but not for long. On July 17, the 29-year-old Italian and the French ski brand jointly announced the end of their 20-plus-year partnership. The announcement came via Instagram.
“After more than 20 years of shared passion, performance, and success, Salomon and Marta Bassino are parting ways,” the statement read. “From the Crystal Globe to World Championship titles, this partnership has contributed to unforgettable moments in alpine ski racing. We are proud of everything we have achieved together.”
No Surprise After a Difficult Season
The news did not shock insiders. Bassino’s 2024–25 season failed to meet expectations. She salvaged a positive ending with a fourth-place finish in the super-G at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley—her top result of the winter—but the rest of the season left much to be desired.
The low point came in Åre, Sweden, when Bassino was disqualified after the first run of the World Cup giant slalom. Officials cited a violation of Rule 222.8, which bans fluorinated waxes.
From Junior Star to World Champion
Bassino first made waves in February 2014 at the Junior World Championships in Jasna, where she claimed gold in the giant slalom, beating teammate Karoline Pichler. Her career quickly accelerated.
In 2021, she won the parallel event at the World Championships. Two years later, she became the super-G World Champion in Méribel-Courchevel. Her breakout season came in 2020–21, when she opened with giant slalom wins in Sölden, Courchevel, and both races in Kranjska Gora. She capped the year by earning the small crystal globe as the discipline’s top skier.
However, she has not reached a World Cup podium since placing second in the Kranjska Gora giant slalom on Jan. 7, 2023. She has since slipped to 28th on the World Cup start list in her signature event.
A Grateful Goodbye
According to a press release, the separation was mutual.
“Salomon will always hold a special place in my heart,” Bassino said. “All the successes I have achieved so far have been with Salomon, and I will always be grateful for that.”
Bassino has not yet revealed which ski brand she will race on during the upcoming 2025–26 Olympic season.
Credit: Story originally written by Peter Gerber Plesch for skinews.ch. Used with permission. Translated and adapted for AP style by Ski Racing Media.
About the Author: Peter Gerber Plech
