“The dream is to take part in the OWG 2026”

Ivo Pertile (39), head coach of the Italian Nordic Combined Women’s team,
joined this weeks Tuesday Talk.

The Predazzo-born talked about team spirit, the upcoming Mixed Team World Cup premier in Val di Fiemme (ITA) and his hopes for a home game at the Olympic Winter Games 2026 in Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo‎.

The first Women’s World Cup season is over. What experiences will you take with you to the next winter?

Ivo Pertile: It has been a very nice experience and an honor take part in the first WC season. We're now happy and ready to jump into the next season.

Although the season wasn’t easy due to the Corona pandemic, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship premier of the women in Oberstdorf (GER) was the highlight. How satisfied are you with the results of your team?

Pertile: We're very satisfied that the Women's premier was such a highlight, and also with our results. Maybe a bit more would've been possible, but we'll train to make it possible in the future. Personally, I'm very proud of the spirit that our team has brought to the Nordic World Ski Championships, including the presence of an unlucky injuried Veronica Gianmoena, to support Annika, Daniela and Lena.

What is your favorite part of being the head coach of Italys Women’s National team?

Pertile: I like coaching very much, especially having the possibility to combine the analytic and emotional parts. Next to knowledge, sensibility plays a big role with the women. Also the assistant coach Francesco Benetti and the service guys for our men and women team (Piero, Michele, Luca and Francesco) are important people and complete our staff in the best way possible. I feel very lucky to lead this Women's team, with it's nice team spirit atmosphere.

The Grand Prix is a great opportunity to fine-tune the performance before the new season starts. What are the strengths of your athletes and what still needs to be improved?

Pertile: Taking part in the Grand Prix, as well as the junior competitions, is always a nice way to compete and share the common passion with other athletes. Our team is heterogeneous. Last winter Annika Sieff and Veronica Gianmoena were more consistent in the Ski Jumping part, Daniela Dejori had some ups and downs in Ski Jumping but a very solid performance in Cross Country, while Lena Prinoth rebuilt her routine, after 1,5 years of inactivity due to a back surgery. We'll keep on working to grow in both components of the discipline.

Val di Fiemme (ITA) will host the first ever Mixed Team World Cup competition. What are the advantages of this competition format?

Pertile: The first FIS World Cup competitions in Val di Fiemme will be a great opportunity for us. We're really excited and thankful to the organizers. Annika and Veronica have grown up in Val di Fiemme, Daniela and Lena very close, in Val Gardena. I was born in Predazzo, the village were the hills are. The dream is that the women can take part at the Olympic Winter Games 2026, in this venue. The Mixed Team format is very exciting, because a bigger number of nations will have the chance to compete for the top positions, like it has already happened in the summer competitions. The bigger competitive balance leads to more uncertainty, that makes this format more attractive, from my point of view. I hope we'll be able to show a good value, together with our men.

What are you looking forward to the most in the upcoming winter and what goals do you want to achieve?

Pertile: First of all, we're very happy with the calendar for the next winter, FIS did a really good job. We're grateful to the President and members of our Federation, they really supported the growth of the women in the last years. Our goal is to improve our level, do our best and be happy with the position we'll deserve.