It’s Always Worth Going for It

It’s 2 p.m. in Italy, but in Denver it’s only 6 a.m. Cecilia Pizzinato is already in front of her screen, ready to join our call.

On the other side of the screen, there’s us, the third-year Ski College class, with plenty of questions for her. Cecilia went to our school and skied with ASIVA until she was 20. She now lives in Colorado, where she studies at the University of Denver and competes on its ski team.

For those of us who spend our days juggling school, training, races and tests, her story feels a long way from home. Then again, some of it sounds pretty familiar.

Cecilia, let’s start at the beginning. When did you realise skiing was going to become more than a passion?

I started getting into ski racing when I was seven. Ever since then, that competitive spirit has been with me in everything I do, at school and on skis. My goal was to join ASIVA, and I made it in my third year of high school. I stayed with ASIVA until I was 20.

What was it like balancing school and sport?

It was almost like a deal. If I did well at school, I could ski. In my last two years, I spent very little time in the classroom, but this school teaches you to be independent. You have to learn to organise yourself and manage your time. In the end, it teaches you a lot about life.

If you could give ASIVA athletes one piece of advice today, what would it be?

Keep up with school and make the most of the tools you have. Even AI can help you revise and understand things better. I’d also suggest setting dates for your tests. Once you have a date, you have to get organised and make time to study.

From Courmayeur to Bocconi and on to the United States

After high school, Cecilia spent two years at Bocconi University. Then came the decision to cross the Atlantic.

How did you end up in Denver?

Two things got me there. One was the languages I learnt in high school, and the other was my level as a skier. Languages are essential if you want to go abroad. I spent two years at Bocconi before the opportunity to go to Denver came up.

At university, what mattered more to you, your studies or the team?

When I started university, I was putting everything into skiing for the team. Studying felt almost like a bonus. The biggest change was leaving Italy.

Falling, taking a break and starting again

As with any sporting career, there were difficult moments along the way.

Was there a time you found particularly difficult?

I got injured in my final year of high school. Over time, I realised it had made me love skiing even more. I had my final exams coming up, so I studied a lot, and that helped me get into Bocconi too. I chose to focus on what I could do while I recovered.

Did you ever think about giving it all up?

No, I never seriously thought about quitting. But I did have some difficult moments. When I was 16, for example, I was the youngest on the ASIVA team and felt I was getting less support than before. I was angry. I spoke to my ski club and my mental performance coach straight away. My coach was a huge help.

When it came to choosing a university, I was also worried I’d have to make changes to my skiing. I’d always been driven and had lots of goals, but I had to adjust them along the way.

How important is it to have people supporting you?

For me, it’s essential. I’ve worked with a mental performance coach for seven years. Then there’s my family, my friends and my physiotherapist. They’re the people who helped me get my strength and energy back. Friends who share your passion are a vital source of support too, especially in the United States.

At Denver, sport is part of everyday life

By now, we’re keen to ask one of the questions we’ve been looking forward to most.

What’s it like being a student athlete at an American university?

It’s really convenient and well organised. We train early, from eight to ten in the morning, and then we study. It’s like living in a village. You’re always with your teammates, you train a lot and you’re constantly working together. We train a lot back home, but in the States we train even more.

Are there opportunities for people who dream of doing something similar?

Absolutely. There are generous scholarships for skiers in the US and in other countries too. Some of my teammates are Italian skiers who used to race for ASIVA and decided to come here. My best friend, Margherita Sala, is here too. We ski and study together.

Our classmate Vuillermoz, who joined ASIVA this year, speaks up.

“I hope I can follow in your footsteps.”

Cecilia smiles.

“I’m really glad to hear that. And there’s one thing I’d say. It’s always worth going for it.”

Could skiing become a career?

One question leads naturally to another.

Can you make a career out of skiing, for example by becoming a ski instructor?

Of course! Becoming a ski instructor is a great path. I worked in a completely different field this summer, but lots of my friends have become ski instructors and are really happy doing it. It’s a real option if you want to build a career around the sport.

What comes after university?

We’re curious to hear what Cecilia has in mind for the future.

Have you thought about what you’ll do after university?

I don’t know yet. For now, I’m looking ahead to next summer. I’d like to come back to Europe, and I’m thinking about Berlin too. We’ll see. For a long time, sport was pretty much all I thought about, but I’ve realised there are other things I’d like to explore.

The words that stay with us

After all our questions and stories, it’s time to say goodbye. Before we go, though, we ask Cecilia for one last piece of advice for those of us still at school, fitting in revision between training sessions.

What would you say to students who are trying to work out how far they can go?

Cecilia barely pauses.

“It’s always worth going for it.”

It’s 3 p.m. in Italy. In Denver, it’s still early morning.

And for once, that world on the other side of the Atlantic feels a little closer.