Throughout his career, he won 12 World Cup races and a Super-G and achieved a total of 33 podium places. He is particularly well known for his "split": on the Streif slope in Kitzbühel, he thrilled audiences and TV commentators with a split while jumping the finish jump of the race track.
Kristian's family, the Ghedinas, have been living in the Ampezzo valley for at least six centuries. Plenty of time to become a pillar of the community and masters of local traditions, including some tasty recipes. Kristian is particularly fond of one of Cortina's culinary treasures, of which his grandmother is an expert cook: the casunziei, a sort of moon-shaped ravioli covered with poppy seeds, parmesan and butter. Casunziei is the most local, traditional and deeply rooted recipe in Cortina, especially in their red version with beetroot filling.
The casunziei are not just part of Kirstian's daily life, they are also of paramount importance for his skiing carreer, as one of the secrets of his victories. In 1996, Kristian’s grandmother prepared a huge plate of casunziei for him before he went to the World Ski Championships in Sierra Nevada. Kristian ate 93 of them, his personal record. So when he won his silver medal, he dedicated it to his grandmother and her wonderful casunziei.
If you are now longing for a hearty dish of delicious casunziei, read the recipe in the "
Alpine Flavours" category.
