Giorgio Alverà

Belluno’s Giorgio Alverà began to compete in the mid-1960s and achieved his first success in 1969, when he won the Italian two-man bobsleigh title in the second category and was also second in the European Juniors in the same event. Alverà was a four-time Italian champion in two-man bobsleigh (1973-76) and twice in four-man (1974-75).

Internationally Alverà won the 1975 World Championship in two-man on his home track in Cervinia, partnered by his brakeman Franco Perruquet. Three times he was fourth in the four-man bob at the Worlds – in 1983 (Lake Placid), 1984 (Saint Moritz), and in 1985 in Cervinia. Alverà was honoured by the Italian Olympic Committee with a Gold Medal for his sports achievement.

After retiring from competitive sliding, Alverà was an important entrepreneur. He managed the Hotel Villa Alpina, then Cortina’s Garage Dolomiti, which he later moved to Cadore. He then returned to his passion for tourism and for years directed the Faloria refuge where he personally awaited skiers in winter and hikers in summer.