Formazza Italian Snowmobile Championship

The Italian Snowmobile Championship in Formazza

Every winter, Val Formazza, at the northern tip of the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Piedmont, becomes the stage for some of the most anticipated rounds of the Italian Snowmobile Championship, organized under the aegis of the Italian Motorcycling Federation (FMI). The races are held in the hamlet of Riale, at the foot of the majestic Toce Waterfall—one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Alps with its 143-meter drop, which freezes completely during the winter months.

The 2026 Season Rounds

The 2026 national FMI calendar designated Formazza as the season opener, with Round 1 and Round 2 scheduled for January 24 and 25, followed by Round 3 and Round 4 on February 21 and 22. These two weekends transformed the Walser plateau into a high-speed snow track, drawing a large crowd of enthusiasts.

Competition Categories

The Formazza snowcross features the championship's main classes:

• Fast — the premier category, reserved for the fastest and most experienced riders
• Challenger — the entry-level class for high-level competitions
• Master — dedicated to long-time experienced riders
• Over 40 — the veterans' category

Each round consists of several heats, with points contributing to the overall championship standings, which are then decided in the final stages elsewhere in the Alps.

An International Showcase

Over the years, the Toce Waterfall track has also hosted the CEST (Central Europe Snowcross Trophy), a competition bringing together riders from Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, confirming Formazza as a reference point for snowcross in Central Europe. Competitors from all over Italy and neighboring countries, including France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, take part in the races.

The Setting of Val Formazza

The event is part of the rich Winter in Val Formazza program, coordinated by the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Formazza, which enlivens the valley during the cold season with markets, snowshoeing, skiing, and other events. For mountain and winter sports lovers, the snowmobile races offer a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of speed on snow in a natural setting of rare beauty.