The Championships for 15 to 20-year-olds is due to take place over the next nine days in the Italian resort, featuring action in six different disciplines including the downhill, slalom and Alpine combined.

It will be the seventh time Italy has hosted the event.

Last year in Davos in Switzerland Austria took both first and second place in the women’s giant slalom as Julia Scheib won the gold.

Now 20, Scheib is still eligible for the Championships and so may return to defend her title.

Overall, competing on home snow Switzerland were the most successful nation last year, winning six golds and 11 medals in all.

Norway were their closest rivals, winning two gold medals, while this year’s hosts Italy won just one silver.

That came through Alex Vinatzer in the men’s slalom.

At the age of 19, like Scheib in the women’s giant slalom he is still eligible to compete and so will undoubtably be aiming for the podium once again at a home Championships.

The women’s giant slalom will be the only contest tomorrow, with the men’s slalom set to go ahead on February 26.

The event is scheduled to end the next day with the women’s downhill.