Category: Ski Italy

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Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

These unique Dolomite vistas encompass the extensive Alta Badia ski area, with magnificent views of the Sasso Lungo Peak and the Sella Mountain Range. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets. Photo: IDM Sudtirol.

Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

When you think of Sudtirol you think of the Dolomites in Northern Italy. The province of South Tyrol, or Sudtirol is bordering in the north with the Tirol in Austria and to the south with Trentino. The scenery is to die for, in reality, I have never seen more impressive and beautiful terrain in the world, the mountains are impressive and very rocky sculptured peaks, and at dawn or dusk, they turn into pink, thanks to the Enrosadira effect.

Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.
Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.

Enrosadira is the term given to the phenomenon whereas the peaks of the Dolomites turn into a pink/reddish colour, and then gradually turning into a violet. The reason of these changing colours is because the calcium carbonate and mangnesium carbonate of the dolomite, the mineral found in large quantities in the rocky walls of the Dolomites. Enrosadira is a Ladin term meaning ‘turning pink’. Ladin is an ancient language of the inhabitants of the Dolomites.

There are more than 30 ski areas located across all of South Tyrol. Most of these are part of the two larger ski associations.

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The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The Alpine huts along the ski slopes of the Gardena Valley serve local fare mixing traditional Italian with South Tyrolean dishes; against the magnificent background of the snow-capped peaks of the Sella Mountain Group in the Dolomites. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

Only two weeks after the tragic meteorological event at the end of October, which has brought numerous damages in the Alps, also blowing away the roof of the Comici hut of Selva Val Gardena, works to rebuild the roof are almost completed before the imminent snowfalls.

The time schedule of the works seemed almost impossible, but it was being able to be restored in record time – in just 11 days, with an already final solution that will be completed in the coming days, just in time for the start opening season.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.
The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

This success was due to the coordination of the Marzola group and to the workers of the companies Lignosystem and Zumprafux who have worked uninterruptedly and with great skill at 2153 m to make all this possible. The Comici hut will therefore open in perfect normality at the beginning of the next winter season on Thursday 6 December 2018.

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Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.

Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th. Photo Federico Modica. APT Val di Fassa.

Val di Fassa is opening its lifts on December 6th. The strong wave of bad weather that hit, in recent days Val di Fassa has not compromised the start of the ski season that as scheduled, will kick off in early December.

After the heavy rains and gusts of winds that have lashed the territory between the nights of the 29th and 30th October, which caused crashes of trees and some landslides, there were no major damage done to the ski lifts and slopes of Val di Fassa, and all is back to normal.

Gruppo del Sella view from Pian de Frataces. Photo APT Val di Fassa. Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.
Gruppo del Sella view from Pian de Frataces. Photo APT Val di Fassa. Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.

To reassure all ski and snowboard fanatics, in a note published on November 5th by Daniele Dezulian, president of Val di Fassa and Carezza cableway assembly, he states that “Bad weather caused limited damage to infrastructure. These problems can be restored in time to allow the regular start of the ski season, scheduled for December 6th. The damage was caused by the fall of trees due to strong winds, as documented by various newspapers and news services. Water, on the other hand, has compromised some stretches of forest roads, preventing vehicular access in some high-altitude areas, where restoration work is still under way.”

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Important Pet Travel Scheme Update for Eurotunnel’s passengers

Get ready to take your pet abroad after Brexit is imposed. EU Regulations for travelling with your dog if we have a 'No Deal Brexit'. Photo Unsplash Jeremy Bishop.

Important Pet Travel Scheme Update for Eurotunnel’s passengers: thought that this might interest to those going to the mountains, whatever time of the year from the UK with their furry pals.

Eurotunnel has sent a DEFRA’s update on the Pet Travel Scheme if there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

This week DEFRA announced their recommendation that pet owners planning to travel immediately after 29th March 2019 contact their vet at least four months in advance of travel to check what they need to do.

Driving to the Mountains. Pet Travel Scheme. Eurotunnel. Picture Unsplash: Randy Fath
Driving to the Mountains. Pet Travel Scheme. Eurotunnel. Picture Unsplash: Randy Fath

For example, if you are travelling on 30th March 2019 the recommendation is that you visit your vet as soon as possible, and before the end of November 2018 at the latest.

DEFRA have advised that customers will still be able to travel with their pet to Europe after Britain leaves the EU, however they may need to take some additional steps to allow their pet/s to travel in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

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The US SKI TEAM is arriving to the skiarea Alpe Cimbra in Trentino.

The US Ski Team is arriving to the Alpe Cimbra ski area in Trentino. Photo Ted Ligety - Salizzona piste.

The US SKI TEAM is arriving to the skiarea Alpe Cimbra in Trentino. The words “Mountain of the Champions” used to refer to Alpe Cimbra couldn’t be more appropriate.

It is official; Alpe Cimbra ski area – Folgaria, Lavarone – is the new training centre of the male US SKI TEAM for the next 4 years. Theslopes Salizzona and Agonistica, the most technical of the ski area, will turn into their training centre.

Alpe Cimbra will be the training grounds of the US Ski Team for the next four years. Photo Ted Ligety. Salizzona piste.
Alpe Cimbra will be the training grounds of the US Ski Team for the next four years. Photo Ted Ligety. Salizzona piste.

The decision of the US Ski team is no coincidence. In the last couple of years, many World Cup teams trained here. The technical features of these slopes coupled with the optimal conditions of the terrain resulting from the professional grooming techniques of the ski lift company led to spread the popularity of the ski area as one the best destination for training purposes. Michael Rech, the President of the tourist office Alpe Cimbra, underlines that “hosting significant skiing international events – like the European Cup races and the Alpe Cimbra Fis Children Cup (former Mickey Mouse Trophy) – and hosting the training of important World Cup ski teams like – Italy, Austria and Sweden – has improved our awareness about what the destination needs to offer to the top athletes. In this sense our efficiency has increased.

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Gales and tide surges wreak havoc in all of Italy, killing at least 10. What is the situation in Trentino-Alto Adige and Belluno

Lots of trees have fallen due to a massive storm in the area of Trentino Alto Adige and Belluno. Photo: Vigili del Fuoco. Twitter.

What is the situation in Trentino-Alto Adige and Belluno: Gales and tide surges wreak havoc in all of Italy, killing at least 10.

Gales and tide surges wreak havoc in Italy, killing at least 10. After two days of severe weather that has caused historic flooding, at least 10 people are dead in Italy nationwide.

Arabba after the storm. Gales and tide surges wreak havoc in all of Italy, killing at least 10. What is the situation in Trentino Alto Adige and Belluno.
Arabba after the storm. Gales and tide surges wreak havoc in all of Italy, killing at least 10. What is the situation in Trentino Alto Adige and Belluno.

Italy has seen gales that sent trees crashing into cars, water surges have destroyed a port and high tides in Venice have flooded the San Marco Basilica.

There were dozens injured by the weather conditions.

But in the mountains, on Monday a body of a woman was found in Val di Sole,  and the body of a fisherman was found by firefighters in Lake Levico in Trentino, and a volunteer firefighter was hit by a falling tree during an operation at San Martino in Badia, in Alto Adige. The fisherman found in Lake Levico is likely to have been blown into the lake by the winds.   Falling trees was the cause of many of the deaths and of major disruption.

La Repubblica stated that “In 48 hours there have been over 7,000 interventions” by firefighters at a national level, many of them for removal of fallen trees, it reported.

Some mudslides isolated parts of the country and several rivers saw record levels and potential floods. In the northeast of Italy, snowstorms trapped tourists at resorts. At higher elevations as Stelvio pass near the border with Switzerland, 180 people remained cut out after a heavy snowfall blocked the alpine pass, ANSA reports.

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Snow in the Alps this weekend and the week to come

Driving with snow- check if you need snow tyres and/or snow chains. Photo Adrian- Unsplash. Skiers Face Winterisation and Ski Rack Charges Adding up to £179 On Car Hire Bill.

It has been snowing hard this weekend in the Alps, finalising the summer time as the clocks turned.

As per SWI – Swissinfo.ch – Arosa got over 70 cm and the Eastern Alps were affected in particular with snow in low altitudes.

Parts of Graünden got 30 to 70 cm of snow at over 1,200 m over sea level.

You can see here the difference in Davos from Saturday to Sunday, twitted by SRF

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1056179352503808000

SRF is also warning of large snowfalls and rainfalls between Monday and Tuesday

SRF Meteo photo - They caution that on Monday and Tuesday there are risks of large rainfall across some Alpine regions.
SRF Meteo photo – They caution that on Monday and Tuesday there are risks of large rainfall across some Alpine regions.
SRF Meteo announces heavy rain from the Upper Valais over the Ticino to Southern Grisons.
SRF Meteo announces heavy rain from the Upper Valais over the Ticino to Southern Grisons.

Arosa got the highest snowfall at 72 cm.

Lenzerheide webcam - Bergfex cameras.
Lenzerheide webcam – Bergfex cameras.

Snow also fell down at 500 meters in some places, such as Zurich airport. But snow needs to fall at over 700 meters above sea level to stay. Southern Valais got 20-30 cm of powder snow and the Jura also got some snow, as you can see with these cows trying to find grass to eat.

Cows trying to find the grass under the snow at the Vallée de Joux in Jura- Photo Keystone -Jean-Christophe Bott- Swiss.ch.
Cows trying to find the grass under the snow at the Vallée de Joux in Jura- Photo Keystone -Jean-Christophe Bott- Swiss.ch.

WeathertoSki reported that there was lots of precipitation this weekend across the Alps, mixed with rain and snow from 600 meters up. Mostly the snow sat from 1000m to 1500 across the north-western half of the Alps, and between 1500 and 2500 across the south-eastern half. 

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CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.

CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset. Photo CheckYeti.

Austrian start-up company CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Europe’s biggest ski and snowboard rental provider Skiset

The successful start-up company for winter sports, CheckYeti (www.checkyeti.com), with 1.5 million users and counting, has entered a strategic partnership with Skiset, Europe’s biggest ski and snowboard rental provider. With over 6000 offers in over 500 ski resorts, CheckYeti is the leading booking platform for winter-sports activities. Each year, the French company Skiset offers high-quality equipment to over 2 million clients in over 800 rental shops all over 400 different locations in Europe and North America. Together, CheckYeti and Skiset cover 80% of the Alps and thus allow all winter-sports enthusiasts to easily choose their skiing holidays online and to book completely stress-free. 

Ski, skiers, sun and winter fun - skiers enjoying ski vacation. Photo CheckYeti/Skiset. CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.
Ski, skiers, sun and winter fun – skiers enjoying ski vacation. Photo CheckYeti/Skiset. CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.

Thanks to winter-sports innovators CheckYeti and Skiset, booking a skiing holiday has never been easier. Their common goal is to help clients leave for the winter holidays completely stress-free through easier online-booking options. Courses, instructors, winter-sports activities and even the necessary equipment – all can be booked prior to the arrival at the ski resort. Consequently, queuing at the local ski rental shop as well as looking for the right ski school are now a thing of the past. Vacationists now can easily book their skiing holidays from home and thus make their first turns on the slopes already shortly after their arrival at the ski resort.

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3 Zinnen Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season

Drei Zinnen seen from the Drei Zinnen ski area - photo PXHere.com. Drei Zinnen will continue with its plan to install the Helmjet Sexten 10-seater cable car.

3 Zinnen Dolomites (3 Peaks Dolomites) will link their resort to Austria, making it a ski carousel of 2 provinces (Sudtirol, Belluno) and 2 countries (Italy and Ausria) when it builds a lift to link its area to the Thurnthaler ski area in Östirol for 21/22-ski season.

Thurnthaler has now 40 km of slopes and with the connection; the new combined ski area will have about 160 km of slopes, becoming the largest ski resort in the Dolomiti Superski carousel.

Drei Zinnen ski area - Copyright: 3 Peaks Dolomites. 3 Peaks Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season .
Drei Zinnen ski area – Copyright: 3 Peaks Dolomites. 3 Peaks Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season .

Since last year, the ski area was re-named 3 Peaks. Before it was known as Alta Pusteria Valley/Hochpustertal. This new name plays tribute to the region’s outstanding attractions: the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites and the Drei Zinnen.  The new denomination also includes the skiing area with its 110 kilometres of ski runs, with guaranteed snow and a panorama of peaks that will take your breath away.

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Dolomiti Superski spends 90 Million Euro investement for the upcoming ski season.

Dolomiti Superski- 3 Zinnen Dolomiten- New Chairlift Mittelstation-Helm. Photo credit: Dolomiti Superski. 90 million Euro investment for the 2018-19 ski season.

Dolomiti Superski is the largest ski carousel in the world, composed of 12 well-known ski resorts and 1,200 km of pistes. Now at the start of its 45th winter season on 30 November 2018, Dolomiti Superski, the world’s largest ski-pass network, will offer many new cable cars and other lifts, new slopes, more snow-making and mountain attractions, with a total investment of 90 million Euros.

130 different member companies that compose Dolomiti Superski have invested 90 million euros. 70% of these investments are in lifts, and 30% on snowmaking.

Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.
Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.

New lifts:

Coming 2018-19 winter season, Alta Badia will replace the “Roby” 2-seater chairlift with a new modern 6-seater- chairlift. Meanwhile at Seiser Alm and at the Three Peaks Dolomites ski resort the same will happen with the “Mezdi” 2-seater chairlif and the “Mittelstation” 2-seater chairlift. In San Martino di Castrozza, the new 10-passenger cirulating ropeway “Colbricon Express” will replace a 3-seater and a 4-seater chairlift.

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