Skiing in the DOLOMITES with DOLOMITI SUPERSKI

Is there a reason why, as early as the first years of the 19th century, the Dolomites were the staging area for the first skiing experiments in Europe? These pioneers, who came primarily from Anglo-Saxon and Germanic backgrounds, immediately responded to the beauty of these mountains, the suitability of their gentle slopes for skiing and the magical atmosphere surrounding them. Thanks to their vision, the alliance between the Dolomites and winter sports continues to the present day, now that the Dolomites are a UNESCO National World Heritage Site. The experience of discovering one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world on skis is priceless.
Internationally recognized trails, such as Saslong and Gran Risa, or spectacular panoramic views at the summit of Lagazuoi (2,800 m), Sass Pordoi (2.950 m), Marmolada (3,342 m) and Cristallo/Forcella Staunies (2,930 m), all reachable by cablecar or skilift, offer breathtaking winter views of the snow-covered Dolomites. The same can be said of other, less well-known trails in the 12 ski areas of the Dolomites. Thanks to Dolomiti Superski it is possible to ski from one valley to the next, traveling the trails and enjoying the beautiful Alpine landscape, almost touching the vividly colored rocks – a powerful and unique experience enhanced by your encounter with the stone giants and an idea that seems like a dream: “I am skiing in the heart of a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.”

THE DOLOMITES the most beautiful mountains in the

Toward the end of the 19th century, the Dolomites saw numerous pioneering activities; the mountains were an excellent area for experimentation of various kinds. Bold British noblemen were the first to conquer the sharp peaks, the jagged summits and the sheer cliffs of the Dolomites. They were followed by Hapsburg climbers who wrote the most important chapters in the history of Dolomite mountain climbing.
Great climbers like the Viennese Paul Grohmann (1838–1908), the first to climb to the top of Tofana de Rozes and Mount Cristallo near Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Sassolungo in Val Gardena and the Three Peaks of Lavaredo in the Sesto Dolomites, loved these mountains and wrote about them in numerous publications. The Austrian Emil Zsigmondy (1861–1885) was also a pioneer in the history of Dolomite mountain climbing. He described them as a “delicious gem in the Alps”. The Lake Garda mountain climber, actor, and movie director Luis Trenker (1892-1990), who was born in Ortisei at the foot of the inimitable Sassolungo, documented his passion for these mountains in numerous books and films, which became known worldwide. Thanks to Trenker, the rocky shapes of the Dolomites became known for the first time on an international level. Finally there is the “king of the eight-thousanders,” Reinhold Messner. Since childhood he has loved the Dolomites. From the window of his house in Val di Funes he could admire the Odle Mountains and may have understood from the start that the mountains would always be with him. Messner has conquered all the highest mountains on the planet, but there has always been a soft spot in his heart for the Dolomites: “They are not the highest, but they are certainly the most beautiful mountains in the world”.
Majestic cliffs, tall sharp peaks, impassible overhangs and jagged summits. The variety of forms and colors and of the valleys that cross the Dolomites, however, have not only charmed the great mountain climbers of history, but great artists as well. Le Corbusier (Switzerland-France 1887–1965), perhaps the greatest contemporary architect, saw in the Dolomites “the most beautiful natural architecture in the world”.

Wolf returns to Dolomites

9th October 2009, Alleghe (Belluno, Veneto) - The wolf (Canis Lupus) is back to howl in the Dolomites in Italy. The remains of one adult, who died of natural causes, have recently been found near the Passo San Pellegrino area. For it was in 1929 that is not noted the presence of this wonderful animal in the Dolomites.

Probably this is a sample coming from the Balkans, Croatia and Slovenia area, as the now famous bear "Dino" that for some months has chosen the Dolomites as ideal place to enjoy his days.
These specimens are a rare confirmation of how many species are re-colonized the Belluno Dolomites: over the bear and the wolf also the majestic Golden Eagle and the beautiful Real Owl. Rare animals in addition to deer, roe deer, ibex, chamois, foxes, badgers, squirrels, rabbits and numerous species of birds.

An important signal of quality synonymous with these animals found in the natural area of Dolomiti Stars, in all areas of the Consortium by the Ski Civetta, in Falcade-Passo San Pellegrino, Arabba and the Marmolada. These are the same Dolomites recently elected to the Unesco world heritage natural good.

Source: Dolomitistars

Alto Adige Val Gardena

In Alto Adige nature is the real, great protagonist.

Unique massifs with accentuated tops, glaciers, alpine lakes, woods and slopes: this is the beautiful andfascinating expression of nature in Alto Adige!And beside this Alto Adige offers endless chances to get to know a rich artistic, historical, cultural andtraditional heritage in a land so close to both the north and the south, between the German world andItaly, gateway to the Mediterranean sea. Alto Adige has always been a meeting point of tradition andmodernity: a discovery which surprises and enriches. Unique and very tasting, the local gastronomy boastsvery good specialities, combined with excellent wines.Glamour in a naturalistic paradise (1.500 above sea level)Val Gardena it a naturalistic paradise in the heart of the Ladin culture. Dominatedby the impressive chain of the Dolomites, it offers one of the most suggestive and beautifullandscapes of Italy, colourful and rich of natural treasures.Selva Gardena is definitely one of the most prestigious alpine resort of the Dolomites.Located at the foot of the majestic Sella Group, Selva Gardena is one of the startingpoints to the worldwide famous "Sella Ronda", skiing paradise which includes 1.200 Kmof slopes, always covered with snow.Val Gardena offers spectacular and various slopes, within the most famous ski domain in the world… the Sella Ronda:around the Sella and the Sassolungo groups, breathtaking sights, very well maintained slopes with natural or manmade snow.

Trentino Val di Fassa

Training camp of the italian ski team (1.450 above sea level)

A land of legend, culture, tradition, sport and many other things to be discovered. A stimulating place,overlooked by the very famous mountains of the Roda di Vael, the Catinaccio, the Sassolungo, theSella Group, the Pordoi and the Monzoni, all dominated by the queen of the Dolomites: the Marmolada.At the foot of the imposing mountainous sets of Marmolada, Gran Vernel, Sass Pordoi and Sella, therestands the cosy village of Canazei.Here you will find the ideal mixture among nature and sport, events and culture, relax and night lifewith several typical restaurants, pubs, bars with live music, crowded with people from sunset to dawn.An ideal starting point to the Sella Ronda Circuit: from Canazei by gondola lift to the Belvedere,from Campitello by cable car to the Col Rodella. For cross-country lovers, the charming track of the“Marcialonga” marathon.

Trentino San Martino di Castrozza

At the foot of the 'Pale' (1.450 m. above sea level)

There is something in the air that feels magical like on a journey through the past. Visitors are brought back tomore relaxed times, to when cars were fewer and nature was ever overwhelming. The sight of thePale di San Martino and the wonders of the Paneveggio Park will make you feel humanly little.As soon as you arrive in this nice mountain village, you breath the typical alpine atmospherepeculiar to each corner of San Martino di Castrozza. The Pale of San Martino overlook thevillage and make the environment unique and unforgettable, together with the dense woodsand the green fields around.

San Martino di Castrozza is one of the favourite destinations of mountain's fans and ofpeople looking for a refined, charming atmosphere.The slopes of Tognola are demanding and enjoyable for the beautiful sight of the famousPale mountains. The wide slopes of Malga Ces are ideal for intermediate skiers and for families.The ski school beginners area is located a few minutes away from the residence andthe cross country is spectacular in the heart of the Paneveggio Natural Park. Quiet and romantic, SanMartino maintains the charm of an old alpine village with lots of typical restaurants and traditional feasts.

Trentino - Madonna di Campiglio

Winter in Trentino: snow covered peaks and untamed nature. A time for sports, relax, fitness and wellbeing. And then, the taste of great food and exquisite wines, cultural events and exhibitions. You can really enjoy alpine skiing with 800 km of different slopes in the two main domains of Dolomiti Superski and Adamello Skirama, 90 per cent of which supplied with man made snow. But also very attractive are in Trentino Nordic skiing and ski mountaineering for the thrill of being so close to the high peaks.

A pearl in the Dolomites (1.550 m. above sea level)
Val Rendena is a land rich of natural, unpolluted resources like the glaciers overlookingthe area and more than 50 alpine lakes with suggestive waterfalls and torrents. It is a verygreen valley, framed by the majestic and charming Brenta Dolomites and enriched by its villages full of history and traditions. Situated within the park of Adamello Brenta, in a wonderful basin between the group of the Brenta Dolomites and the glaciers of the Adamello and the Presanella, Madonna di Campiglio offers its best to mountain's lovers. In the heart of the Brenta Dolomites, over 120 km of slopes surrounded by breathtaking peaks for telemark, carving and snowboard on dedicated tracks. Spectacular ski area together with Folgarida and Marilleva. Ski school with beginners area and charming cross-country tracks in the wonderful surroundings of Campo Carlo Magno, a few hundred away from the Residence. Lots of cosy alpine lodges welcome you up high in the mountains. Shops, fashion boutiques, pubs, restaurants and discos light up at night for a lively atmosphere.

Dolomites - Trentino region - not only skiing

Winter promises not only skiing and many activities in unspoilt natural surroundings, but also relaxation, great exhibitions, events, the pleasures of the table, well-being…

Winter in Trentino means snow, but also nature, relaxation, flavours, events, art and well-being. Skiing in Trentino is terrific, but not everything.
Needless to say you can enjoy all the opportunities offered on the snow: Alpine skiing, cross-country, snowboarding, ski touring, snow-shoeing, Nordic walking, plus skating, sleddogging and ice-climbing. Almost 800 km of pistes, technologically advanced lift passes, two circuits only (Skirama and Dolomiti Superski) covering nearly the whole region, about a dozen fun parks for board enthusiasts, enchanting routes through woods and on plateaus, silent peaks to explore on touring skis, 500 km of trails and about twenty centres for cross-country skiing. And what else? Over 300 modern lifts, programmed snowmaking covering 90% of the pistes, hotels and other accommodation establishments boasting a potential of over 400 thousand beds of excellent quality divided between 1551 hotels, 174 guest houses and then camp-sites, agritours, B&Bs and second homes. Not only excellent lodging, but also board: here wines are superb and local dishes delicious. Overall we thank nature: statistics show that snowfalls are abundant (on average 4 metres at an altitude of 2,000m) and eight out of ten days are sunny. Families seeking snow will find a great number of packages and services planned specifically for them. For example free lift passes and discounts. There are also Kindergartens where infants are looked after by qualified staff.

In Trentino it doesn’t take much to be filled with a feeling of effervescent pleasure: strolling in a Nature Park, recognising the scents of the forests, admiring the superb panoramas. As scientific studies have shown the body gains important benefits from even a brief stay at a medium altitude, between 1000 and 2000 metres. Not only: at the same time the mind is regenerated and everyday stress is forgotten, perhaps while listening to a babbling brook, or admiring the peaks as they turn pink in the setting sun, or breathing in the mountain air, or sipping the water of spring.

Not to be forgotten the three Nature Parks in Trentino (Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino, Adamello-Brenta and Stelvio) that also offer visitors a rich calendar of activities and events in winter.

As a fitting complement to the outstanding Alpine environment, Trentino boasts hotels able to ensure the best in the field of well-being, those with the sign “Vita Nova – Trentino Wellness”. Here the guest will find an oasis entirely dedicated to relaxation and fitness with gyms and equipped rooms, various kinds of saunas, special water jets and showers, pools and Jacuzzis , a beauty centre with qualified staff and a wide range of personalised treatments.
The spas also offer well-being treatments and together constitute a real health circuit. Four of these are open in winter.

First nature, then history forged this land leaving an indelible mark of art and culture. Lying between northern Europe and the Mediterranean, Trentino has been a country of transit and encounters since ancient times and therefore has many layers of styles and memories. Today monuments, churches, castles and small elegant towns remain. First and foremost Trento, the capital of the province, renowned for having hosted the longest and most famous Council of the Catholic Church (1545 – 1563). There are 17 museums of considerable importance scattered throughout Trentino and many small collections and displays in the civic museums. The two main museums, Buonconsiglio in Trento and the Mart in Rovereto, constantly host international exhibitions.

Worth mentioning is the “Fiemme Ski Jazz”, the most important jazz festival on the snow in the whole of the Alps, held in mid-March.

Various types of traditional and extremely attractive events are held during Christmastime and Carnival. The atmosphere created around the street markets is really incomparable: the coloured lights, sounds and scents around the stalls selling local products announce the arrival of Christmas in many towns and villages.

At Carnival, instead, ancient, pagan rites resurface in the popular folk traditions. Not to be missed the traditional Ladinian masks.

Trentino, a paradise for cross-country skiing

The Super Nordic Skipass is dedicated to cross-country skiing, giving access to 19 cross-country centres and a total 1.200 kilometres of tracks, between Trentino and other districts. A paradise for Nordic skiing that includes the facilities of Viote-Monte Bondone, Lago di Tesero, Passo Lavazè, Passo San Pellegrino, Passo Cereda, San Martino di Castrozza, Passo Coe, Millegrobbe-Lavarone, Passo Campo Carlo Magno-Campiglio, and Vermiglio in Trentino; Asiago, Campolongo Rotzo, Enego, Cesuna, Monte Corno Lusiana, Fontanella Lusiana, Recoaro and Lessinia in Veneto: Frassinoro, on the Modenese Apennines.

This is the largest circuit of cross-country tracks in the Alps and a single card gives access to all the centres in it. «SuperNordicSkipass» can be purchased in all the cross-country centres associated with the system, with special conditions for families and operators.
The skipass is proposed in several combinations: seasonal for 80 Euro (access to all the centres valid all season) and weekly (7 consecutive days from the first day of admission). Admission is free for children up to age 10. Each associated centre has a Skipass-Keyring station that records access to the facilities.

The tracks in these cross-country centres are always in perfect condition – in fact they are constantly groomed and closed when the quality of the ski surface cannot be maintained – updates on the state of the centre can be found on the website (http://www.supernordicskipass.it/).

New images from Tonale pass available

Tonale Dolomites Italy 8
Originally uploaded by Skiing Italy

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Snowboarding in Tre Valli - Falcade

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Snowboarding in Tre Valli - Falcade
Originally uploaded by Skiing Italy

Eight cult pistes and one dedicated to Schumacher

EIGHT CULT PISTES FOR CHOOSY SKIERS
There are hundreds and hundreds of kilometres of pistes in Trentino set in a varied and particularly attractive environment. Among these there are eight cult pistes of exceptional technical difficulty to be tackled flat out.
First of all the “Canalone Miramonti” in Madonna di Campiglio where the important «3-Tre» is held every two years, the slalom with a capital “S”, with extreme slopes that leave you breathless. Not to be missed the “Ciampac” piste in Alba di Canazei, a very technical and enjoyable run with many changes in gradient, a small paradise completely immersed in a forest right down to the valley. The “Paradiso”piste on Passo del Tonale is a very interesting run on which to test your athletic condition, where there is no question of being bored thanks to the new and fast lift. The “Salizzona” piste on the Altopiano di Folgaria is also a difficult slope and one of the favourites of the Rovereto champion Davide Simoncelli as it is only a few kilometres from his home.
Those who love to draw sweeping dynamic curves in absolute safety and tranquillity should attempt the “Tognola”piste at San Martino di Castrozza The “Tomba” piste, instead, on Ciampedie in Vigo di Fassa requires maximum concentration right from the first serpentines, due to its sudden changes of gradient and almost extreme drop in height.
Definitely exciting is the five kilometre long “Olimpica Due” on Paganella, with its drop in height of one thousand metres and continual changes of direction. Lastly the renewed “Olimpia”piste at Alpe del Cermis which is seven kilometres long, smooth at the beginning and difficult at the end.

World Alpine Rock Festival December 2009

On the 22nd of December 2009, Paganella ski is holding the WORLD ALPINE ROCK FESTIVAL 2009.
16 top world-class skiers will battle it out at the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rockfest. Twelve ski stars will be enlisted directly, and the other four athletes will be selected before the competition. Each of the stars has, in fact, the chance to choose two friends-colleagues from their national team who will race against each other in a sort of afternoon pre-qualifier. The real race will be held at night under the floodlights – and the finest four will make it to the final. “I’ve been saying we need something new in the world of skiing, and this is just the kind of event I was looking for, so I signed up right away”, said Miller.

The protagonists of the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rockfest ski challenge will be 16 ski champions who will fight it out on the slopes in four thrilling runs. But there will be no one-on-one heats. It’ll be all against the clock, with the last four times eliminated after each run, until only the four finalists are left to battle it out for the final victory, and the 100.000 euro prize.

The twelve ski stars will be selected on the basis of their popularity, their success in sports events, their style, their fame, and their nationality. Each of them will have the chance to “invite” two other athletes. Davide Simoncelli - the local champ – will be able to choose four. The 26 “selected” athletes will compete in one run, and the first four will make it to the select group of 16 finalists. The athletes who have already confirmed their participation include: Davide Simoncelli, Italy - Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, USA - Felix Neureuther, Germany - Julian Lizeroux, France - John Kucera, Canada - Marco Buechel, Liechtenstein - Mattias Hargin, Sweden.

The second big thing at the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rockfest is the combination of Great Music and Ski Champions. In fact, there will be a concert with an internationally renowned rock band at the end of the competition, a great chance for fans to dance with their favourite World Champion Skiers.

Welcome to our Skiing Italy Blogger site !!

Hello everyone, we decided to extend our presence on the web by setting our own Skiing Italy blogger site. We will be posting hot topicks, news and comments on skiing in the Italian Dolomites.