There are many reasons people choose to go skiing, from the wonderful alpine vistas to the top-class après-ski that can be as lively as it is stylish. But at the heart of any skiing trip is the snow itself – and an opportunity to enjoy the thrills (and sometimes spills) of a descent surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.
Nowhere is this better on show than in South Tyrol. The northernmost area of Italy welcomes visitors with a heady cultural mix of Italy and neighbouring Austria, but is also home to the stunning Dolomites – an imposing but beautiful mountain range that remains a relatively undiscovered winter paradise.
The Dolomiti Superski is the world’s largest ski area, with an enormous 1,200km of snow-covered slopes comprising 12 separate resorts and areas. There is inevitably a huge variety of slopes on offer – so, with that in mind, we have selected the pick of the bunch for every level, from absolute beginners to experienced sorts who want more of a challenge.
ALTA BADIA (Best for beginners)
It can be difficult for novices to truly experience the joys of skiing, with many resorts offering up only a few nursery slopes on which they can perfect their nascent art. Not so in Alta Badia, where the ski area is made up of a mountain plateau comprising a host of wide-open cruising blue runs. The sheer extent of the area means beginners can spend all day exploring the slopes, thus getting an authentic alpine experience without fear of drifting on to more difficult runs.
The proliferation of easy runs also makes Alta Badia the ideal choice for families. Almost every village in the area boasts children’s lifts and ski-kindergartens.
SELLARONDA (Best for intermediate)
There can be few more enjoyable ways to spend a day on skis than this. The Sellarondo is a breathtaking 26km circuit of downhill runs around the dramatic Sella Massif peak, taking in four of the Dolomites’ spectacular valleys. The only tour of its kind features a succession of beautifully groomed pistes linked together by a modern and efficient lift system, and should take around five hours to complete.
The route can be taken both clockwise, for which it is signposted in orange, or anti-clockwise, which is marked in green. Allow for stops to enjoy the sheer beauty of the views, but take note that this is also a tour for skiers of a certain level – several steep runs along the way mean this is not one for total beginners.
KRONPLATZ (Best for the expert)
Nestled in the picturesque Val Pusteria, Kronplatz could lay claim to being the number-one resort in all of South Tyrol. It is also a popular summer destination for hikers and cyclists but it is 116km of immaculate pistes that makes this mighty mountain sing.
The wide runs down into the valley can be enjoyed by most, but there is no doubting the sparkling jewel in the crown of Kronplatz: the awe-inducing Black Five. Sylvester, Herrnegg, Pre de Peres, Erta and Piculin are not for the faint-hearted and only truly experienced skiers (and snowboarders) should take to the five black runs that give the resort iconic status. Those who do, however, will return reporting one of the most exhilarating experiences of their life.
SASLONG, VAL GARDENA (Best for the very expert)
Do you fancy testing yourself on a run that challenges the world’s best skiers every year? Every December, the Saslong course in Val Gardena plays host to Super-G and Downhill World Cup races – and is known as being one of the toughest on the entire calendar.
The track starts at 2,249m elevation on the Ciampinoi Mountain, and winds its way down 3.5km to the finish at Santa Cristina – but the steep 100m slope that every competitor faces almost immediately out of the start gate can catch out even the best. It is an irresistible challenge to any genuinely advanced skier – but, set against a backdrop of the awesome Sassolungo Massif, it is also simply beautiful. Which, in many ways, is South Tyrol in a nutshell.