delightful dolomites (Skiing)

Member Name: ryanbritto

Product:	Skiing
Date:	05/01/01 (144 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good for families

Disadvantages: busy

The Dolomiti Superski Area is probably the biggest ski area in the world. One lift pass is valid for about 450 (four hundred and fifty) lifts. Not all of them are linked together. Dolomiti Superski is an association of 12 ski areas in the Italian Alps. In each one of them you can buy lift tickets just for that area, but I would not recommend that if you are better than a beginner. The Superski Pass is not much more expensive.

In the following review I am referring to the Sella Ronda Area, that is Val Gardena, Val Badia, Arrabba, and Val di Fassa.

I went to Val Gardena for numerous times, starting in the age of seven, almost every time between Christmas and New Years Day. Snow has not always been the greatest but I learned to love man-made snow. The area does not need much of snow, though. To my experience, anything more than 50cm or 20" is plenty. This is because of almost all the slopes are on alpine meadows and not over rocky terrain. I have never been finding a place where slopes are kept in shape like there.

The slopes are mostly wide and not too steep, so it is an ideal area for families with children. Good skiers who want to go fast will find something fun, too, especially the two World Cup hills in Val Gardena (DH) and the extremely steep La Villa (GS). I have never seen moguls, though. The four valleys, mentioned above, are situated around the big massive rock formation called the Sella. You can do the Sella Ronda: ski around the Sella in about a day, the round is skiable in either direction. Ski all day long without having to use a lift or slope twice. It is a great tour, suitable for families, in fantastic scenery of the Dolomites.

For expert skiers, there is a fantastic tour: go up on the Sella from Pass Pordoi, with the gondola, and cross the Sella. You have to walk for about an hour, but it is worth the effort, for the spectacular views, and the tricky Val Lasties. If you fall there, down you go... It is l
ike a chimney, at the entry about 30 ft./10m wide and gradually becoming wider as you go down. And extremely steep. There might be some moguls it it hasn't been snowing for some time. Probably you will not see anybody other than your group before getting to the chair lift in Colfosco. It might be dangerous, is not patrolled, so take a guide.

Ski lifts are mostly modern, but there are some old fixed-grip chair lifts and single rope tows in spots that are critical to get over the hill and into the next valley. There, you might have to stand in line for a while. But it seems like it has been worked on the lift system, some of the old stuff was replaced recently.

Prices are reasonable, for dining and wining as well as for lodging, and, especially lift tickets. It is probably the best value you can get. If looking for an apartment, be sure to make your reservations early to get a good price, and if possible, go there out of season (it is most busy in late February and throughout March, and, not quite as bad, the week after Christmas).

Check out the website www.dolomitisuperski.com which has links to the individual ski areas, and to lodging etc.

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