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The Dolomites are something special. The mountains are coloured orange-brown by the sun and the colour, combined with a thick layer of snow, sticks in one’s mind forever. The Dolomitis have a certain magic about them which lure visitors from all over the world year in year out. Even the best alpine skiers could not resist them. In the heart of Val Gardena there is the St. Christina mountain village where one of the world’s most classic runs of the Alpine Skiing World Cup ends.

The renowned Saslong has been hosting men’s skiing every season for the past 40 years.  When racers come from the North American tour to Europe and gather in Val Gardena, it becomes clear that the skiing season has come to life. All those who are at least tiny fans of this beautiful sports discipline, realise that this is followed by classics, such as Bormio, Wengen and Kitzbühel – the races that make history in competitive skiing. Legends are born here and careers end here as well.

Skiing in Val Gardena is no exception to the rule, although it has no reputation of being too hard. But who is not acquainted with the »camel humps« and the renowned Ciaslat section. Even the most experienced skiers swallow heavily before facing the »camel humps«. It is a true test of courage and was passed with excellence for the first time by the  legendary Uli Spiess. He trained for this on a smaller ski jumping hill. Well, in all the years there has been only one record jump by Michael Walchhofer, who at a certain point jumped as far as 82 m.

This weekend has not shown us such lengths as the most important part of the competition is the safety of its competitors. Still, everyone is cracking their heads to retain the attractiveness of the competition. It’s a fact that no-one would be watching skiing on the motorway. Some believe that the competition could be rescued by different suits, others are leaning towards the decrease of speed.

Speed is very important at Saslong as it’s a »skating« track.  It’s the best track for those skiers who are capable of leading the skis on their sliding surface. Ciaslat also demands a lot of technical knowledge. That’s why I thought it could have been won by Michael Walchhofer for the 3rd time in a row.

Saslong was conquered by almost all the best skiers in the world: Franz Klammer, Bernhard Russi, Peter Müller, Stephan Eberharter and Pirmin Zurbriggen. Kristian Ghedina was the most successful of them all; he even encountered a deer at the finishing area which became his trademark afterwards. The only one who never managed to win the classic run of Val Gardena was Hermann Maier.

This weekend has raised pulses of South Tyrol again. Alpine skiing is a major part of the area’s history and is a source of income even nowadays. Tourism in the Dolomites is the main income which would have never been so well developed if it hadn’t been for the promotion.  Saslong plays the main role in it.

I’m not one to say that one ski resort is better than another. I think places like Courchevel and Chamonix have much to offer whether one has more slopes or more après ski parties than the other. When one person or family is looking for a quiet escape from crowds, another is looking to ski late and party hard. People take their ski holidays (like their alcohol) the way they like them, searching out one ski resort over the other for various reasons, sometimes a mix. I’ve picked three countries and several resorts to help you skier or snowboarder avoid having any merrymaking, pleasure or amusement of any kind this ski season.

Austria: If you like night skiing and incredible slopes, avoid hitting the Austrian ones ’cause then you might not have a bad time.

Bad Gastein (Sportgastein) is one of my favorite Austrian ski resorts because it’s so diverse and has so much to offer skiers of all levels. The hotels are fairly priced too. I often come here with a group of friends (when we don’t venture to France) and can find chalet accommodation that can easily fit us all. Plus, we can all come and go as we want, stay up late to party or enjoy some night skiing, but still plan activities—like watching the FIS Snowboard World Cup in January—together. Bad Gastein is set up to handle large crowds without getting backed up or feelings of claustrophobia. If you don’t like big crowds, then Bad Gastein is still a good choice but can get busy around the Christmas-New Year ski season. If you want glacier skiing this year, try the Solden Glacier resort just 100 km from Innsbruck. Avoid either place if you don’t like night skiing, a must try if you never have.

France: To have a lousy ski vacation, avoid skiing in France if you like good times and great selections of slopes

I’m not sure we’d have après skiing venues if it wasn’t for France (perhaps not the word anyway). So, among other things, like snails and Bordeaux wine, we have much thanks to give to France. Plus, we can thank them for the wicked skiing and wicked-er resort package deals. Isola 2000 (we can also thank them for putting the altitude after resort names too) is jammed packed with pistes. If you like to ski on a wide variety of greens, blues, reds and blacks, then avoid Isola 2000 at all costs, as there is 120+ km of skiing and over 20 lifts to choose from so you might just have to have a good time. Brides Les Bains should definitely be avoided if you want to hit the slopes early, as these tend to open in December, but the wait is worth it if you’ve planned a later ski holiday (especially for the high ski season) with 150 km worth of ski slopes.

Italy: For a terrible holiday, avoid snowboarding in Italy if you wish for some of the best riding experience in your life

Italy is iconic for having unsurpassed slopes, affordable accommodation and criminal snowboarding parks. If you hate any or all three of these, then it’s best to avoid Italy skiing all together. Be sure, too, to avoid Alta Badia, part of the Dolmiti Superski. The snowboard and freestyle park will really irk you if you don’t like boarding, as there’s a halfpipe, snowboard cross, jumps, humps and rails. Additionally, La Thuile in the Aosta Valley has an 11 km run that drops for a decent 1200 meters. If you hate long lasting descents, then La Thuile Espace San Bernardo is not for you either. Avoid these action packed places, moreover, if you hate life, parties, or the occasional all-nighter and tons of winter festivals.

A few weeks ago, the UNESCO added 13 properties to its World Heritage list. Among these is the site of the Dolomites, in Italy. The now protected area covers 141,903 hectares and comprises parts of the provinces of South Tyrol, Trento, Belluno, Udine and Pordenone. The Dolomites were mostly chosen because of their unique geological history, having been formed around 250 million years ago as a giant coral reef in the ancient Tethys Ocean. Its nomination was also based on the Dolomites diverse ecosystem, rich in botanical variety and rare species of fauna, which is also well worth protecting, and not to forget that it is considered by many as offering the most beautiful mountainous landscapes of the world.

To visit the Dolomites, head for any of the following Italian mountain or ski resorts: Alta Badia, Alta Pusteria/Hochpustertal, Arabba Marmolada, Civetta, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Kronplatz/Plan de Corones, San Martino di Castrozza, Tre Valli, Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme or Val Gardena.

The Dolomites are an excellent destination both for summer vacations and for ski holidays. In summer, numerous hiking, climbing and mountain biking routes are offered to the public to explore the mountain range. Also, the Dolomites are home to the world’s most fascinating secured climbing routes (or Vie Ferrate).These provide safe access to some of the most scenic points high up among the barren rocks by means of ladders, iron steps and fixed ropes.
All above-mentioned holiday destinations are part of the Dolomiti Superski association, the world’s largest area of interconnected winter sport resorts. In winter, skiers and snowboarders can choose from close to 1200 km of downhill ski runs and parks to enjoy their sport. Countless cross-country ski trails also lead holidaymakers deep into the Dolomites.

If you are still wondering if the Dolomites are worth the trip, this video will certainly convince you!

The Jungfrau region, in Switzerland, is also on the World Heritage list. Do you think any other European mountain range should be on the list?

This year again athletes, amateurs and hikers, men and women, are invited to the SKY-RACE delle Dolomiti Friulane. This non-competitive mountain race (fell race) is a 20km run through the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane, at an altitude ranging from 880m to almost 2,200m.

The event takes place on August 30, 2009 and starts at 9AM. The participants are expected to complete the distance in:

• About 7 hours for the hikers
• From 4 to 5 hours for trained hikers
• From 3 to 4 hours for regular athletes
• From 2 to 3 hours for Sky-runners
• Less than 2 hours for Top Sky-runners

Registration is made August 29th (28€) or 30th (33€)  in Forni di Sopra and the price includes:

• A running long-sleeve t-shirt in breathable fabric.
• Assistance on the course
• Hot pasta at the end of the race
• Showers

See you in Forni di Sopra!

Since here, at MountVacation, we have an incredible quantity of information about more than 400 European ski resorts, I decided to share it on this blog. From now on, once a month, I will post a short text about a resort, with relevant links, and our regional specialists will be available to answer any questions you may have about that destination. You are also invited to share your personal travel and skiing experience with other readers.

So here we go with our first Destination of the month: Courmayeur.

Very centrally located in Europe, Courmayeur is right at the border of France and Switzerland, on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco). See map

In summer, activities are countless and include everything for every taste. Rafting and paragliding will suit the adrenalin freaks, while hikes and strolls will please others. Swimming is possible in one of the three swimming pools of the resort, indoor or outdoor. Of course, mountain biking, canyoning and tennis are also all classics here. If climbing is your thing, then Europe’s highest mountain will certainly satisfy you, whether you are an experienced climber or a beginner. And if you prefer to keep your feet on the green, Courmayeur has its nine-hole course set in a breathtaking location.

In winter, skiing and snowboarding are possible to an altitude of 2,700m (the village of Courmayeur lies at 1,200m) and the real action begins on Plan Checrouit at 2,200m. If plenty of green slopes for skiers are available, the majority of the slopes are best suited for intermediate skiers. Expert skiers will also find their share of challenging slopes in selected areas, and some off piste ski going on around the resort, Courmayeur having a couple of cable cars serving high mountain ski areas.

So, tempted? You should know that the price of apartments and hotels in Courmayeur can be reduced up to 50% during lower seasons so, to save money and avoid crowds, you might want to plan ahead to avoid taking your next mountain or ski vacation during the high season.

If you want to golf in an exceptional setting, you definitely need to try golfing in one of the alpine resorts.
What if other members of your family/group do not like to golf? Well… European resorts usually offer a wide range of summer activities, so you can even add rafting, mountain biking, and even skiing on glaciers to your well-deserved golf holidays. Here are some interesting destinations:

FRANCE
Chamonix:
The Golf Club de Chamonix offers an 18-hole golf course designed by the world famous Robert Trent Jones Senior. The club is located between the Mont-Blanc range and the massif of the Aiguilles rouges, in a truly magnificent location. Chamonix is also first-class destination for mountain biking.
Tignes:
Tigne’s 18-holes golf course is also set in beautiful surroundings. Because of its glacier, Tignes also enables summer ski so why not plan a golf/ski summer holiday. That should certainly please the whole family!

ITALY
Bormio:
The 18-holes golf course in Bormio, also called “Fornace”, is a creation of the architect Mario Verdiedi, of St. Moritz. The basic principle of the course design is to conform to the original configuration of the land and all of its curves. Summer skiing is possible just a few kilometres away from Bormio proper, and mountain biking is, here again, a very popular activity.
Courmayeur:
The Courmayeur golf course was designed and built in the 1930’s by Briton Peter Gannon. At that time, golf was a sport for the privileged but more and more people every year learn the basics of this timeless sport. When in Courmayeur, mountaineering is also a must-do.

SWITZERLAND
Crans-Montana:
Crans-Montana is truly a premium destination for golfing. Asides from the famous course used for the European Masters, one of the most important European golf competitions, two other 18-holes courses are to be found within the 20 kilometres area of Crans-Montana. Two 9-holes courses allow the beginners to play without handicap and many options for golf courses are available. Crans-Montana is also a good destination for hiking and biking enthusiasts, and also to indulge yourself in one of the numerous spas of the resort.
Zermatt:
Even if people have been playing golf in Zermatt for about 20 years, the Golf Club Matterhorn was inaugurated in 2004. The closest place to stay if you intend to show off your skills on this 9-holes course is Täsch. Here again, you can plan your ski-golf vacations because summer ski is possible on the Matterhorn glacier.

Val di Sole, in Italy, is one of my favourite summer resorts because of the diversity of sports activity offered.

For adrenaline-pumping experiences, the best is to hit the water. The Noce River challenges everyone to take the paddle to go white water rafting and, fortunately, the resort provides all the gear and equipment needed for a thrilling experience. And if rafting is not exciting enough, then you must try hydrospeed. Wearing a reinforced wetsuit, a helmet and fins, daredevils will meet the river currents head first, supported only by their hydrospeed. The services of guides, instructors, and experts can be retained for both activities.

If you prefer «drier» kinds of adventure, mountain biking allows to discover a large network of biking trails and tracks, among which is found a 35-kilometer-long cycling path. You can even reach some breathtaking canyons! For something new, try “tarzaning,” an activity that mimics the amazing skills of Tarzan. To do so, you can follow an aerial trail by swinging on ropes, crossing Tibetan bridges, and more. Here again, guides are there to make sure you remain safe and well entertained.

Families will find that the resort is worth exploring, they can walk the trails and appreciate the undeniable beauty of the region, and numerous unsupervised playgrounds are scattered along the way for parents and their children to play together. Val di Sole also has a sports center, tennis courts, football grounds, and climbing walls, as well as facilities to enjoy swimming, archery, and mini-golf, more than enough to satisfy every member of the family!

The summer activities offered in Val di Sole are countless! Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, nordic walking, and much more. The resort is just as lively during the winter season: extensive network of slopes, long ski runs, various off-pistes areas, cross-country skiing pistes, snowboarding insltallarions, ice-skating rinks, and snowmobiling. In short, Val di Sole is an ideal summer and winter vacation destination and remember: whichever season, accommodations fill up quickly so book ahead!