Category: Skiing Internationally

Introduction

Italy is renowned for its stunning alpine landscapes and vibrant skiing scene. The country offers a variety of ski resorts that cater to different skill levels, preferences, and interests. In this article, Carlo from Annapolis Railings & Stairs, an avid skier and a native of Italy, introduces us to the skiing scene in Italy and some of the most famous ski destinations:

Cortina d’Ampezzo:

• Location: Located in the Dolomites of northern Italy, Cortina d’Ampezzo is a picturesque and upscale ski resort.
• Highlights: Known for its breathtaking scenery, charming alpine architecture, and excellent ski conditions.
• Skiing: Offers a variety of slopes suitable for all levels, including challenging black runs and beautiful tree-lined pistes.
• Après-Ski: The town offers a lively après-ski scene with luxury shops, gourmet restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

Val Gardena:

• Location: Also situated in the Dolomites, Val Gardena is a part of the larger Dolomiti Superski area.
• Highlights: Known for its well-groomed slopes, stunning vistas, and connection to the famous Sella Ronda ski circuit.
• Skiing: Offers a mix of easy and intermediate slopes, making it ideal for families and those seeking scenic skiing experiences.
• Culture: The region has a strong Ladin culture and is home to traditional wooden sculptures.

Courmayeur:

• Location: Nestled in the Aosta Valley at the base of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur is a charming alpine resort.
• Highlights: Offers breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, a relaxed atmosphere, and a blend of Italian and French cultures.
• Skiing: Known for its off-piste and freeride opportunities, as well as well-maintained slopes suitable for all levels.
• Thermal Baths: The nearby Pré-Saint-Didier thermal baths offer relaxation after a day on the slopes.

Sestriere:

• Location: Part of the Milky Way ski area, Sestriere is located in the western Alps.
• Highlights: Known for hosting the Alpine skiing events during the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Skiing: Offers a wide range of slopes and terrains, making it suitable for beginners and advanced skiers alike.
• Nightlife: The resort offers a lively après-ski scene with bars, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Madonna di Campiglio:

• Location: Located in the Brenta Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio is one of Italy’s most famous ski resorts.
• Highlights: Known for its upscale atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and a mix of skiing and outdoor activities.
• Skiing: Offers a variety of slopes, including challenging runs, and is well-connected to the Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta ski area.
• Festivals: The resort hosts various events and festivals throughout the year.

Alta Badia:

• Location: Part of the Dolomiti Superski area, Alta Badia is known for its beautiful mountain scenery.
• Highlights: Famous for its excellent gastronomy, offering a unique blend of skiing and gourmet experiences.
• Skiing: Offers a range of slopes for different skill levels and is connected to the Sella Ronda ski circuit.
• Cuisine: The area is renowned for its Ladin cuisine and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Summary

Italy’s ski destinations offer not only exceptional skiing but also a rich cultural experience, breathtaking views, and a blend of traditions and modern amenities. Whether you’re an avid skier or simply looking to enjoy the alpine ambiance, Italy’s ski resorts have something special to offer.…

Since we have dedicated this blog to Clark Weeks’ love of skiing, we aim to bring insights on skiing from around the world. Our focus today is skiing in Scandinavia. There is indeed something magical about skiing in Scandinavia, except Denmark. We skipped Denmark. It has ski resorts but the country is not very mountainous and the ski areas are not very highly rated. Denmark is a great place, just not for skiing. The famous ski resorts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, as well as Iceland offer some of the most memorable experiences for avid skiers.

What is more? Each of these experiences is unique in their own way and must be on every skier’s bucket list. If you are wondering about the short days, most of the slopes are lit so you can continue skiing as it gets dark. So, read on to find out some of the best ski areas in these Scandinavian countries.

Sweden – Riksgranson, Are Duved, and Vemdalen

The ski season in this land of the midnight sun usually begins in November and ends in May or until the snow permits. The region is famous for its ski touring as well as heli-skiing provisions making it a perfect ski holiday spot on this planet. Other than this, Sweden also boasts one of the largest ski resorts, namely, Are Duved. This resort is the largest in northern Europe and provides enough challenging slopes for your blades.

The 3rd famous skiing region in Sweden is Vemdalen with its wide-open pistes. The interchangeable lifts allow you to explore different regions in this area. The network lifts connecting the region also include the Grizzly Express – Scandinavia’s fastest 6-seater lift.

Clark Weeks’ Favorite – Norway – Hemsedal, Lillehammer, and Trysil

Blessed with excellent snow conditions, Hemsedal offers one of Norway’s top skiing experiences. The stunning hills and the panoramic views are enough to keep you mesmerized. The area also has a couple of quaint villages that enhance the element of fantasy surrounding the region.

Lillehammer is an entirely different experience altogether. This vast region comprises 5 centers that you can access on a single ski-pass. Depending on your liking and mood, you can visit any or all of these for a variety of ski experiences.

Trysil is also one of the top three ski areas in Norway. In fact, it was awarded as the best resort in Norway making it also one of the most popular options with ski tourists.

Finland – Ruka, Yllas, and Levi

The top three Finnish ski resorts are a delight for any skier. While their slopes may not be as busy as the resorts in the neighboring countries of Sweden and Norway, these resorts provide some of the best experiences. The treelined runs of Ruka, more than 50 different slopes of Levi, and Yllas – the largest cross-country and downhill center of Finland go on for miles. But skiing is not the only thing Finland is known for. It is a historically rich region and offers something for every kind of tourist, such as the sauna which was a Finnish invention. But if you do not want to digress too much, then the skiing experience can be supplemented with the popular dog sledding sport of Finland.

Iceland – Troll Peninsula

Iceland is certainly the most popular heliskiing destination in the world. It is also a unique skiing experience with respect to the rest of Scandinavia. The Troll Peninsula is situated just below the arctic circle and offers enough and more daylight to avid skiers at the end of the season. With heliskiing, you can choose to be dropped right on top of the slope from where you can ski all the way down to the seashore. Some have said that this looks like winter in Narnia. Skiing in Iceland is certainly a once in a lifetime experience.

We hope this has been of some help and encourages you to try Scandinavian skiing. Who know, perhaps you will see Clark Weeks out there on the slopes when you go.…

While his favorite is Deer Valley, Clark Weeks brings you information on skiing all over the world. Today it is Davos in Switzerland. Formerly a mining town, Davos is Switzerland’s largest skiing resort as well as Europe’s highest city. It has six skiing areas which, by American standards would be considered large. Davos also has the biggest outdoor rink in Europe, which ice hockey and ice-skating fans will adore.

In addition to its famous off-piste skiing areas, Davos also prides itself as the World Economic Forum’s host held every January. Perfect for Clark Weeks since he looks at many different types of investments and stays abreast of the latest news.

Skiing in Davos

2003 witnessed the merging and rebranding of two skiing resorts, the Davos and Klosters. Today, they are called Davos Klosters. Another name for them is Madrisa. The two villages are linked to the same ski routes, so exploring both resorts is easy. The village of Klosters features a variety of après-ski events like sleigh rides, shopping, and cultural events. On the other hand, Davos provides limitless amount of ski terrain, best served to advanced and expert snowboarders and skiers.

One thing to note if you’re looking to spend the holidays in Davos, it is best to come before or after the World Economic Forum, as every hotel in the town will be booked. The four-day forum comes at the end of January and brings many political and business titans, adding traffic to the town.

The Ski Slopes of Davos

The Jakobshorn

Known as the event mountain, as people call it, this enjoyable park is heaven for both snowboarders and free riders. Jakobshorn features a variety of blue, red, and black pistes. Although the area is famous to novice skiers, there are also several black terrains which cater to the more adventurous ones. It is also known as an ideal take-off point for snowkiters and hang-gliders.

There are also many ski huts on Jakobshorn’s slopes where you can have a little mountain partying.

The Parsenn Gotschna

The region’s largest ski area, Parsenn caters to all difficulty levels, from children’s slopes to black terrains. With a length of 12 kilometers, this ski area is well-known for its long descents. It is also the country’s longest ski slope that runs from Weissfluhgipfel to Küblis.

The Rinerhorn

Rinerhorn slopes are definitely not for beginners. It boasts the most stunning views on a trickier environment. Because of its remoteness and difficulty, there aren’t many skiers venturing out in Rinerhorn. With impressive sights to see, its lengthy sledge slopes are open to romantic tours twice a week in the evenings.

The Madrisa

Mentioned above, it is also known as the child land. This ski area with over 47 km of ski slopes is an adventure park of ski entertainment for the family. The kids are taken care of by childcare services and are shown how to ski safely. Madrisa also offers a variety of slopes for the parents. This ski area is definitely family-friendly.

Schatzalp and Strela

Schatzalp and Strela is the first decelerated ski slope in Europe. Privately owned by Schatzalp Hotel, this ski area is situated directly above Davos and offers ideal runs for both winter sports novices and advanced skiers. The decelerated slopes are also best for beginner skiers. One popular activity for the expert off-piste skiers is the choice of going out away from the town and onto the wooded slopes with a guide.

The Pischa

This ski area can be found in Klosters. Similarly to Parsenn, Pischa is well-known for its superb freeriding choices with a less large crowd. This is definitely the perfect place for skiers who enjoy the more silent slopes of Davos. Pischa is excellent for snowshoe trekking, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking.

Hope Your Davos Skiing is Memorable

Davos is such a fun place to ski. Clark Weeks hopes you have enjoyed our write up of Davos and that you have found it useful. …

Clark Weeks Recommends Skiing in New Zealand

Clark Weeks love to ski and so we bring you this post about skiing in New Zealand. For others, click here. A bit far to get to, but an amazing country and great skiing.

New Zealand is a unique country located in a corner of the world. Of course, modern aviation has made the journey much more convenient and the distance can be covered within a couple of days at the most. So, if you are planning a skiing trip these holidays, New Zealand can surprise you with the options that are available. Both the North Island and the South Island offer adventurous slopes and exotic experiences. We have listed the top skiing experiences in New Zealand for first-time travelers.

If you decide to go, or for other travel plans here in the US or overseas, we have found the following site has some great deals.  Viv Getaway

Christchurch and Canterbury

Canterbury offers the largest number of snow peaks in the Southern hemisphere making it a perfect winter skiing destination for all age groups. But you need to remember, since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, their winter is our summer. Their ski season starts in June.

Mt Hutt

Located just an hour and a half away from the city of Christchurch, Mt Hutt is the largest ski area in Canterbury. It offers four terrain parks and a top-class snow school for beginners and amateurs. You can also free-ride across the mountain ranges with a quick helicopter flight to Methven Heliski. The Methven village also provides the perfect relaxation spots for the evenings when you want to experience some warm kiwi hospitality.

Hanmer Springs &Hurunui

The Hanmer ski area offers a perfect combination of ski slopes and spas in close proximity. Additionally, you are just under an hour’s drive from Kaikoura, so you can surf on the same day that you ski!

Apart from these two Selwyn 6, Mount Cheeseman, Mount Olympus, and Craigieburn are some of the other coveted ski areas in the Canterbury region.

Queenstown and Wanaka

Queensland and Wanaka offer more than a perfect skiing holiday destination. The ski season here begins in mid-June and stays on until early October offering a perfect option to avid skiers from the Northern hemisphere.

Coronet Peak

Even though the Coronet peak ski area is located at a lower altitude, it offers crisp snow slopes for avid skiers. The resort town is accessible by car and bus and you can enjoy at least a half-day of skiing even on a day trip.

Cardona

Cardona is easily reachable from Wanaka as well as the city of Queenstown. Complete with an all-action ski resort, Cardona slopes are ideal for beginners.

Mount Cook Mackenzie

Located in Mackenzie county, Mount Cook is a high-altitude inland basin located to the east of the Southern Alps. It is also New Zealand’s highest mountain peak. This also makes it relatively lesser crowded than other ski regions in this country and offers a perfect experience for serious or professional skiers. Off the snow, the region boasts of hot pool springs and spectacular stargazing.

Central North Island

Like every other popular ski spot in New Zealand, the Central North island also offers a unique experience that you just can’t possibly miss. The island is home to Mount Ruapehu, the country’s only skiable volcano. It also offers two of New Zealand’s largest ski areas, Turoa and Whakapapa. The old lava flows of the latter make for challenging terrain. Don’t forget to visit the country’s highest café at Knoll Ridge.

If you make there, we are sure you will enjoy it. Plus, the Kiwis are very friendly and welcoming.

For another destination, check out this post about skiing in Patagonia.…

Info for Skiing in Patagonia

Clark Weeks wants to go skiing in Patagonia so we decided to create this post for him. Patagonia has a surface area of about 800,000 square kilometers. It is considered to be the area   south of the Colorado River (yes, there is one in South America too, also known as the Rio Negra). It is part in Argentina and part in Chile. In Chile, it is basically south of the city of Puerto Montt.

Around 70% of its population lives in just about 20% of the whole region which eventually makes it one of the most meagerly populated areas on earth. To quench your thirst for something new and different, a visit to Patagonia just can’t be overlooked.

For a considerable length of time, the name Patagonia has evoked both curiosity, puzzlement and wonder. Being so remote, a sense of adventure is helpful as well. Some would say, a lost world at the base of South America.

There have been myths about the region from the very earliest times that Europeans discovered the region. Magellan, in the 1520s, brought back the famous myth that huge footed giants inhabited the South American region. One of the survivors during this time wrote in his account how these giants posed as threats to human lives. Presently we realize that Patagonia is one of the last immaculate unsettled and unspoiled areas we have left.

What makes it special?

Indeed, the climate generates entirely marvelous snowfalls in Argentina. Ironically, the area east of the Andes in Argentina is fairly dry and yet they still get a lot of snow. The ski season if fairly lengthy as well.

Brave skiing pioneers meandered the land looking for great powder. There are some ski resorts further north in the Andes, but the majority are in Patagonia.

In Patagonia, winter goes from June to September. However, just like in the US, you also get spring skiing and that extends into late October. This late season appeals to cross country skiing and split boarding as well as backcountry skiing.

Places to visit

Cerro Catedral Alta Patagonia

This is listed first because it tends to be one of the top ranked ski resorts in the Patagonia region. Part of the reason for this is that over $6 million has been invested in the resort over the last several years so the facilities are in great shape. Like many US ski resorts there is a cute town nearby, San Carlos de Bariloche. It is only 12 miles from the slopes and has restaurants and shops that will appeal to skiers and tourists.

Because of all the recent development, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a place to stay since there are now over 7,000 beds in the area. Believe it or not, there are 28,000 more in San Carlos de Bariloche.

You will need your bed because you will probably be worn out trying to ski all the various slopes. The longest single run is 5.5 miles long and you have 75 miles of slopes to chose from.

La Hoya

La Hoya means pit, hole or basin in Spanish. It is aptly named because the ski resort is located in a large bowl. It is a bit remote and the resort is not overly crowded. It was first discovered by skiers in the 1930s and the resort began development in the 1950s.

It is only 12 miles from the town of Esquel. To get there, you would fly into into Buenos Aires, transfer to a local airline and fly into Esquel. It is smaller than Cerro Catedral with only 15 miles of slopes.

Strangely, some websites say there is a glacier there but this is not true. However, Esquel is a popular starting place for a tour going further south to the amazing San Rafael Glacier.

Chapelco

Situated in Neuquén province, Chapelco is only 12 miles away San Martin de Los Andes, a modern tourist center. The design is stunningly beautiful and the high level of service at the resort complements that and creates a wonderful atmosphere. The longest trail goes for 3.2 miles with a pitch varying between 20 and 40 degrees. There are 22 trails crisscrossing the 140 345 acres of land. It has an elevation drop of 2360ft, starting at 6463 feet above sea level, which is higher than mile high Denver but only about half the height of the ski resorts in the Colorado Rockies in the US. This makes it much easier to breath and you don’t get winded as easily. However, the views from this resort are still extraordinary.

We hope you and Clark Weeks will go skiing in Patagonia. It seems like an amazing place for skiing and just in general it looks beautiful. For more skiing posts, click here.…