Author: Ski NASTC

Buon Giorno da Val Gardena.

We are skiing in the Dolomiti Superski, which is the largest skiing district in the world.  Beautiful valleys, lifts and skiable terrain are visible as far as the eye can see.  The lift infrastructure supports easy to moderate skiing throughout the entire district.  The scale and beauty of the countryside defy description.  Sunshine is preferred by the locals; there is an ice bar with umbrellas (no palm trees), and beach chairs are common at the various ristorantes on the hill.  Our accommodations are benissimo; great pool, spa and service.  The food is perfetto; Italians truly know how to prepare and enjoy food.  We are taking advantage of the local traditions in this regard.  All in all, the village is a friendly and welcoming place to be.

The low snow cover on the mountain forced us to remain on groomed trails.  This limited the scope of what we could work on.  That being said, there is always plenty to learn on a NASTC trip.  Mountain safety is of primary concern.  Our first days were spent on techniques to handle the varying conditions of a low snow pack.  Each area on the Dolomiti Superski network does an excellent job of maintaining the terrain. Day one was spent down valley, mostly in the clouds, working on basic techniques, balance, body and leg positioning while becoming familiar with the conditions.  Day two dawned sunny and time was spent on drills, “blind skiing” and avalanche recovery exercises.  Day three brought mixed clouds and sun and our first Sellaronda.  The journey led us through many quaint towns and varied terrain.  We skied on piste, well groomed trails.  The days spent on piste really sharpened everyone’s skills. Day four and five were spent in snowy conditions.  Total snowfall varied across the range.  Real-time reporting of conditions is not a high priority here, so we estimate the storm snowfall to be 10-20 centimeters. The snowy conditions were enjoyed by all and allowed the group to begin to edge off the groomed trails.  

Day six the skies cleared and the sun was bright all day.  We planned an early start to avoid the crowds.  This was our grand finale day, and the storm allowed us to venture into the Val Lasties, a beautiful off piste valley which is in the center of the Sella Ronda.   We encountered big mountain and forest terrain.   It was a big smile day. 

This is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Val Gardena Update

Just got word from the NASTC crew in Italy and sounds like they are having a really good time.  They have already put in two ambitious routes and have logged in some serious mileage in the last couple of days.  They are expecting fresh snow tomorrow so the fun meter is going to rise some more!

Here are some photos which will help us live vicariously through them with a little more authenticity.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=hispictures&target=ALBUM&id=5573608808143300401&authkey=Gv1sRgCKegu_D704zGAQ&feat=email

In the next 48 hours planes will be departing from across the U.S with members of the NASTC group on their way to Val Gardena.  They will travel across a continent and ocean, travel by train through mountain passes until they reach the small village of Selva Gardena where the true adventure starts.  The NASTC crew will spend a week honing their skiing skills amongst the splendour of the Dolomites.  No doubt they will be feasting on the sumptuous Italian cuisine too.  Michael Silitch will lead the group on a tour of the best of what the Dolomites has to offer including a descent off the Marmolada glacier.  These guys and gals are a very lucky group of individuals as they are embarking on a unique and memorable adventure.  Buon Viaggio!

Total Skiing 1-day intro clinic goes off this Saturday, February 5th at Sugar Bowl.  Join the NASTC team for an integrated session on functional movement and skiing performance.  What is functional movement and how does it affect your skiing?This clinic will answer those questions.  This clinic goes beyond the superficial fix-it regimen of endless drills and exercises and takes a deeper approach to achieving lasting developments in your skiing.