What is new in the Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season. Cervino Ski Paradise is comprised of 5 resorts, 3 districts and 2 nations (counting Cervinia, Zermatt and Valtournenche)
The ski lifts open early in Cervinia- by mid-October for the weekends and then they started on 27th October opening daily and they will remain opened until 5th May. This network of trails from both sides of the Monte Cervino -(or Matterhorn) allows you to never take your skis to admire the Cervino from both the Italian and Swiss sides, while being ‘captured’ to stop at any of the many rifugios for a quick warm up and to admire the views – people on both sides like to stop in Cervinia due to the rates being much cheaper in EUR than in CHF.
On top of Cervinia, Valtournenche and Zermatt, there are two other locations – Chamois, a magnificent village reached only by cable-car, and Torngon- a village that dominates the valley and is affectionately known as “pays du soleil” – or sun village. Both hamlets are more quiet, great places for families to stay and experience nature at first hand.
Of the five resorts that conform the “Cervino Ski Paradise”, Breuil-Cervinia is certainly an icon, not only in skiing terms but also because for its après-ski activities. Tourism began in Cervinia between the two World Wars, and today it offers holidays in an international cosmopolitan setting, very attentive to the privacy of its guests. The hotels are equipped with every comfort, including Spas and cutting-edge wellness centres, gourmet restaurants and eateries in which to enjoy the abundant local produce in cosy, typical and welcoming settings.
Via Carrel, the main street which crosses the built-up area of Cervinia, is dedicated to the first Alpine Guide to have reached the summit of Cervino. This via is a bijou for shopping. The entire town develops around this street and the size of the village means that the ski-lifts can easily be reached out on foot.
Valtournenche, which is close by -a little more than 10 km from Cervinia, descending towards the valley),- has the advantage of being a resort where the charm of the characteristic rascard (timber houses) instils immediate peace of mind.
The hotels offer warm attentive hospitality; the guest is made to feel at home. The best après-ski activity in Valtournenche, is the discovery of the numerous nearby villages, from Cretaz to Perrères or Crépin, where time seems to have stood still. The square of the Alpine Guides, in front of the church and behind the Town Hall, is well worth a visit, being the symbol of the heroic mountaineering of the 19th and 20th centuries. It is finely decorated with memorial plaques honouring the great guides of the Cervino.
News on the ski-lifts for the 2018-19 ski season
The completion of the programmed snow-cover network in the Breuil basin continues.
In the Cieloalto area, the programmed snowmaking is planned on the slopes “13”, “16”, “21” and “22” to make this ski area even more skiable at the beginning and at the end of the season, which also has the prerogative of being partly in the woods and above all it offers another point of return to the village. Also for this new season, the planned snowmaking system serving the section of the Colle del Teoudulo and Fornet slopes has been upgraded and modernised.
Cervino Ski Paradise’s Famous Slopes
The “Ventina” slope owes its fame to the unique view it offers over the entire Breuil basin, as well as to the different points for observing the Cervino. It starts at an altitude of 2500 m of the Plateau Rosà glacier and reaches the 2050 m of Breuil Cervinia town for a total of 11 km of downhill skiing. The famous Azzurrissimo, a race which saw the most important skiers challenge each other at the end of the winter season, zigzagged for many years along its meandering run. Among the most famous ski lifts of the Alps, the cable car to reach the summit of Ventina, from the station of Cime Blanche Laghi at the 3500 metres of Plateau Rosà, is a must-see attraction, also for non-skiers.
It is called “Reine Blanche” which means white queen and it is the longest run of the district, 22 km of downhill skiing starting from the Piccolo Cervino (3883m in Switzerland), as far as Valtournenche (1524m) for a total vertical drop of more than 2000m. Each year, during the Easter period, it hosts a gigantic amateur race which sees the participation of athletes and families. It departs from Colle Superiore di Cime Bianche, a natural watershed between the districts of Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche.
Finally, a must for expert skiers, helped by the panorama with allows you to admire the mighty nearby southern face of the Cervino close up, are the “Black Slopes of Cervino”. The mythical number “59”, which tests the technical skills of even the most trained skier with an initial spine-chilling wall, the “Gran Roc” (number “62”) descends parallel to the route of the “slow ski (9bis”), though being significantly steep, and finishes its descent in the basin of Cretaz. “Vallone 5” is the name of another of the “black” slopes of the Breuil- Cervinia district, which enjoys a privileged geographical position and is often used as a training ground for local athletes.
These slopes are ideal routes, even on extremely cold days, because they are designed “inside” a natural basin. On the upward climb, the “Cretaz” and “Pancheron” chairlifts which serve these slopes ensure a 360° view over the sheer southern face of the Cervino.
For more information on Cervino Ski Paradise click here.
The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL can organise your bespoke ski trip to the Americas, Alps or Japan, including for those going from Britain to Europe, booking your Eurotunnel trip, and for all trips: lodging, lift tickets, rentals, ski school, and all you need for an excellent vacation. Go to https://www.the-ski-guru.com/travel and upload your information – this page will be updated soon with more travel ideas.
You can start thinking about your trip, by reading the articles on the Planning your Ski Trip tab. Or how to pack for your family ski trip. If taking your furry friend abroad to the continent, read about the new Pet Travel Scheme update from DEFRA. Check out our tips for driving to the mountains. If flying and renting a car in Europe, beware of the extra charges they will pass to you if you want winter tyres, snow chains or ski racks. If driving, check the winter tyres news for Europe and North America.
Or you can read our last news on equipment as seen at the London Ski Show. Also, the new range of skis of Black Crows, one of our favourite brands. Lots of snow makes you wonder how the resorts deal with the avalanche danger. Here you can read the interview to Coco Torres, former Head of Operations of Las Leñas, in Argentina, as how they dealt with avalanches at the resort.
Or perhaps you may choose to read the Ski Resort News, Ski Passes News, and the Must-Read Guides to Lech, Zermatt, Courmayeur, Val di Fiemme and Crans-Montana. Coming soon will be the guide to St Anton. Or watch an amazing heli flight over the Mont Blanc Massif. Also see tips on how not to be scammed when booking a ski chalet.
You can also read what’s new at Les Trois Vallées and the last article on what is new at the Tirol ski areas, in La Plagne, in 3 Zinnen Dolomites , in Adelboden, Lenk and Kandertal, in Gstaad, in Chamonix, in Georgia’s Gudauri Resort and in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. And how the US Ski Team has chosen Alpe Cimbra to train for the following four ski seasons as their European home. And Saalbach is getting ready for the Ski World Cup. Here is the link to our post on the My Voucher Codes ranking of best European Ski Resorts.
Or check how Cairngorm Mountain might not run its funicular this coming season and how that can affect the region. And the terrible storms and gails that provoked havoc to Trentino Alto-Adige and Belluno provinces in Northern Italy.
Thankfully Val di Fassa is ready for opening December 6 as stated here. And the roof of the Rifugio Comici has been fixed in no time and is ready for the start of the ski season in Val Gardena on 6th December. Sudtirol ski areas are ready to start soon and their famous Christmas markets will kick off too. And Cortina D’Ampezzo is getting ready for this winter and the 2021 World Ski Championships.
Also, you can read how Grandvalira will be staying together as one lift ticket company and how they are adding Ordino Arcalis to this offer. And also read how someone tried to sabotage some lifts in Vallnord’s Pal Arinsal. And as if it is starting to be a trend, there were two lifts sabotaged in Passo Rolle, in Val di Fiemme, Trentino. Also, Mt Hood Meadows was forced to evacuate one lift with 150 skiers and boarders due to a power failure. Or read about the latest investments in Whistler Blackcomb. Or see how Taos is going against the industry trend, and instead of merging with the two biggest oligopolies in skiing at the moment, it goes and buys an airline to get more bums in resort. Or how Jackson Hole is appealing to families and beginners – it is not only a resort for expert skiers anymore. Another great area for families is Stubaital in the Tirol. Courmayeur is opening this season two new trails, one that is 70% steep – not for the faint-hearted! Or read how a group of experienced industry insiders got together to purchase Tamarack Resort. And how Peak Resorts finalised the acquisition of the resorts of Snow Time.
Sierra Nevada has opened a couple of weekends ago with the best snow base ever in its history. The Sun Up and Sun Down Back Bowls from Vail have opened as well, being the third time in this decade that they could open so early. Same case was with Aspen Snowmass that has already the 120% of its median snowpack.. Grandvalira and Ordino Arcalis in Andorra have also opened. And the best US Ski Resort for the sixth year in the row as per the World Ski Awards, Deer Valley, is opening this weekend. Also read how one employee of Aspen Ski Co got caught in an avalanche but got out unscathed while scouting terrain for the Aspen Mountain Powder Tours. Or how the a gondola of the new American Eagle lift from Copper Mountain crashed into the snow in a trial run. The resort confirmed that the chondola will be fixed before it’s opening day. Plus this week, some gondolas got tangled in Hochzillertal. And there was a gas explosion at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof that injured six, before its opening date.
You can keep up to date on how are the sales for the EPIC and IKON passes are doing here. Read how Emma, the first Digital Mountain Assistant, is launched in Keystone now and will be rolled to eight other resorts this season. And even read about the new incorporation to the IKON Pass: Valle Nevado. Here is also a post on the South American resorts.
And here is a summary of a report by LISTEX on the State of the UK Snowsports Market.
And what Switzerland could look by 2060 due to climate change.
Or check out how now with the EPIC Pass you can ski in Europe, specifically in Les Trois Vallées and the resorts of Skirama Dolomiti in Trentino’s Italy. Or see our review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa if thinking in staying in Chamonix this winter.
Featured Image: A skier with the Monte Cervino in its background. Spot on Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season. Photo: Enrico Romanzi. Cervinia Ski Paradise.
