Posts

Posted on

Pila has opened its new cable car Couis 1- Platta de Grevon

Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon. Photo: Pila sPa.

After an intense year of work, on 14th December Pila has opened to the public the 10-seater cable car section from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon.

This is one part of the full project that will be opened next year, from Pila all the way to Platta de Grevon. The part that has just opened has replaced an old double chairlift from the 80s, offering a new fast way to get to the top of the mountain. When one arrives, there is a new skiweg piste that will unite the two sides of the mountain, offering visitors more time to ski or snowboard at the resort.

Going up the new lift from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon allows you to have magnificent views of the 4000s m peaks... as the Cervino or Matterhorn. Photo: Pila sPa.Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon
Going up the new lift from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon allows you to have magnificent views of the 4000s m peaks… as the Cervino or Matterhorn. Photo: Pila sPa. Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon

In only 4’30” the new cable car will take all mountain lovers up to 2,700 meters. During the journey, you can see spectacular views of all 4000 meters peaks of the entire alpine arc.

Amazing views of the Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc), the Cervino (Matterhorn), the Monte Rosa, the Grivola and the Gran Paradiso can be seen from the top. You can also view in the distance the valley where the city of Aosta is, known by connoisseurs as the Rome of the Alps.

Continue reading “Pila has opened its new cable car Couis 1- Platta de Grevon”

Posted on

The Women Ski World Cup is Returning to La Thuile

Audi FIS Ski World La Thuile.

Tickets will be available online from 21st December. You can watch the races of 14 and 15 March 2025 from an exclusive seat! A smart idea for your Christmas gifts.

In La Thuile next winter will really sparkle because the Women Ski World Cup will come back here after 5 years.

The queens of speed will challenge each other on slope “Number 3- Franco Berthod” on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 March 2025.

A unique show not to be missed: the slope is the steepest in Italy and the race is one of most difficult of the circuit.

Downhill on Friday, Super G on Saturday: this will be the last date before the Finals in the USA.

Skiing in La Thuile- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel. 60 x 80 cm. In my shop!
Skiing in La Thuile- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel. 60 x 80 cm. In my shop!

Continue reading “The Women Ski World Cup is Returning to La Thuile”

Posted on

Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm.

A chairlift in Grandvalira full of snow. Photo Grandvalira. Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm.

Thanks to the last snowfalls, Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis are now opened. The snowfall of 100 cm in parts has been celebrated by locals while more snow is expected. The descent of the temperatures allows to produce more man-made snow to touch the more tracked areas.

Grandvalira has started the 2024-25 ski season with partial opening in the sectors of Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig, and then it opened the sectors of Encamp, Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo.

In numbers, the Andorran ski domain of Grandvalira Resorts look like this:

Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm. Photo: Grandvalira Resorts.
Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm. Photo: Grandvalira Resorts.

*308 skiable km, the biggest area of the Pyrenees mountains and the south of Europe.

*217 pistes of all different levels

*123 ski lifts with a transportation capacity of 180.115 skiers/hour

*3,135 hectares

*66% of terrain with snowmaking, to guarantee skiing conditions

*79.8 km of snow shoeing circuits

*81.3 km of circuits for ski mountaineering

*+25 activities of adventure

*87 restaurants/bars on the mountain.

Continue reading “Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm.”

Posted on

The Settimana Bianca for the Italians has got more expensive as per Il Corriere/Altroconsumo

Starting to ski, by La Baraka. This past season (23-24) it was closed. For me it was the best bar, more when Freddy was in charge (a rockabilly kind of guy with great music and hot chocolates!) Food was great too. Lovely terrace. Hopefully this is re-opened by the 24-25 ski season. Just off the top of Chamolé lift (by piste 2).

Sky-high prices for ski weeks- here are the costs to go for the Settimana Bianca in nine ski resorts, as per an article published at Il Corriere della Sera with AltroConsumo.

Italians tend to go skiing on their Settimana Bianca in two different weeks. First week is for the New Year’s Eve week and the second week is during Carnival.

My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio. 7 things that can help you when taking kids skiing.
My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio.

Between travel, accommodation and ski pass. New Year’s week is more expensive than Carnival week, like 40% more.

Prices for New Years have increased 14% in respect with last. And the year before, the prices already have increased by 20%. For Carnival Week, rates have increased by 5%

Continue reading “The Settimana Bianca for the Italians has got more expensive as per Il Corriere/Altroconsumo”

Posted on

Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas Promotion

12 Days of Christmas promo is coming up

Starting on 1st December comes the 12 Days of Christmas Promotion. Each day, Ill be offering one painting at a knockout rate, only for my VIP newsletter followers.

These are paintings I do love a lot, and many of them are decorating my walls at the moment, but now, I am feeling I can let them go to a home that will cherish them as much as I do.

Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas promotion
Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas promotion

Amongst my artwork, there will be pieces of when I have started my art career, doing. My work is majorly made in soft pastels, a medium I have mastered doing mountain portraits.

The paintings will be offered with a sale price for one day only, and will be sold to whoever contacts me first, just by responding to my email.

To be able to participate in this promotion, you have to register to my art newsletter here.

To keep abreast of the ski news – check www.the-ski-guru.com 

Or read my Must-Read Guides to different ski resorts to plan your holidays.

Continue reading “Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas Promotion”

Posted on

Pila has postponed its opening of the ski season to Saturday 6th December.

Pila has postponed its opening of the ski season to Saturday 6th December. Photo: Webcam Pila.it

Pila has postponed its opening of the ski season to Saturday 6th December. It was supposed to open this weekend, but they don’t have enough snow for it. Even though when you see at the webcams, it does not look so bad. Actually, it looks pretty good!

Pila, as it is mostly on grassy fields, do not need as much snow to open as, for example, Courmayeur does (as its terrain is more on high mountain which is rockier! You need snow to cover those rocks!). You can read a more detailed explanation of how much snow ski resorts need to open on this past post of mine.

The new ski map of Pila with its cable car replacing the old double Couis 1 on the top, and the skiweg connection from the top of Couis 1 to Couis 2. Courtesy: Pila Spa.
The new ski map of Pila with its cable car replacing the old double Couis 1 on the top, and the skiweg connection from the top of Couis 1 to Couis 2. Courtesy: Pila Spa.

The latest snowstorms have hit Pila, but not as much snow has fallen there, as it has on the Mont Blanc area and on the Cervino. Cervnia is opening more terrain this weekend, as well as Courmayeur.

Continue reading “Pila has postponed its opening of the ski season to Saturday 6th December.”

Posted on

New Terrain Opens Today in Breuil Cervinia. On Saturday 30th, Valtourneche, Torgnon and Chamois will open

The Gran Becca (Cervino) illuminated at night. Photo Nicola Cornero- Cervino Ski Paradise. Today New opening on Breuil Cervinia

Today Breuil-Cervinia is opening new terrain, and, on Saturday, November 30, they will also open in Valtournenche, Torgnon and Chamois

Snow has covered well the pistes of the ski resort in Breuil Cervinia -Cervino Ski Paradise allowing it to open more km of pistes. From Breuil-Cervinia to Valtourneche, passing by Torgnon and Chamois, the localities at the base of the Gran Becca, as the Cervino is known, are ready to open for the ski season 24-25.

Matterhorn Alpine Crossing. Photo courtesy: Cervino Ski Paradise. Today more terrain opens in Breuil Cervinia
Matterhorn Alpine Crossing. Photo courtesy: Cervino Ski Paradise. Today more terrain opens in Breuil Cervinia

Today in Breuil-Cervinia the chairlift Crétaz and Campetto will start working next to the lifts Gran Sommetta, the magic carpet of Plan Maison, the Baby skilift, the funicular Breuil-Cervinia-Plateau Rosa and the other three chairlifts of Plan Maison, Fornet and Bontadini. You can ski in the majority of the ski resort, even in the pistes you take to return to the resort, that are the mostly used by winter sports enthusiasts from last weekend.

Lago Blu & the Cervino- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel- 60 x 80 cm. In my shop.
Lago Blu & the Cervino- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel- 60 x 80 cm. In my shop.

This Saturday 30th November will open even the departure lifts of Valtourneche and of the joining piste with Breuil-Cervinia, that with Zermatt offers 350 km pistes.

Continue reading “New Terrain Opens Today in Breuil Cervinia. On Saturday 30th, Valtourneche, Torgnon and Chamois will open”

Posted on

Review of the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket.

Wearing the Helly Hansen ULLR jacket. Photo: Gemma Johnstone.

I had the chance to try the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket all this summer and autumn. A great light jacket for all your outdoor adventures, also for skiing when you are skiing up the mountain, as it protects you without the bulk. If you are a bit of a cold bunny, you can always wear a mid-layer for colder days!

The Helly Hansen ULLR jacket, as photographed in Courmayeur.
The Helly Hansen ULLR jacket, as photographed in Courmayeur.

I love its colour, it special pocket to preserve your mobile battery, and the zips you have under your armpits that you can open when you start getting hot going up the mountain.  The pockets are well located and have a good capacity.

I have yet to use it skiing, but in the summer in my hikes, and under torrential rain in all my trips, it worked perfectly well.

Continue reading “Review of the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket.”

Posted on

Opening Days of Italian Ski Resorts

Arp - Courmayeur Mont blanc Funivie - Photo: Lorenzo Belfrond. Courmayeur Mont Blanc Opening Days of Italian Ski Resorts.

It is snowing big in the Alps now, so all eyes are looking at the different resorts webcams to see if they will have an early start, or at least, start on their attempted start day. So far it is looking good!

As per Skiinfo and TheLocal.it, here are the opening dates of the different resorts:

Opening days of Italian Ski Resorts.
Opening days of Italian Ski Resorts. My boys on a magic carpet at La Thuile. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

Typical dates of opening is end of November or beginnings of December. But Cervinia is already opened since 26 October, accessing with its lifts to ski on the Swiss side where the glacier is. Now they are opening their own side of the slopes. From 20th November, Plain Maison, Fornet and Bontadini chairlifts open. The Italian ski pass costs EUR 55. You need the Swiss pass to ski on the glacier on top (which is a bit pricier!)

Continue reading “Opening Days of Italian Ski Resorts”

Posted on

Cervino Ski Paradise opens the season on 26th October -the longest season in Italy of 11 months!

A snowcat grooming the slopes at Cervinia. Photo credit: Cervino Ski Paradise.

The first snow at altitude arrived in mid-September, knocking on the door of a new ski season that will last 11 months at the Cervino Ski Paradise area.

The lifts in Breuil-Cervinia will open on Saturday 26 October 2024 and close on 7 September 2025.

Cervino - photo: Pentaphoto/ Cervino Ski Paradise. Cervino Ski Paradise opens the season on 26th October -the longest season in Italy of 11 months!
Cervino – photo: Pentaphoto/ Cervino Ski Paradise. Cervino Ski Paradise opens the season on 26th October -the longest season in Italy of 11 months!

For the second year in a row, there will be no more interruptions between winter and summer, the endless season will provide extended fun for skiers and snowboarders who enjoy holidays in the snow, trips and hikes for mountaineers, and high-altitude experiences for pedestrians who want to explore Zermatt or the Little Matterhorn via the innovative Matterhorn Alpine Crossing.

Lago Blu & the Cervino- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel- 60 x 80 cm. In my shop.
Lago Blu & the Cervino- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel- 60 x 80 cm. In my shop.

If you count the km of the full area Breuil-Cervinia, Valtourneche and Zermatt- you can ski an inter-connected area of 350 km of slopes!

Continue reading “Cervino Ski Paradise opens the season on 26th October -the longest season in Italy of 11 months!”