 Poster: A snowHead
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Calling all Arabba / Sella Ronda folk who've skied at Christmas (pre and NY)!
We've been to Arabba a couple of times before at Easter, it's fantastic, so we are thinking of booking for Christmas.
Can anyone share your experiences from that early in the season?
The hotel we have stayed in before (Alpenrose) is already full, which gives me some confidence that others see it as a reasonable bet. I know the region has good snowmaking, and the Marmolada is closeby, but how does the Sella Ronda circuit fair at that time of the year?
Oh yes, and we'd be eager to hear of any tips for regional festive stuff or markets to look out for?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, we've been visiting Selva in Dec, Christmas and NY for years. We only came close to green fields once. Historically, the area does well early season. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The area has probably the best snowmaking system in Alps (or maybe in whole world) so i dont think you will have a problem.
Before we moved to Germany, we usually visit every December the area of Sud Tirol (it was more convenient from Greece via Ferry to Italia). I went there maybe 8-9 times , and always before 24 Dec.
We have never had a problem. Usually before Christmas some lifts are closed but those days you will be there have almost everything open.
Sometimes i skied in a white band and left and right from the piste was green, but the quality was ok or better than ok.
If you can compromise with piste skiing and are not looking for super powder etc then you will not have a problem at all...
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woodsy, we are booked to go to Arabba this Christmas. We got smitten with the Dolomites after visiting for the first time in Easter (Selva). So will be following this thread with interest 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks so much for your replies! I think that has sealed it!
We were thinking of 20th to 27th but could get a flight back on the 28th. Very tempted to extend that extra day...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yeap...right.
But if freezing level is for many days in Dec over e.g. 2.500 m, then probably nowhere except glaciers there will be snow.
And surely the best quality of snow is a base of artifial with nature snow above....
We always hope for a good winter....
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 28-09-14 13:50; edited 1 time in total
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| woodsy wrote: |
Thanks so much for your replies! I think that has sealed it!
We were thinking of 20th to 27th but could get a flight back on the 28th. Very tempted to extend that extra day... |
Prices will spike over Xmas and moreso over NY.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sun 28-09-14 14:18; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| turms wrote: |
Yeap...right.
But if freezing level is for many days in Dec over e.g. 2.500 m, then probably nowhere except glaciers there will be snow.
And surely the best quality of snow is a base of artifial with nature snow above....
We always hope for a good winter.... |
Not necessarily, Selva village is at 1530m, Dantercepies and Ciampinoi around 2300m if local freeze levels hover around 1800 or above or fluctuate early season, a lot of the lower areas can potentially be in a poor state.
Yes, a base a natural 'ice' is very desirable, but not always achievable early season.
I've been studying weather/conditions early season in this area, often nervously, for years. 
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woodsy, I stayed in Arabba a few years back, over Christmas.
My trip report here - hope it helps.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Cacciatore wrote: |
woodsy, I stayed in Arabba a few years back, over Christmas.
My trip report here - hope it helps. |
Your report is really useful Cacciatore! It's a little hard to imagine what to expect of early season conditions when you have been there much later, your report really helped! Thankyou
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| woodsy wrote: |
Thanks so much for your replies! I think that has sealed it!
We were thinking of 20th to 27th but could get a flight back on the 28th. Very tempted to extend that extra day... |
Prices will spike over Xmas and moreso over NY. |
I know  hence booking now, there are some deals for Christmas but you are right, prices climb on the 28th Dec!
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| dode wrote: |
| woodsy, we are booked to go to Arabba this Christmas. We got smitten with the Dolomites after visiting for the first time in Easter (Selva). So will be following this thread with interest |
Dode - hopefully we will book this week, then we can share the nervous excitement of snow forecasts.
PS We are also in Scotland!
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You know it makes sense.
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Val Gardena, XMAS 2009. Tonnes of snow. Great weather and had fab time
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Satyed in La Villa last year and just booked to go back again this year for XMas again
Caught the world cup race the day we arrived, ate like in heaven and had one of the biggest dumps of snow I can remember. It closed the entire region basically and we went sledging on the pistes.
Cloud was an issue at times so could really enjoy the views but otherwise was great. Much less busy at XMas than Easter/New year too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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woodsy, any joy on the booking front?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| dode wrote: |
| woodsy, any joy on the booking front? |
We've booked the hotel! 19th - 27th Dec, and *may stretch another day until 28th (although prices for that final day go up considerably). Now for the flights.....
I will be watching that Arabba webcam daily come Dec 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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woodsy, ditto on the weather-watch, which hotel are you in? We are in the Evaldo. Cannae wait...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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dode We are in the Cesa Padon, We've not stayed there before. Previously we were lucky enough to stay in the Alpenrose and in their apartments).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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imull, Bartezki, Juddernaut and turms thanks for sharing your Xmas Sella Ronda reports. Fingers crossed for a solid start to the season
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Looking to saddle up right now for my fourth Dollies pilgrim. Tossing up where a outs on the Sella Ronda to stay. Previous trips have been in Corvara and Ortisei. Suggestions welcome
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I'll be in Santa Cristina at Christmas!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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The j2ski forecast shows 12cm on the mountain and 6cm at town level in next couple of days, with a further 4cm at all levels on Sunday (first ski day of our holiday). With the temps forecast to be in the minus all week hopefully the snow cannons can work their magic and the village may even be white for Christmas? Everything crossed in positive anticipation here...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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From the webcams.... Looks like the precipitation that fell during the day yesterday fell as rain 
But it must've turned to snow overnight as all roofs white this am... more precipitation forecast today, lets hope it is the white stuff.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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We stayed in Pozza di fassa a few years ago over Christmas, good skiing all week and a decent amount of snow.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I don't want to go up before acceptances, but I think this combined with copious work from the snow artillery might be enough to have something decent for Chrissie
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Poster: A snowHead
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Fingers crossed
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, after two days, the best snow we have found has been at Belvedere and Rodella.
They have done a tremendous job with the snow making, lots of white ribbons surrounded by green on the runs into the valleys.
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