 Poster: A snowHead
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| ketya77 wrote: |
| I've been learning Italian for some time and would love to practice it while there… Will it annoy locals because no one has time for this? Should I rather just speak English? |
| Langerzug wrote: |
| So, you can definitely practice your Italian, but if you really want to score 'sympathy' points you also might want to practice your German.... |
@ketya77, I agree with @Langerzug, a few words in German goes down better with the locals in Val Gardena than Italian. So start practising your ‘morgen’, ‘bitte’, ‘danke’, and ‘zwei bier bitte’!!
The strong Ladin cultural identity is really fascinating. There’s a museum in Ortisei if you’re interested.
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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, 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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| Langerzug wrote: |
@ketya77, a recent thread in the Dutch 'Wintersport.nl' forum was about the Austrian/Italian aspects of the Dolomites. A Dutch regular told that he had been talking about this subject with his Ortisei hoteliere. Her reaction was: "There is only one thing Italian about me, and that's my passport, nothing else." 
It's an aspect some people are not aware of: Most of the Dolomites are in the former Austrian en very germanic "Süd-Tirol" region, which is only Italian since 1918. But this South-Tyrol in fact is the heartland of the well known larger Tyrol region. It is named after the village of Tirol, which nowadays is in Italy and called Tirolo...but only in Italian...
So, you can definitely practice your Italian, but if you really want to score 'sympathy' points you also might want to practice your German.... |
They will be delighted if you try a bit of Italian. According to me renting locally would be the best idea (less hassle during travel and ski's more adjusted to local terrain).
On above... it's a bit more complex than that. Like most mountain areas they just feel very autonomous, and are very weary of intervention from the politicians in the capital. Whether you are living in Wolkenstein (German speaking), Corvara (Ladin) or Arabba (italian).
I'm living in Feltre (dolomites), my girlfriend is italian and during the upcoming christmas party half of the family will be german/ladin speaking (from Badia) and the other half italian speaking (trento side). 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The other thing about using Italian is that in smaller places you can't rely on all the folk in e.g. ski hire shops speaking great English. If you're trying a bit of Italian, and they're trying a bit of English, all will tend to go well!
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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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Back to the original question, are you aware that in Europe it is generally “on piste” skiing, which is why resorts are measured in km, compared to N American “inbounds” skiing, which is why they are measured in acres. You are expected to stick to the “roads” (some don’t, at their risk) which are usually nicely groomed, then worn down until the next snow, which can be even a week later during which they might be icy. Means you have less choice in picking some nice deep snow to use your AM skis; you have to stick with what’s there, not move 30ft to the right, and in a lean week a hundred others got there first.
So many caveats to what I said but I think it’s relevant for you. Take your skis if you wish, but if it looks lean get your edges sharpened 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| luigi wrote: |
Gardenese first, Ladins second, Tyroleans third...and Italians a very distant fourth!! 
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No. Gardenese first, Ladins second, Tyroleans third, Europeans fourth ...and Italians not in the line-up until it comes to subsidies and tax breaks….!
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| ketya77 wrote: |
Or maybe I overthink all this way too much. |
This! It’s an easy place to ski, an easy place to visit, and an easy place to get whatever help and equipment you need. I’m very much in favour of going with the flow and just asking the ski rental shops (which are typically tiny compared to the equipment megastores in the US) to kit you out for the conditions. They will know what will work for you.
As some posters have already observed, the local ski-vibe is very much one of effortlessly stylish carving on immaculately groomed slopes. Go with it, but be careful of the Bombardinos….
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In general the Dolomites are not a place for tough black runs. Nor is there a lot of easy off piste. However it is a place for tough off-piste, but you would need a guide to find it.
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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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