 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi everyone!
We have just booked 3 nights in Ortisei from the 24.03.13 - 27.03.13
I am an advanced snowboarder, i like all sorts of terrain, like to get off piste and ride powder but know there is not too much of that in europe...
Where are the best slopes to be found in the dolomites? How far can i go in a day and still make it back to ortisei? What are must do's whilst there?
Any hints and tips would be much appreciated!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Must dos:
The Sella Ronda circuit, clockwise for a skier, I think it would be the same for a boarder. I expect there'll be one along shortly.
S. Croce, very picturesque, worth a visit.
Hidden Valley, too far from Ortisei and a bit flat for a boarder, I think.
For the off piste, you'll have to wait 'till someone who knows about it comes along.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Hidden valley is anything but too flat for aboarder! The horse served section is the only bit to walk.its worth making the most of your tripvthere and do one of the runs back to the cable car first.
Sell ronda , hmm.. busy and not too challenging. (Cracking scenery)The marmolada is very nice but big queues can form at the cable car.
Cant advise on offpiste, it was a tad warm when we went last year.pordoi has a beacon testing station and there did look to be some good lines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| hashstar wrote: |
| , like to get off piste and ride powder but know there is not too much of that in europe... ! |
Really? Where has more off piste than Europe? Can't think of many places with more vertical or huge areas to explore. Your obviously not looking in the right places!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
hashstar,
As a recent (three years ago) and now, fanatical convert to the Dolomites, I think I can see where you're coming from as a first timer.
When I first skied there, because of its unique and spectacular terrain, I thought the Dolomites was pretty tame with pretty much only pistes in use. Big, big mistake.
There didn't seem to be any sort of middle ground between that and what appeared to be extreme couloir skiing way beyond my ability. Second mistake.
It's a massive area with a huge variation in terrain but it's often not obvious how to access off-piste.
I would say get yourself a guide - www.altabadiaguides.com
Great people and of course, great food.
There'll be someone far more knowledgeable along in a minute but I think Arabba and Corvara are the off-piste "centres" although it's all around the region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Maybe the OP meant there isn't too much powder in Europe, as opposed to off piste. I guess that may be true compared to North America from what I have heard. As for off piste, again from what little I have heard, I understand that great chunks of the Dolomites are national parks and off limits. I guess it is, as you say, all down to where you go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am also considering Arabba for new year 2013.
I keep reading that off piste is discouraged or somewhat a grey area?
After years of skiing in France Switzerland and Austria where relatively easy lift accesed off piste is readily available am i making a mistake in giving this area a go?
The miles of intermediate pistes will suit the group but a couple of us will need a litle more excitement than this and this could be a deal breaker.
Anyone with local knowledge care to pass on their nuggets of wisdom. 
Also there seems to be 2 lifts out of Arabba namely the Burz lift where i have couple of good options on accomadation and the Europa 1 lift which goes up the other side.
How easy is it to get from the bottom of the Burz lift over to the bottom of the europa 1 ?as the aras dont seem to be linked at all other than at village level?
The piste maps i can find seem to only accomadate one resort at a time which is frustrating when trying to get a handle on the links from arabba into the other resorts of the superski area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's a few minutes walk across the village between Burz and the Portovescovo/Marmolada side.
Piste maps are per village for a reason. The area is just too large to have everything in an easily readable form. The whole Sella Ronda is on the back of each paper map though. In reality, Arabba/Marmolada map and the Alta Badia map is enough for the entire Sella Ronda region (the Alta Badia map being handy because there are so many blue runs around San Cassiano that you can't work out what is up and what is down on the complete Sella Ronda side of the map).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
hedley, as andy, says it's only a minute or two walk between the two lifts and you can usually get away with only taking your skis off to cross the road (or if it's recently snowed you can ski across the road). It really is no hassle to get between the two.
If you want a map of the whole region try this https://www.dropbox.com/s/2xta102bz3e11ue/DolomitiSuperski.jpg due to the size of the area there's not a lot of detail!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hidden valley is a must but make sure you do the black on the right hand side first and its a chance the horse tow won't be running that late in march.
For any kind of meaningful off piste you will definitely need a guide either up on the massif itself or off the Marmolada.
Hedley it doesn't matter a great deal where you stay in arabba most of the hotels have fantastic ski buses I would recommend hotel evaldo also heard good things of the hotel sport and if you don't like noise don't stay in chalet Karin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Vintageryan wrote: |
Hidden valley is a must but make sure you do the black on the right hand side first and its a chance the horse tow won't be running that late in march.
For any kind of meaningful off piste you will definitely need a guide either up on the massif itself or off the Marmolada.
Hedley it doesn't matter a great deal where you stay in arabba most of the hotels have fantastic ski buses I would recommend hotel evaldo also heard good things of the hotel sport and if you don't like noise don't stay in chalet Karin. |
Why is this ?
Is the terrain so gentle that off piste is limited unless you go up to the Glacier area ?
or
Do the dramatic rocky peaks just get in the way.? etc
Im trying to get a handle on how off piste access can differ from the alps?
Given a fresh dump of snow surely there must be opportunities?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hey guys, thanks for all the great info!
Just waiting for my flight now!
I should have made it clearer when talking about "not much off piste in Europe" I meant not much rideable off piste with powder and without rocks everywhere.
I was thinking about going with a guide as our hotel has them but I didn't want to get slowed down by a big group.
Does anyone know the best way to get from ortisei to the marmolada?
Any last minute recommendations?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| hashstar wrote: |
Any last minute recommendations? |
Lunch at Scotonis half way down the 'Hidden Valley'
Have a brilliant trip
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
"...Does anyone know the best way to get from ortisei to the marmolada? ...."
------------
It would be a long trip to the Marmolada from Ortisei. its is about half way around the Sella Ronda, so take the Ronda Orange or Green to Arabba, then branch off for Marmolda
------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
