Usually we skiers and snowboarders flee as far as we can from the Alps as soon as they start showing hints of green. Who wants to ski on depressing brown slopes? We sadly pack up our ski equipment and resign ourselves to waiting out another long summer until the start of the next ski season. But this means we often don’t get a chance to see the amazing sight of ski resorts in the summer, which are often totally unrecognisable! Depressing as it may be, there’s a certain beauty to these pictures of ski resorts in the summer. And hey, just another few months until the first ski resorts start opening up for the 2018/19 ski season! Yay!
The Italian Alps – renowned names such as the 3 Zinnen, Kronplatz, Alta Badia and Livigno – are practically unrecognisable in summer. The snow has long since melted, the cable cars have mostly ground to a halt and instead of perfectly groomed slopes, hikers are greeted by rolling green meadows. The photos below were taken at Kronplatz, the first in February 2018 and the second in July 2018. Which version do you prefer?
Kronplatz in winter vs. summer
Webcam Piz Arlara/Corvara © feratel
Set against the impressive backdrop of the Dolomites, the Alta Badia ski area boasts 130km of ski pistes in the winter, mostly suited to beginner and intermediate skiers. More experienced skiers and snowboarders can try tackling the challenging Gran Risa World Cup piste, a steep slope with a gradient of up to 53%. Do you recognise it now?!
Piz Seteur webcam in Val Gardena © Panomax
Val Gardena is home to the popular Sella Ronda ski circuit, which takes skiers and snowboarders on an epic 26km journey around the Sella massif. In addition, Val Gardena offers 175km of slopes for every level. This webcam from the Piz Seteur suggests that perhaps the imposing Dolomites are just as impressive in summer as in winter... do you agree?
Livigno webcam © Panoramablick
Livigno sits near the Italian-Swiss border, with slopes at altitudes up to 2800m above sea level. With guaranteed snow and 115 slopes, this is a mecca not just for beginner and intermediate skiers looking to practise their carving, but also for freeriders, who will find some excellent deep powder snow.
The family-friendly 3 Zinnen Dolomites ski area is particularly well-suited to beginner skiers and snowboarders, with a manageable 70km of predominantly gentle slopes. Somewhat contradictorily, one of the highlights here is the Holzriese, the steepest piste in Italy. Check out this view of the impressive 3 Zinnen peaks... in the summer!
© Feratel
Kronplatz is one of Italy’s most famous ski resorts, with a multitude of easy and intermediate slopes that ensure a fun and productive ski holiday for families and beginners. The excellent snow park caters to all levels of freestylers, from first-timers trying out the small jumps and rails to pros who want to fine-tune their skills.
You might imagine everything grinds to a halt as soon as ski season ends, but ski resorts have a pretty big laundry list as soon as the slopes start turning green. Snow cannons and piste bashers must be prepared for the summer and properly stored, slope boundaries must be made summer-proof, maintenance must be carried out on the lifts, old lifts must be renewed and new lifts must be installed and some resorts must begin the big job of snow farming.
Usually we skiers and snowboarders flee as far as we can from the Alps as soon as they start showing hints of green. Who wants to ski on depressing brown slopes? We sadly pack up our ski equipment and resign ourselves to waiting out another long summer until the start of the next ski season. But this means we often don’t get a chance to see the amazing sight of ski resorts in the summer, which are often totally unrecognisable! Depressing as it may be, there’s a certain beauty to these pictures of ski resorts in the summer. And hey, just another few months until the first ski resorts start opening up for the 2018/19 ski season! Yay!
The Italian Alps – renowned names such as the 3 Zinnen, Kronplatz, Alta Badia and Livigno – are practically unrecognisable in summer. The snow has long since melted, the cable cars have mostly ground to a halt and instead of perfectly groomed slopes, hikers are greeted by rolling green meadows. The photos below were taken at Kronplatz, the first in February 2018 and the second in July 2018. Which version do you prefer?
Kronplatz in winter vs. summer
Webcam Piz Arlara/Corvara © feratel
Set against the impressive backdrop of the Dolomites, the Alta Badia ski area boasts 130km of ski pistes in the winter, mostly suited to beginner and intermediate skiers. More experienced skiers and snowboarders can try tackling the challenging Gran Risa World Cup piste, a steep slope with a gradient of up to 53%. Do you recognise it now?!
Piz Seteur webcam in Val Gardena © Panomax
Val Gardena is home to the popular Sella Ronda ski circuit, which takes skiers and snowboarders on an epic 26km journey around the Sella massif. In addition, Val Gardena offers 175km of slopes for every level. This webcam from the Piz Seteur suggests that perhaps the imposing Dolomites are just as impressive in summer as in winter... do you agree?
Livigno webcam © Panoramablick
Livigno sits near the Italian-Swiss border, with slopes at altitudes up to 2800m above sea level. With guaranteed snow and 115 slopes, this is a mecca not just for beginner and intermediate skiers looking to practise their carving, but also for freeriders, who will find some excellent deep powder snow.
The family-friendly 3 Zinnen Dolomites ski area is particularly well-suited to beginner skiers and snowboarders, with a manageable 70km of predominantly gentle slopes. Somewhat contradictorily, one of the highlights here is the Holzriese, the steepest piste in Italy. Check out this view of the impressive 3 Zinnen peaks... in the summer!
© Feratel
Kronplatz is one of Italy’s most famous ski resorts, with a multitude of easy and intermediate slopes that ensure a fun and productive ski holiday for families and beginners. The excellent snow park caters to all levels of freestylers, from first-timers trying out the small jumps and rails to pros who want to fine-tune their skills.
You might imagine everything grinds to a halt as soon as ski season ends, but ski resorts have a pretty big laundry list as soon as the slopes start turning green. Snow cannons and piste bashers must be prepared for the summer and properly stored, slope boundaries must be made summer-proof, maintenance must be carried out on the lifts, old lifts must be renewed and new lifts must be installed and some resorts must begin the big job of snow farming.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
