Steep learning curve.

Selva in Italy is one of the few destinations where we pray for sun.  Snowfalls would interfere with our scenery gazing without bringing any real benefit because their snow-making is down to a fine art.  If ever there was a region whose snow reliability should not be judged by it's snow depth figures alone, it is the Dolomites.  This is an area you come to cruise round a seemingly unlimited supply of perfectly groomed runs, surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery on the planet.

                                         An example of their amazing piste management.

This season has, on the face of it, been a disappointing one for the Dolomites and a cursory glance at snow depths before our arrival did little to raise expectations.  However, big snowfalls do happen and it was snowing when we arrived and what followed when the sun came out was scintillating days of piste skiing.

                                           View at breakfast on our first morning.

                                           And the view from our balcony on the next morning.

A skiing holiday needs good skiing, superb surroundings and the comfort and convenience of a first class hotel at a reasonable price.  It's all there in Selva, a vast 1200 km of piste of which we never tire and the best mountain scenery anywhere on the continent.  So we return again and again to the Hotel Continental - there is every comfort and assistance you could want plus many you didn't know you wanted.  Housekeeping is flawless, there must be hospitals less clean.  I could go on.  In short 5 star without all the pretentiousness (or pool) but there is a lovely hot tub in the spa.  The ski room is spacious, not a converted basement, but purpose designed so you never find yourself struggling for bench space or boot drier space.  It is not quite ski in ski out, you do have to carry your skis across the road (5 metres).  And the main Dantecepies gondola is next door.

One small downside is the half mile uphill walk from the centre, but hey do you want to be near the shops or near the skiing?   Thank you once again family Linder for another enjoyable stay.

                              One of the desserts waiting for you after a hard day's skiing.

The village enjoys a fabulous setting under the impressive walls of Sassolungo, immediately above the slopes of Ciampinoi and the Gruppo del Sella - a fortress-like massif 6 km across that lies at the hub of the Sella Ronda circuit (described in an earlier blog).  There are knock-out views as you descend from Dantercepies, for example, and from Alpe di Siusi.

                              You can just see Selva in the valley from the top of Dantercepies.

                                                              Piste and Quiet

Despite years of experience I still feel like a beginner when we arrive at the resort every season.  So I join ski school with Pauline whilst the black piste junkies go off on their ski safaris organised by the Hotel.

                                                   Phil leaving at 8.30 a.m.

                                                     The Marmolada ski area.

My skiing ability has for years been the subject of slope-side discussions with my family:-

You need to attack the slope.
Be more aggressive.
Ski harder.
They can't fault my style though!! - or so I thought.

I suppose I have hit the intermediate plateau now I am an old age pensioner!!!!  I am the type of skier  who gets just as much satisfaction from sitting in a mountain-top hut (and there are some beautiful ones in Italy) drinking hot chocolate as conquering a mogul run.  As long as I can get down a slope without making a complete hash of it and ski some nice reds and the odd black I am happy.

This year I did my usual 'test run' when the instructor, Cristine, dropped the bombshell.  "You skied three, maybe four times before?" she asked.  I was gutted.   "Er, no actually.  It's probably my 50th time" I said trying to laugh it off.  My first ski holiday was in 1964!!!!

By the end of the first day, I was skiing much better, and Cristina was all praise.

The main thing Cristina did was give me confidence.  When she assessed my ability on the first day she didn't sigh and criticize my every move, she went over things I have probably been told 100 times before.  ESPECIALLY LEAN FORWARD.  Hopefully, this year they will have sunk in (maybe).  I started to edge my skis more, I moved my body more and I planted my pole with a graceful rhythm.
"You need to train your ankles and knees to bend into the slope so it becomes second nature" she said.

I went down run after run, with no poles, hands on hips, just pushing the side of my knees into the slope.  After a few goes I had got the hang of it and was doing some serious edging.  Then it was lean forward more, stretch up at the beginning of the turn and then bring your shoulder over your ski, without swinging the shoulder, but in a controlled fashion.  It really worked - my thighs no longer ached because I was not leaning back and I was able to go from the top to the bottom of a long run without stopping because the stretching of the legs on the turn releases the leg muscles.

Following Cristina I became the queen of speed. Thank you Cristina for some excellent instruction. Hopefully, next year I will remember all your fabulous tips.

                              And the sun sets on another fabulous skiing holiday in the Dolomites.