Sure Travel Journey 5.4 Spring 2019 | Page 33

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Left: If you’re after cold thrills, the options are endless in Cervinia. Above: The lodge at night.
“
With runs to suit
all levels, top-notch
ski schools and one
of Europe’s best
snowparks, Cervinia
has something
for everyone
“
freeriders and snowboarders.
The resort lies less than two hours
from Turin, home to the nearest
international airport, and is known for
its exceptional views and mountain
backdrop, charismatic and friendly locals,
cuisine, wine and lively après-ski scene.
In short, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a
better value-for-money ski holiday with
all the perks.
At 2050 m, Cervinia is also one of
the highest resorts in the Alps, and its
altitude favours snow reliability. Even in
warm weather or when it doesn’t snow,
snowmaking machines ensure that you
can ski in and out of the resort in the
winter season. And if you fancy adding
a day or two of skiing out of season, no
problem: the runs on the high, glaciated
plateau are open year-round. Best of all,
a combined international ski pass enables
you to cross the border into Switzerland
for the day and ski the more challenging
runs into the quaint, car-free resort of
Zermatt, without paying Swiss prices.
Arriving breathless at the lower cable
car station, we head back up. This time
our goal is even more ambitious; the Reine
Blanche that drops 2000 m (two vertical
kilometres) in the space of 20 km, from
the Klein Matterhorn down to Cervinia’s
attractive sister village, Valtournenche,
lower down in the valley.
Our route takes us under the steep
cliffs of the Roisetta and past the
intermediary station of Salette, from
where we can see crazy enthusiasts
scooting along narrow rails and practising
aerial manoeuvres on the nearby
snowpark.
“Still feeling strong?” I ask my husband
as we cruise down a gentle slope. He
nods, and we speed down through the
trees to our favourite Italian restaurant for
a well-deserved lunch.
A pizza, bottle of rosé and couple
of espressos later, our wobbly legs
have recovered and we are back on
the lifts, this time heading for a more
challenging black run that starts on the
steep flanks of the 4 478 m Cervino (as
the Matterhorn is known in Italy). The
expert-grade route is breathtaking, testing
our concentration and skills to the fullest,
and by the time we take off our skis
outside a bar with a sun-terrace, we’re
exhausted but exuberant.
Over a beer, we reflect that there are
few sports as exhilarating as snow skiing.
The feeling of the wind in your hair as
you whizz down the slopes, the purity
of fresh snow and glistening icicles, the
majesty of the mountain peaks and the
adrenalin rush that you get at the bottom
of each run has us returning to the slopes
year after year. But be warned: skiing is
addictive. Once you’ve skied in Italy, you’ll
be back for more.
ITALY WITH SURE
Q SKI
Sure Travel offers a number of
excellent ski holiday packages to Italy
and the rest of Europe through
Club Med. Contact your nearest Sure
Travel agency or call 0861 47 48 49 /
visit www.suretravel.co.za.
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