A day at Domobianca

It have been snowed all Saturday and finally the sun returns. It’s Monday, February 9th and we plan to achieve the second reportage on Neveazzurra ski stations.

Giancarlo prepares his camera while I make a tour d'horizon of our facilities to see what the situation is. Sunday the Civil Protection launched a sharp warning avalanches and some districts are closed. Talk to friends of Domobianca who reassure us: the station is open, there is no avalanche risk, and you can ski on all twenty km of slopes. With all the snow that has settled on the station and the blue sky, we are sure that the landscape will be fabulous.

Domobianca, a modern resort just a short walk from the town
Domobianca for Domodossola people is the station under the house, just 15 minutes from Domodossola. Founded in the '70s, over the years, thanks to a series of interventions and investments, it has become a modern and competitive ski station. Very close to the valley, from Milan can be reached in about an hour driving, continuing on the A26 along the Strada Statale del Sempione and exiting at Domodossola. But you can also arrive by bus, thanks to a convenient shuttle service departing from the International Station of Domodossola. Domobianca is a paradise for lovers of skiing: the station is equipped with over 20 km of trails that extend from 1080 meters of Alpe Lusentino to 1900 meters up of Moncucco and with difference of 1000 meters. Six lifts, four two-seater chair lifts and two ski-lifts.
lopes are able to meet all needs: for beginners and children, the resort offers a track with a degree of blue difficulty, while for the advanced skiers it ranges from slopes of medium difficulty to the most challenging black runs. Some of the tracks are also approved for racing and FIS and FISI and can host national and international competitions.
So, after training at Baitina of Druogno and the first serious skiing to Piana di Vigezzo, now I feel ready to tackle the slopes of the mountains that for years I admire from the window of my house.

Our day at Domobianca
Driving few minutes from Domodossola we reach the station of Domobianca. The parking at place of Lusentino, a few meters from the departure of facilities, is already crowded with cars. People today have not been able to resist to the temptation of lots of snow fallen on weekends. Easily we find a parking place and we are moving towards the seat of the Ski School where the rental equipment is placed. The offer is very complete: you can rent, as well as skis, ski boots and poles, snow boards and their shoes, helmets, snowshoes, toboggans and bob. Prices range from € 12.00 on weekdays for the full ski equipment (15 € public holidays) to 17 € for the complete equipment for snowboarding (20 € public holidays), up to 6 € (8 € public holidays) for snowshoeing, bobsled and sleigh.

Let’s ski!
We wear boots and ski, withdraw our ski pass and within few minutes we are already on the chairlift Motti that leads us to Foppiano.
It’s the chairlift that takes us from 1088 of Alpe Lusentino to 1258 meters of Alpe Foppiano, with a vertical drop of 170 meters and a capacity of 1017 people per hour.
Today we expect 21 km of trails! The variety is huge, four black runs (4 km), seven red runs (15.3 km), a green run (1.7 km) and a half pipe under construction, in addition to the snow park for snowboarders. From Alpe Foppiano you can reach the baby green slope, suitable for children and beginners, and the red track Prati. We decide to warm ourselves on this last one: a walk along 1 km and seven hundred meters and return to the chair lift Motti. The snow is really beautiful, powdery and abundant, and it is a pleasure to ski.
Let’s take the chair lift once again to reach Foppiano, let's take a look at the baby track, which is served by a ski-lift and, not being the greatest height difference, allow also children to climb and then down, in security.
Near the track, we see the baby snow field where children can become familiar with the skis in a completely flat and fenced, where dangers are totally absent.
It’s time to rise higher and take the chairlift Prel. This is a two-seat facility and from Alpe Foppiano leads skiers to 1700 meters of Alpe Casalavera. The path of the lift is 1245 meters with a vertical drop of 446 meters. It carries 1024 passengers per hour. Alpe Casalavera is plenty of choice, because the tracks that can be reachable are 4, three red and one black: la Selva Grande (5 km), Prel (1 km), the Piroia (2 km ) and the black track Muro Torcelli: 1 km and 100 meters of fear that, this time, I refuse to try!

The police skiers, the guardian angels of Domobianca with the Financial Police and mountain rescue volunteers
At Alpe Casalavera encounter a patrol of the police skiers of Domodossola. They are in preventive service at Domobianca and during the season, especially on weekends, watching over tracks so that are not implemented irresponsible behavior or irregularities by the skier.
From Monday to Friday on the slopes of Domobianca there are also the Revenue Guard Corps, which covers prevention service and can also intervene to carry out rescue operations. The guardian angels of Domobianca however, are not only police and financiers: the weekend and during the high season, the National Association of Emergency Valdossola Ski Slopes pledged to be vigilant and act quickly in case of accidents or emergency situations. Twenty volunteers who rotate and lend their work for free.

Climb to Moncucco with the new chairlift Casalavera
The policemen accompanying us in our skiing, and with them we take the chair lift Casalavera that will take us until Moncucco, the highest point of Domobianca. The chairlift Casalavera was opened a few years ago and realized thanks to the city of Domodossola through European funds allocated to operations support for the Olympic Games in Turin 2006.
With the same funds at Domobianca was realized another chairlift called Torcello, and has made a series of snow interventions on the existing programmed snow facility that today, thanks to three fixed spears and 10 mobile guns, ensure good availability ofslopes in the event of poor snowfall. But not only that: also two new chairlifts were made (Casalavera and Torcello), several new tracks and existing ones have been expanded. Domobianca, thanks to these new measures, from a couple of years is really a high-level station.

Moncucco embraces the whole Ossola Valley
So we go by chairlift to the 1608 meters of Alpe Casalavera to the 1850 meters of Moncucco. The chairlift is 680 meters long and the difference of altitude only 182 meters, but reached the top, the scenery changes completely. We are embraced by the Alps, and we are in the middle of breathtaking scenery. Behind us the Monte Rosa, Anzasca and Antrona Valley, at west Bognanco Valley, opposite of us the Antigorio, Divedro and Formazza Valley and east, the Vigezzo Valley.
Under the plain instead of Domodossola, with the town that beckons with its whitewashed roofs. Remain enthralled for a few minutes, watching so much beauty.
At Moncucco there is spoiled for choice because there are slopes that can be achieved are 7, four red and three black: the Lavancale (233 km), the Training Rossa (1 km), Levy (1 km) The Prel (2 km), the Slalom Rossa (1.5 km) and the black runs Slalom bis (0,6 km), and Pilone (0.8 km). Obviously I, for once, refuse to try the black!
But you can also take the ski lift Moncucco, rising again until 1833 meters: it is 320 meters long and has a vertical drop of 109 meters, carrying up 720 people per hour. With this, you can reach the slopes Selva Grande, Training Rossa and Lavancale. We ski for an hour, accompanied by our friends the carabineers.

And now a ski lesson
It’s noon and I have an important appointment at Skibar with the ski teacher of Domobianca, Walter Caffoni. He promised to give me half an hour lesson and it will be an opportunity for me, as well as to refine a bit the technique, even for me to tell something about the ski school.
We meet Walter and don’t loose time: we take up again the chairlift to reach Moncucco and he explains me how the school, directed by Stefano Pioda, work. Walter tells me that the teachers in full-time service are nine, but reinforcements arrive during the weekend: 20 teachers who teach children, teenagers and adults to take their first steps on snow or improve.
He says that, in recent years, parents are starting to bring children to the mountains and skiing, after a certain period in which he had noticed a certain disaffection, perhaps in part because of the lack of snow in the past seasons. The ski school of Domobianca is engaged in increasing awareness also to schools, which together with the families, should be the environment where the urge to start to love mountains.
Precisely for this reason, this year a project aimed to thr kindergarten has left: children by three years and over and are accompanied from Domodossola to Domobianca by bus to follow the lessons to approach skiing. Walter tells me that unfortunately in recent years there has been a decrease in the organization, by the school,of the days on the snow. That’s a pity.
We arrive at the top of Moncucco and my ski lesson starts: Walter begins to go down and invites me to follow his wake, to relax and let slip the skis, making the corners round. After a bit downhills I realize to be starting to melt and, almost magically, to worry less about the steepness of the track. Walter also gives me confidence and Giancarlo, who often laughs for my performances, notes progress.
Walter is a great teacher: ex KL, record holder of 190 km / h in flying km, nice and funny: in short, all the best qualities for a ski instructor. But all the teachers of the ski school of Domobianca are exceptional, some of which, just as Walter, with a past of great competitive level, and as Maurizio Feller, a former national downhill, now trains the boys in the school. We meet also Stefano Pioda, director of the Ski School of Domobianca, a chat and a picture, and then restart to ski.
It 'almost one and a half, my lesson is over, and Walter has to reach children who are waiting for their ski course. Giancarlo and I go back to Skibar, very hungry. The terrace is crowded with skiers who enjoy the sun and refreshed themselves with a plate of pasta or a simple sandwich.
We meet many people from Domodossola, which have taken advantage of the beautiful sunny day, but there are also some groups of friends, mostly college students, coming from Milan. Among their chatter perceive their appreciation for the abundant snow, and the hope of being able to ski until late spring.

Meeting with the ski station director
Paolo Cantonetti, director of the station, confirms me that this year we cold ski until mid-April.
With Paolo we get a drink, and he tells us something more about Domobianca. We ask what the strengths of this ski station are, one of the first in Ossola. He explains that at Domobianca the season is really long, despite the altitude not too high. The district is favoured by northeast exposure and this prevents the snow melts too quickly.
Other strengths, explains Paolo, are the easy parking a few meters from the ticket-office and the chair lift, the shuttle service from the station of Domodossola, and of course, the variety of slopes, with great differences in height, to meet the needs of all skiers.

The Agonistic Center of Domobianca
At Domobianca is particularly active Agonistic Center, born 1987 by the merger of two ski clubs, and composed of a group of volunteers interested in alpine skiing. Chaired by Valerio Beltrami, the Center is committed to disseminate and promote the practice of this discipline from school age into adulthood, and to engage in both recreational and competitive skiers. 250 are the children who this year are following the courses organized by the Center, which is divided into three business segments: a team managing the racing, a school classes and another one the organization of the competitions. Even the Agonistic Center, run by a team of exceptional teachers, organizes a course of rapprochement with the ski private nursery schools involving 20 children. In summer, the children are accompanied to ski on the glaciers in Switzerland, not to interrupt the activity and to know and deal with different situations.

The slopes of Domobianca loved by Tomba and Max Blardone
Some of the tracks of Domobianca are homologated FIS and FISI for racing and can host national and international competitions.
Alberto Tomba in the early '90s, along with the National Team, chose Domobianca for training and since then, every year, the National team Italian and foreign prefer Domobianca as base for training ahead of World Cup races. Also this year Max Blardone, Giorgio Rocca and his companions have been training to Lusentino.

And for those who love snowboarding, here there is the snowpark
To suit the fashion of the moment, this year also was born the Luse Park, a new snow park with jumps of various sizes, from 2 to 12 meters and with different structures: a flat box of 6 meters, a more flat-down box 3 + 3 meters, a rail plate 6 meters, a flat rail down + 3 + 3 meters, a flat-Rail + 3 + 4 feet down, a drum and a Wallride. Unfortunately, the snow of Saturday, has literally flooded the snow park, which however is already being restored and within a few days, will return to accommodate snowboarders.

Eating at Domobianca
Let Paul and grant us a sandwich on the terrace of the Skibar. Domobianca catering service is excellent and varied: there are four bars, restaurants and lodges that offer quick menu or characteristic lunch. The Skibar, overlooking the slopes, is the ideal place for a quick stop for a sandwich to enjoy the sun terrace.
Prices range from a few euros for a sandwich and a drink, a little more than ten euros for a hot dish. In another place in Foppiano offers service snack bar with a menu rich and inviting, while the two shelters are the ideal place to enjoy a good polenta accompanied by specialities of the territory.

A final skiing after lunch, and then back to the office
The commitments of the office called and no longer have much time to enjoy a bit. We enjoy a little sun on your face, then replace the skis for a last skiing, but not before taking a picture to Giancarlo. For once you put before the camera ... and not behind!
Take the chairlift "Torcello" which brings us to “Pianali”, at 1743 meters. It’s a chairlift 880 meters long with a vertical drop of 290 meters, and can have up to 1,000 passengers per hour. With this lift you can reach the slopes Selva Grande, Piroia, Slalom. We realize that the area is so vast and rich, almost a full day is not nearly enough for skiing on all slopes and go over all assets.
For our last skiing we choose a nice descent from Moncucco to Alpe Lusentino over 800 meters in altitude, to do all together. At Casalavera a cat snow is beating the track to make it perfect again.
We arrive at Alpe Lusentino, we deliver my equipment and in a quarter of an hour we are back in the office. Too bad, we would certainly have remained until closing time.

Meeting with the ski by night
Let Domobianca with the intention of returning early in the evening to try the night skiing.
During the night in fact, every Friday evening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., it became the alternative for many young people who ski, moving from one place to another, are accompanied by spending an amount affordable fun and sport. The track is almost four kilometers and is served by two facilities leading up to 1700 meters of Alpe Casalavera for an uphill of over 600 meters.
On the slope, moving light points were installed (45 globes furniture) that are removed during the summer to minimize environmental impact. These globes of light, scattered along the tracks, reflect diffused light for night skiing really out of the ordinary that often ends with a dinner of local products at one of the restaurant.

Domobianca, a team-work for a winning ski station
The success of Domobianca is a mix of many components, both natural and human, but above all it is about the commitment of managers, service staff who work with professionalism and competence of the staff of the Agonistic Center Domobianca who oversees the organization of sporting events, volunteers help the slopes, the ski school, children of Luse Park, and of course all the fans and aficionados who choose Domobianca for their leisure time.

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