It’s just like driving a car; at first everything scares you and you are constantly edgy, worried how to stop should anything go wrong. But then, by time, it becomes as easy as ABC and driving becomes a joy, provided the car and the roads are up to standard. Ray Bugeja had the same feeling when trying his hand at skiing.
You are blinded by the white and so you could hardly be blamed if you fail to notice whether the piste you are on is coded blue, red or black. Yet, it would help to know because the colour indicates the level of difficulty of the venture you are about to undertake and, let’s face it, a novice would expect an easy ride or, in this case, a smooth ski.
Planning a skiing holiday takes a bit more than, say, spending a week in London or Rome or taking a cruise because you do need particular clothing, to start with, not to mention ski passes, securing the services of an instructor and whatnot. Thankfully, there are agencies that can look after all that, providing not just the gear (unless you’d want to buy your own, that is) but also a list of useful tips, flight arrangements, accommodation, insurance, passes, the works. Everything, that is, that would leave the beginner focused on just one thing: Getting going.
Being new to the world of skiing, I consulted the specialists before venturing to Livigno, in the northernmost part of Italy where the location and the altitude offer ideal skiing conditions that also extend longer than in many other competing resorts. Indeed, skiing there is still going strong in March and April, which gives the undecided a good chance to make up their minds.
The first thing I learnt was that slopes there having a blue colour-coding are the easiest and get more difficult as they change red and then black. So, in your first lesson, your instructor will take you to a blue piste, because that is where you can really learn and have the biggest chance of remaining with feet straight on your skis for as long as possible.
Which does not mean either you are not likely to fall. Of course you will. However, you’ll be able to get up again in one piece and, after a few tumbles, without any help at all.
On the plane to Milan and then on the long coach ride to the skiing resort I kept thinking about what the specialist travel agent told me: I will fall many a time. I would find it difficult to get up on my own. Would I be so scared and embarrassed I would be tempted to give up? Will I make a fool of myself going too slow and, all of a sudden, too fast, demonstrating to all I will be having problems stopping?
I kept rewinding in my mind’s DVD player the scene recounted to me by a friend of mine the first time he went skiing.
One fine day, not long after his first go at skiing, he decided to go down the slope, come what may. And what do you know! In no time he stood tall on his skis speeding down the mountain. Only when he shifted his view from the tip of his skis to what lay in front did he notice a fast approaching eating place with a big family enjoying burgers and sausages and the men sipping pints of beer. Realising he just could not stop in time he started shouting out warnings but there was no time. He was soon under their table with burgers, sausages and glasses flying.
He was glad he had finally come to a halt, especially realising there were no broken bones. Naturally, the family, especially the men, were not so amused. My friend, the eternal optimist, stood up, looked straight in their eyes and very honestly told them: “Sorry chaps. I am a beginner and as you can see haven’t yet learnt how to stop… in time”.
That was it. The men and the rest of the family burst into laughter. I am not sure whether he told me they even offered him beer.
Such is the fun you can get on the slopes even if you are a beginner, hopefully, a less ambitious one than my friend! A word of advice: Make sure you have the right sort of instruction to avoid uncomfortable situations rash beginners sometimes make, risking hurting both themselves and others.
Truth is, once you master putting on your skiing boots, standing up on the skis and controlling speed, which should take no longer than a day or two, depending on the hours you spend on the snow, you will realise you no longer experience many of the problems that at first appeared insurmountable. Having an experienced and patient skiing instructor as, in my case, YTC’s Mariano Galas, assisted by Maltese guides, is of course a great help. Meaning the level of fear will drop sharply. But it is imperative you are careful and always follow the advice the instructor gives you.
Just as the state of the road is crucial when it comes to driving, so also is the condition of the piste you are using. In other words, there has to be the right kind of snow and enough of it. Livigno, where I had my first and, so far, only skiing experience – though certainly not the last, is a textbook case.
The village of Livigno is located at an altitude of 1,816 metres, with its peaks rising to 3,000 metres and that makes it one of Europe’s most “snowsure” destinations. Because of the high altitude, most of the pistes there are above the tree line, meaning they are wide and much less likely to be cluttered as is often the case in resorts situated at a lower altitude. Skiing down to the village is possible whether it is early or late in its long season. The resort is certainly ideal for beginners with plenty of nursery slopes all the way down the valley, which are also easily accessible by free ski bus.
The Telegraph reported last Sunday Livigno “is in the great position of not having to worry too much about a lack of snow due to its altitude. With a snow base of well over a metre and a half on the upper slopes, the conditions are really good despite no fresh snow since Christmas Eve”. Apparently, it did snow since.
The slopes of Mottolino and Carosello, on either side of the Livigno valley, overlook both the village and Lake Livigno, providing a total of just under 120 kilometres of ski runs and a custom designed snowboard park.
Livigno started as small farming community, which, over the years, worked its way up to feature among the top ski areas in Italy. I was there a week before Christmas 2009 and promised myself to return by the end of the season. That I did not manage was due to circumstances beyond my control and present plans to return within a couple of weeks or so are likely to go down the drain too. But I will be back, knowing the package offered by YTC is both enjoyable and relaxing. The programme put together not only allows adequate time to learn to get up when you fall, control your speed, secure better times when doing the slalom but also to engage in more winter sports activities offered exclusively for YTC clients, such as jet-bikes, horse riding, tyre-sliding and sledging. Not to mention the many restaurants, cafés and duty-free bargains.
It is one holiday that is truly addictive and the long season Livigno offers widens the choice.
• The author travelled to Livigno courtesy of YTC Travel.