It was one of the last gondolas down to the valley from the Seiser Alm plateau. The doors were about to close when someone jumped in to join me at the last minute.
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The Val di Fiemme valley in Italy. This place is legendary for Nordic skiers. It’s home to the Marcialonga Worldloppet Marathon, has hosted multiple Nordic World Championships and will be the Nordic venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Many may recognize the Alpe Cermis alpine ski area as the Tour de Ski climb where Jessie Diggins just became the first American to win the Tour de Ski.
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Walking to the start, the smell of pine fills the air like a tree farm during harvest season. But the only pine around the Lago di Tesero stadium is the fresh pine tar heated into skis for kick and glide at the start of the Marcialonga Story, a vintage ski race in the Italian Alps.
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Happy Hahnenkamm Weekend! The Super Bowl of alpine ski race takes place in Kitzbühel this weekend on the legendary Streif Downhill--arguably the most dangerous downhill in the world. A US Ski Team tradition is that rookies have to carry a brick in their duffel all winter, representing the load that the Streif weighs on your conscience, and can only take it out once they've skied the Hahnenkamm.
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Let My People Go Surfing. Have you read it? Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard wrote this book about "the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of the most respected and environmentally responsible companies on earth."
I was in Munich a few years ago, in search of the perfect hotel for travelers on our Lumi Experiences ski vacations. Somewhere central with good access to explore the city. Ideally a family run hotel where our guests can feel at home. I was finishing a meeting with a hotel owner when he commented on my Patagonia backpack. He asked if I ever read Chouniard's 'Let My People Go Surfing' (I had), then he said: "I let my people go surfing."
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“Sorry for the delay, Garrott. I’ve been overwhelmed by the schnapps.”
Usually, a call like this would be cause for concern. But in this case, I knew the caller wasn’t talking about alcoholism...it was Rudolf, owner of one of Austria’s top brandy, or schnaps distilleries. The distillery is located in a centuries-old cellar in the village of Lienz in East Tyrol.
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While most North American skiers cannot travel to Europe this winter, the USA Nordic Combined Team (ski jumping and cross country skiing) has been using Seefeld, Austria as their base between World Cup weekends. One highlight this winter has been skiing with them and getting out to explore new ski areas. Galtür, Austria, on the border with Switzerland, has been one of those dreamy destinations and definitely one we are adding to Lumi Experience's list of self-guided trips for the views, cuisine and 100+ km of skiing with a variety of terrain. The video shares a little sense of the skiing in Galtür. Enjoy!
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Watching the Tour de Ski cruise through the snow-covered trees in the heart of the Dolomites brings memories of one of my favorite trails, the Via Ferrovia or Rail Trail from Cortina to Toblach. This 25 km ski follows an old railroad trail through long tunnels, over breathtaking bridges and past some of the most iconic peaks in the Dolomites: the Tre Cime or Three Chimneys.
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