Switaly (Gallery)

The Swiss are too cold, the Italians too hot. But combine the people and terrain of the mountainous border of the two nations and you get glorious schizophrenia. What if they were one country, united under schuss? Inside one man’s (unofficial) feasibility study for the UN. Read more about Switaly.

The good half is paisan! DiPietro at St. Moritz.

At least Rifugio Vigevano’s innkeepers didn’t freak out about blankies.

DiPietro points his Bogner-free shoulders downhill at St. Moritz.

Powder Tips From The Pros

1. “Don’t be afraid of speed. Go too slow and you end up mired in the snow, fighting it. Speed lets your skis float to the surface, where it’s easier to turn. Think of your skis as the wing of a plane: You need speed to get lift.”  —Aryeh Copa, ski photographer

The top of Switaly’s food pyramid at the top of Switaly.

DiPietro slices through Emmentaler en route to Zermatt.

James Harvey stampedes toward Verbier’s happy hour.

Read more about Switaly.

Location: breakfast.

Location: Zermatt.

DiPietro at Alagna in Gressoney.

Where To Learn

1. Big Mountain Centre, Kicking Horse, BC

Kicking Horse’s three-day Phat Kamp uses video analysis to help skiers master basic powder-skiing moves; the five-day Real Deal adds in avalanche awareness. [$549 and $849; kickinghorseresort.com]