U.S. Ski Team Goes Back to Italy

ANDALO-PAGANELLA, TRENTINO, ITALY – (News Release – Nov. 6, 2007) — Next December, the U.S. Men’s Alpine Ski Team will be back in Andalo, in the Trentino Region, for training sessions on the Paganella Ski slopes. In fact, from Dec. 5 until the end of March 2008, the two towns of Andalo and Fai della Paganella will become the official European Training Centres for the World Cup and the European Cup U.S. Ski Team.

The agreement with the U.S. Ski Association includes accommodation for the team and the preparation of the two training ski runs: the Olimpionica slope — the same slope used by the unforgettable Italian champions Celina Seghi and Zeno Colಠ– and, as an alternative, the Nuvola Rossa slope. The two courses guarantee a specific training for combined, giant slalom and superG. Therefore, for the second year in a row the U.S. Ski Team is going to repeat last winter’s positive experience when Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Steve Nyman — along with all the others — took turns skiing on the slopes. In fact, as a consequence of their presence, the readers of the Gazzetta dello Sport (the most important Italian sport newspaper) voted the Olimpionica the most pleasant slope of the Alps.

“The choice of the Paganella Ski Area is strictly linked to the overall technical offer we are able to guarantee. Actually, it has gained full approval from the whole American staff”, explained the Trentino Region’s Councillor in charge of Tourism, Tiziano Mellarini, and President of the Apt (local tourist board), Silvano Bottamedi. “Not to mention our strategic geographic position, ideal for its closeness with the Brennero border to the North (towards Austria, Switzerland and Germany) and Verona’s airport to the South. In fact, thanks to the Brennero A22 highway —the most important North-South European road – both of them are only one hour away by car. The nearest exit is San Michele all’Adige which is just 20 minutes from Andalo and 20 kilometers from Trento.

The Paganella plateau is located in the West side of the Trentino Region, just above the Adige Valley and the city of Trento. To the North, it includes the Brenta Dolomites, the mountains known worldwide as the homeland of the brown bear, the symbol of Andalo which also appears on its flag. This ski area is one of the most important and advanced of the Trentino Region, thanks to its 50 kilometers of ski slopes and its innovative artificial snow system that covers 95% of the courses. Andalo and Fai della Paganella are linked with an efficient net of lift facilities (17 altogether) with cable cars, chair lifts and ski lifts that guarantee a capacity of 26 persons per hour. All of them can be used with a single ski pass, the same one that permits access to the wider ski district of Madonna di Campiglio, Folgarida-Marilleva and Passo Tonale.

“All the lift facilities have been renewed over the past three years for a total investment of 50 million euros, explained the representatives of the lift companies and the President of the Skipass, Ediuno Gabrielli. The downhill slopes develop along the North-West Paganella side starting from the 2,125 meter peak and reaching the bottom of the valley, throught breathtaking scenery and pine woods. More than 100 ski teachers are available to teach all kind of skiing techniques. Furthermore, they also propose specific lessons for impaired and blind people in order to develop coordination and mobility.

Last but not least, the area offers a rich choice of hotels services (lots of them propose wellness centers) as well as numerous sport facilities that include gyms, indoor pools and ski stadiums. In summer there are football fields, fitness areas, bicycle paths and nearby, Molveno Lake, for water sports.