The 2015 Christmas holidays have begun, though sadly without the magic of natural snow, which is still holding out on our mountains.
Even so, ski resorts have worked miracles: dozens of ski areas are open across both the Alps and the Apennines, offering hundreds of kilometers of perfectly skiable slopes thanks to artificial snowmaking.
While machine-made snow is saving Christmas at many resorts, opening snowparks under these conditions is far tougher—yet even in this challenging situation, several parks have pulled off a true miracle.
Snowparks open in the Italian Alps
Ursus Snowpark – Madonna di Campiglio
Skiing has been underway for several weeks in Madonna di Campiglio; the snow guns have been running for weeks, producing an impressive 850,000 cubic meters of snow so far. Part of that output was used to build the first features of the Ursus Snowpark in the upper Grostè sector (2,500 m above sea level).
Currently, the park offers 7 features including boxes, funboxes, kickers, and rails.
official info: www.ursus-snowpark.com
Obereggen Snowpark – Obereggen (Dolomites)
One of the best snowparks in the Dolomites and one of the most popular in Italy. Alongside Morea, it is currently the only park open for riding in the Dolomites, while all others remain closed. Built entirely with artificial snow, the park currently offers riders the following features:
Up Box 3 m, Down Rail 8 m, Up Tube 7 m, Step Box 8 m
official info: www.facebook.com/OBEREGGEN.SNOWPARK/
Morea Snowpark – Val di Fiemme (Dolomites)
Also located in the Dolomites—specifically in the Alpe Lusia Bellamonte ski area—the Morea Snowpark reopened on December 20, with its first features built thanks to artificial snow.
official info: www.facebook.com/morea.snowpark/
Klausberg
This compact ski resort in Alto Adige is making the best of a tough winter season and, thanks to the work of F-Tech, is one of the few able to offer features for riders.
The park is partially open, making it one of the very few parks in Alto Adige to have already kicked off the season.
official info: www.facebook.com/FUNTAKLAUS.PARK/
Merano 2000
Residents and visitors in Merano can have fun on the slopes of Merano 2000 and its newly opened snowpark; a selection of features is currently available thanks to impeccable work by F-Tech. Right now you can ride:
4+7 m Kicker, 6 m Rail, 3 m Up Box + 3 m Straight Box, 5 m Kinked Box.
official info: www.meran2000.com/winter/snowpark.html
KorerPark – Plan de Corones
Another park designed by F-Tech: Plan de Corones has already worked miracles by opening the vast majority of its slopes with immaculately groomed snow. While waiting for natural snow, the fun park has opened with several boxes and rails available for riders.
official info: www.facebook.com/kronplatzfun
IndianPark – Cervinia
Even the resort at the foot of the Matterhorn has had to contend with a lack of snowfall—a rare situation indeed for Cervinia.
Tremendous effort went into preparing the park’s first features, and the crew succeeded in opening its doors and returning the snowpark to its historic location in the Fornet sector.
Now everyone is waiting for the return of natural snow.
official info: www.facebook.com/INDIANPARK-snowpark-Breuil-Cervinia-1394707790822244/
Val Senales
The Val Senales Funpark opened on December 19, 2015, in a brand-new location at the Glocken surface lift. Measuring around 350 meters in length, it is designed primarily for beginners.
Currently, an easy line is set up featuring the following elements:
Down Box 6 m, Up Tank, Kicker 1 m, Kicker 1.5 m, Down Tube Rail 6 m, Kicker 1.5 m, Kinked Box, Up Tube, Kicker 2.0 m, Kicker 2.0 m, Jib Bowl, Wave Box 6 m, Elephant Box 6 m, Jump Box 6 m, Big Tank 4 m, Kicker 2.5 m, Candy Tube 8 m.
official info: www.valsenales.com/it/area-sciistica/snowpark/
Mottolino – Livigno
For over 15 years, Mottolino has been recognized as Italy’s best snowpark and among the top 3 in Europe. This year, natural snow has been scarce here too, leaving “Little Tibet” in the same boat as other resorts.
True to its reputation, however, Livigno rolled up its sleeves and installed the first park features.
official info: www.facebook.com/MottolinoFunMountain/
LivignoPark, Carosello 3000 – Livigno
Also in Livigno is the Carosello 3000 Snowpark, where the same story applies as at Mottolino: 100% artificial snow and plenty of hard work to build and partially open the park.
official info: www.facebook.com/LivignoPark.Carosello3000
Snowparks Open in the Apennines
Monte Cimone
One of the few Italian ski resorts able to count on natural snow. The Emilian ski area capitalized on late-November snowfalls to open its lifts and took advantage of cold temperatures to produce the artificial snow needed to build the park’s first features.
Currently, the park is open with a jib line.
official info: www.cimonesci.com/snowpark-ninfa/
Magnola Snowpark – Ovindoli
Ovindoli is another of the few resorts blessed with both natural and artificial snow. Great work has gone into preparing the park and keeping it in good shape despite fluctuating temperatures in recent days. Currently, the park is open with 9 features.
official info: www.facebook.com/Magnola-Snowpark-179692375451690/
Swup The Park – Campo Felice
Abruzzo continues to be a standout performer this winter, with Campo Felice offering skiing on a mix of natural and machine-made snow. Early-month snowfalls combined with artificial snowmaking made it possible to open the Snowpark right away, with a selection of features currently open.
official info: www.facebook.com/Swup-The-Park-Campo-Felice-159794564071984/
Photo credits: Carosello 3000
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