All Resorts

Val Gardena

The Saslong World Cup downhill, the Sella Ronda, and the Dolomites at their most Tyrolean.

Our Take

Val Gardena is the geographic heart of the South Tyrol's German-speaking ski culture, with the Saslong piste at Ortisei hosting the men's World Cup downhill every December to audiences that line the course from top to bottom in Tyrolean hats and sound levels that make stadium sports seem restrained. The valley's three main villages -- Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva Gardena -- each have their own ski sectors and collective access to the Dolomiti Superski network's 1,200km of connected terrain. Selva Gardena sits at the Sella Ronda's starting/finishing point, with lifts accessing the circuit in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions and the Dantercepies sector providing the technical terrain. The Val Gardena skiing is intermediate to advanced, with the Saslong black run providing expert pitch and the wide cruisers of the Seceda area above Ortisei giving beginners confidence. The wood carving tradition of the valley -- world-famous for hand-carved figurines and religious statues -- means the village shops have actual craftwork alongside the lift ticket sales and rental shops.

World Cup downhill fansSella Ronda starting pointDolomite wood carving cultureIntermediate to advanced skiersGerman Alpine culture seekers

Nerd Stats

Dolomiti Superski Km

1,200km

Own Piste Km

175km

Saslong Race

World Cup (Dec)

Summit Elevation

8,366'

Fun Facts

  • The Saslong World Cup downhill course is one of the fastest on the circuit -- racers reach 140+ km/h on the Camel Humps section.
  • Val Gardena is famous for its centuries-old wood carving tradition -- Ortisei's workshops produce hand-carved figurines exported worldwide.
  • Selva Gardena sits at the Sella Ronda's junction point, making it one of the most strategically positioned villages in the Dolomites for circuit skiing.
  • German, Italian, and Ladin are all official languages in Val Gardena -- the signs are trilingual and so are many of the residents.

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