Editor's Note: International travel and the logistics of racing in Europe, far from home, have long been one of the major challenges facing North American national ski teams. By creating a European training facility, The Canadian Snowsports Association has taken a significant step toward minimizing the effects of these necessary components of elite competition.
VANCOUVER, BC – The Canadian Snowsports Association (CSSA), the Val di Fiemme, Italy Tourism Authority and Trentino Region are very pleased to announce a partnership that will give Canadian ski and snowboard teams a home-away-from-home, and on snow training facilities over the next 3 years.
Dave Pym, Managing Director of the CSSA stated:
“This partnership is based in a very unique location close to Bolzano/Trento with superb Alpine, Cross Country and Ski Jumping facilities, coupled with permanent bases that can be used from December to April (and in summer for Jumpers), and should enable our various teams to have a base central to Switzerland, Austria and Italy around various World Cup, Continental Cup and other FIS events.”
The Partnership provides lodging with fixed apartment accommodation, meals, gymnasium, on-snow training and other support services from December 1 to April 1 and during the Spring and Summer for Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined in an area used for Cross Country World Cup and Nordic World Ski Championships in 1991 and 2003 and an applicant for 2013, with a wide variety of suitable Alpine/Snowboard and Freestyle Slopes.
Canada's Alpine Team Director of Athletics – Dusan Grasic – who tried out the facilities during the 2007 season said that:
“This is truly a great location for our teams, particularly before, between and after World Cup events and we are so well looked after.”
Val di Fiemme, at the entrance to the Dolomites with 11 beautiful communities including Cavalese, Tesero, Panchia, Predazzo and Pampeago is located less than 2 hours South from Innsbruck and 90 minutes North of Verona with easy Autostrade and rail access and located within the developed ski areas of Alpe Cermis and Ski Center Latemar (Predazzo, Pampeago Obereggen), Alpe Luisa, Passo Rolle, Passo San Pellegrino and Lavazè-Oclini.
With over 125km of Alpine ski trails and 45 lifts and over 100km of Cross-Country trails, Val di Fiemme is the perfect summer of winter holiday destination. (see www.aptfiemme.tn.it and www.valdifiemme.info
The CSA represents its 9 competitive snow sports members of Alpine Canada, Cross Country Canada, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Canadian Snowboard Federation, Ski Jumping Canada, Nordic Combined Canada, Telemark Canada, Speed Skiing Canada and the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing with total members of over 80,000 active participants and 250,000 supporting members.
