THE HISTORY OF THE SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL SAN VIGILIO DI MAREBBE

Ski and Snowboard School San Vigilio di Marebbe has a long tradition. It was the first ski school in the area of Plan de Corones / Kronplatz. Since its founding in 1936, the school has significantly contributed to the development of winter tourism in San Vigilio di Marebbe, which is now one of the most famous ski resorts in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. While many things have changed over the decades, one thing that has remained is the pleasure tourists get from skiing in the area. 

In the 1930s, ski instructors taught skiing techniques on unprepared slopes and there were no ski lifts available. 

The most seasoned instructors remember: “It was a fundamental prerequisite to master the technique of snowplowing to be able to ski down the steep grades, which, at the time, were not groomed.” In addition to teaching, ski instructors also performed other tasks. For example, the slopes were groomed by San Vigilio di Marebbe ski teachers, either by skiing or by managing special snow rollers while wearing skis. Ski instructors likewise drew attention to the beautiful landscape of the Dolomites and of the magnificent Marebbe valley, which has drawn holiday-makers for decades.

While the dedication of our staff has not changed, the conditions, facilities, and the teaching techniques available nowadays have obviously changed since the 1930s. To illustrate, ski equipment has evolved. Initially, skis were simple, often homemade, long wooden planks without edges. These were gradually replaced by increasingly modern designs made of metal. More recently, synthetic fibres have been introduced which greatly improve performance. These changes have required our instructors to remain up-to-date with equipment and techniques to ensure they could offer cutting-edge lessons to our guests.

The ski industry in San Vigilio suffered during the post-war period of the 1940s, and it took several years to revive the ski school. During the 1950s, the concept of vacationing underwent changes, as did skiing techniques and teaching methods, which mean that our school had to adapt. At the same time, other technological advances were also affecting the ski tourism sector in the area as ski lifts were introduced. The first ski lift, a cable car from San Vigilio di Marebbe to Giogo (Piz de Plaies), was built in 1962. This lift was followed by others. In 1967, the first “point card” Lift Pass was introduced. In 1969, the “point card” was replaced by the electronic Lift Pass. The electronic Pass allowed access to multiple lifts with a single card, significantly extending the offers available to tourists. This combination of changes meant that more and more people were taking skiing holidays. 
In 1970, the first snow grooming machine used for preparing the slopes was purchased. Later that decade, artificial snow cannon systems were introduced. These machines were necessary to ensure that visitors could ski even when the natural weather conditions would not permit. Thanks to artificial snow cannons, the ski season could also be extended. Now, our ski school could provide lessons on groomed slopes, even if there was a limited amount of natural snow available.

For 80 years, our professional team of instructors have continued to teach utilizing cutting edge techniques and equipment. While some of the names have changed, our instructors still take pleasure in sharing their knowledge with guests. They individualize their techniques to meet personal needs, ensuring that clients improve and perfect their skills through lessons taught on slopes suitable to ability.