Something for every winter sportsperson in the Dolomites

Feb 9, 2010, 11:07 GMT

Bruneck, Italy - Many skiing areas advertise a dream panorama, but it is not often that there is an unhindered 360-degree outlook.

But atop the 2,275-metre Kronplatz peak in South Tyrol in northern Italy, there is a true panorama of the Alps: to the East and North you can see into Austria and a number of ranges - the Stubaier, Oetztaler, Zillertaler and Rieserferner mountains.

On the opposite side there are the Dolomites, where across the Abteital valley a number of peaks rise up - Petler Kofl, Sella, Marmolada, Tofana and Pelmo.

From Kronplatz, the ski runs stretch in three directions and three valleys, leading to Olang, St Vigil and Reischach. The scenery is one of tall cliffs, jagged-edged ridges and limestone formations amid deep snowdrifts, which shine red in the setting sun: millions of years ago the Dolomites were actually a coral reef.

Mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who has conquered many peaks around the world, is a huge fan of the mountains in his home region.

'They may not be the world's highest mountains, but certainly the prettiest,' says the South Tyrollean native. It is no wonder that in 2009 UNESCO declared the Dolomites as a World Heritage Site.

At Kronplatz, located in the Pustertal valley, there are not only 105 kilometres of prepared ski-runs for everybody from absolute beginners to advanced skiers, but also many attractive stopping points for some refreshment along the way.

Especially rustic among the some 30 wooden huts is the Stube, built in 1680 on the Oberegger Alm mountain pasture, which has been lovingly restored. On the menu there is not only the customary alpine fare like goulash soup, bratwurst and yeast dumplings, but also such tasty treats as noodles filled with pumpkin paste, coleslaw with bacon crisps, along with three different types of dumplings, the so-called 'Knoedeltris.'

The hotels are also cosy. Often, the rooms are made from a type of pinewood, called 'zirm' locally in South Tyrol. Besides saunas and steam baths, many hotels offer their guests steam rooms made of zirm. Masseurs are on hand to apply ethereal oils made from pine trees from the region in order to revive the weary muscles of the wintersports men and women.

For a change from the downhill skiing fun, and for a genuinely new experience, visitors can spend some time at the cross-country and biathlon school in Antholzertal valley.

For 30 years, Antholz has been one of the most important venues of the international biathlon (an event combing cross-country skiing and marksmanship) competition. Professionals provide people curious about the sport with training in cross-country skiing technique in the stadium and the surrounding countryside.

At the firing stands the tourists can then test their marksmanship. The firing distance is 50 metres. The professionals shoot at targets of 11.5 centimetre diameter from the standing position and just 4.5 centimetres diameter from the steadier prone position.

For the visitors, they may shoot at the larger targets from the prone position. Also, they may rest the rifle barrel on a wooden stand. With such beginners' aids it is not so very difficult to strike the target.

Information: www.kronplatz.com, www.dolomitisuperski.com; www.langlauf-antholz.it.