Cortina d'Ampezzo
Your next snow adventure awaits…
in collaboration with MR PORTER
There’s a certain ring (and fun) when saying Cortina d'Ampezzo. Known as Queen of the Dolomites, Cortina is a UNESCO World Heritage site that sits in North-East Italy. It’s the famed destination where 007 For Your Eyes Only and Pink Panther were filmed. And it’s charming, for sure.
Cortina has an exceptionally wide valley. The town centre sits at an elevation of 1,224 metres. Compared to the surrounding mountains Tofane and Cristallo that sit at 3,000+ metres, every turn offers a mesmerising backdrop. While the resort is advertised with 120km of slopes and suitable for all levels, Cortina may be best for beginners. The resort is divided into two main parts: Socrepes (beginners) and Misurina 1756m (intermediate/advanced).
Transport:
The closest airports are Venice Treviso (137km; 1hr49min drive) or Venice Marco Polo (148km; 1hr51min drive). If travelling in a group, I highly recommend booking a private transfer as it’ll save you time. Buses, via Cortina Express, are available but there are only 4 services a day.
Socrepes is actually situated outside of the town centre and is a 5-minute car ride. One-way taxi fare would cost 15-20 euros. There are buses but services are sparse and the station is a long walk from the ski base. Here, the chairlifts are short and non-skiers are welcome to take the chairlift/gondolas to the top.
Misurina is located in the town centre but be prepared to climb the incline to the cable car.
In short, it’s not the most accessible resort without a car.
Climate:
Visiting Cortina mid/late February meant conditions were more mild. Out of the 4 ski days, 3 were sunny with blue skies. The conditions were perfect as there was great visibility and it was comfortable.
How to prepare:
Despite only skiing half days, I definitely felt some leg fatigue on the first day. And that’s even after a week of training legs. I definitely recommend doing some light cardio and weights training. Try the Zoom Fly 4 Neon Mesh and Flyknit Running Sneakers - I felt like I was running on air. Supreme comfort.
Training routine:
Run/light jog for 5 minutes
Squats 4 sets of 10 reps - add weight as required
Lunges 4 sets of 10 reps
Bulgarian split squat 4 sets of 10 reps
What to pack:
UNIQLO heat-tech turtlenecks, extra warm long johns and socks. These are essential base layers.
KASK is an Italian brand that designs top of the range, ergonomic ski helmets for athletes. The model I wore is called Chrome (sold out but other models here) and the helmet has a silver upper (which can be opened via a switch for better ventilation) in contrast with the sleek white frame. The helmet inner padding and earflaps is designed in collaboration with REDA, Italian company that excels in the production of Merino Wool, to produce a soft and warm fleece wool touch. I also love the double lens visor which means no goggle hassle.
Since skiing in Europe is comparatively cooler to the snow storms in Japan, two layers were enough. I personally find overheating to be more of an issue than being cold. I chose to layer with a RÆBURN puffa which is made from fully RÆCYCLED raw materials (this jacket is made from 100% certified post-consumer RÆCYCLED PET bottles.)
The mountain peaks can get windy so I opted for the Salomon force padded ski salopettes. Designed with AdvancedSkin Dry Technology, the salopettes are weatherproof (rain, wind, snow) and Primaloft® insulation to keep you warm. On Salomon’s site, they sit high on the breathability scale and have inner thigh zips for ventilation. The braces are also removable and I’d definitely recommend blue for versatility - great choice for both skiing and snowboarding.
Keep your hands warm with Hestra’s Army Leather Heli Ski gloves - a highly functional design that’s fit for skiing and outdoor sports. This family-run Scandinavian brand produces professional, well-thought-out designs: the palms are stitched with durable Army Goat leather and the model sits long on the cuff to prevent ski powder seeping in. There are even handcuffs for convenience, of which I frequently used so I can whip out my phone to snap every mountain peak, and the inner lining is removable to wash. If snowboarding, I’d recommend buying a larger size to accommodate wristguards. Don’t worry about losing warmth as there are elastic straps to tighten and even a balm for extra care.
Après ski fashion is big here. After the ski lifts close, main street Via Roma becomes the runway. Expect floor length fur coats and Moncler gillets as the evening uniform. So best come prepared - I packed my Moncler Grenoble red beanie with me and advise you to prepare in advance because coveted items are often sold out in-store.
