SESTRIERE life

ENGLISH VERSION
Grass skiing - FROM WHEELS TO
TRACKS
As with alpine skiing, the evolution of
materials for grass skiing has rendered
the approach and the relaunching of
this sport much simpler.
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9. Gli atleti azzurri
aiutano i ragazzi nella
scelta degli sci.
The italian athletes
help a girl choose her
skis.
10. Le prime timide
discese sull’erba.
The first delicate
descents on the grass.
11. Risalite con mezzi
di soccorso. A special
way of ascending.
12. La conferenza
stampa di
presentazione.
The press conference of
the presentation.
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13. Da sinistra, Notaris, Domini e
Grutti. From left, Notaris, Domini
and Grutti.
14. Paolo De Chiesa, turista
incuriosito. Paolo De Chiesa, an
inquisitive tourist.
SESTRIERE - Grass skiing went through an important
period on the mountains and in the
hills in the 1980s.
Then the practice of this sport which permits
skiing on green slopes in summer, in Italy, disappeared.
Few continued to do it.
As was the case with alpine skis, equipment
became ever more tailored in order to facilitate
control.
The evolution of new models of grass ski
made the approach of this sport much easier
and similar to the alpine ski technique. Today
the grass skis are quicker and more stable in
comparison with those of the past. From
wheels we have passed to proper ‘caterpillar
tyres’ (tracks).
A roller mechanism is used running over the
caterpillar track, which is protected by a lubricated
transparent membrane, using a mixture
of olive oil and soap which reduces the
internal friction, facilitating the running.
To relaunch grass skiing on the Olympic
mountain, last summer a successful initiative
was put into place by the Rotary Club of Susa
and Val Susa in cooperation with the Comunità
Montana, the Comune of Sestriere, the
National Ski Club of Sestriere, and the Sestriere
Spa.
In July and August there were more than
three hundred students from the local ski
club joined by many tourists, all of whom
united in this sport.
The weekend before ferragosto Yuri Domini,
ex world champion, Technical Commissioner
for National Grass Skiing accompanied by
athletes and demonstrators Andrea Notaris,
and Lorenzo Grutti, offered valuable tuition,
following meticulously the large group of
children of the ski club of the region who
were able to attempt skiing on a blanket of
grass.
They skied from the Colle di Sestriere to Borgata
using the Trebials chairlift to ascend. On
the first part of the course, towards Borgata,
slalom and giant slalom posts (gates) were
erected. There was no shortage of fun.
The children accomplished it admirably even
between the gates, meriting the great enthusiasm
and support afforded by the ‘azzurro’
staff who did a truly praiseworthy job
from both a professional and dedicational
point of view.
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