SESTRIERE life

2. Zertanna nella sua casa a Sestriere. Zertanna
in his house in Sestriere.3. Pino Armand, mostra
una foto che lo ritrae con altri grandi atleti tra
cui Zeno Colò. Pino Armand shows a photograph
retrieved along with other great athletes, amongst
them Zeno Colò.
at the Colle where he will stay until Easter. “
On Sunday I decided to transfer to Sestriere”
– he told us. “I loaded my luggage into my
car and I left, accompanied by my Nephew.
Whilst on the motorway, he drove, but as it
snowed between Salbertrand and Sestriere, I
drove as I am better at driving on the snow”!
Leo has lived alone since losing his wife eight
years ago and cant wait for the pistes to open
so he can join his ex students and old friends
at the ski school bar and even go skiing with
them from time to time.
Not even after a brutal
accident on the pistes in
2006 when he fractured
the base of his spine and
had to remain in bed for
two months, did he decide
to hang up his skis.
Born in Reckingen
(Switzerland) on 4th November
1914 of a Swiss
father and an Italian
mother he lived on the
other side of the alpes
until 1924 when, at 10
years old his family transferred
to Formazza to
run what was once a
hotel but which is now his home.
His passion for skiing originated in Switzerland.
He started skiing when he was 5 years
old: a passion which he has nurtured for
nearly a century.
“I was an athlete of the National Italian team
and participated in numerous competitions.
In 1935 I was part of a group of athletes to
be tested at the pre Olympics at Garmisch
Partenkirchen. Unfortunately, however, at the
games of 1936 my position was taken by another
“recommended” athlete.
In 1935 I was part
of a group of athletes to be
tested at the pre Olympics at
Garmisch Partenkirchen.
Unfortunately, however, at
the games of 1936 my
position was taken by
another “recommended”
athlete.
70
2 3
for
Here in Sestriere I have participated in two series
of the Coppa del Re: Here we threw ourselves
down from Sises to Sauze di Cesana in
one go and in fresh snow.
In 1937 I fell and injured a leg whilst in 1938
I finished the race. I have been a ski instructor
since 1936 and, from 1939 I obtained
permission to practice the profession in
Cervinia. In 1951 the then Director of the Sestriere
National Ski School, Francesco Passet,
called me, as they needed instructors. Since
then, in winter I have always
taught here. There
have been years when I
have skied for nine
months – five in Sestriere
and four on the Stelvio
glacier. Now I ski with
friends in Sestriere but
only when the weather
is good.
Leo has taught four generations
of skiers.
Amongst his students
there have been many
famous people starting
with the Agnelli family. “
I have been behind the
children of the Senator,
Margherita and Edouard since they were
seven or eight years old, the Furstenberg
cousins, and then also Susanna Agnelli and
her children. I have skied with General
Cadorna and his family and many other well
known persons.
Above all I have known champions such as
Manuel Fangio, Tazio Nuvolari and Nino Farina,
who I met at the Hotel Principe di
Piemonte. I remember that Fangio confided
to me once that he was afraid of speed on
two planks of wood! It is strange how a reckless
champion of the automobile fears in
some ways speed on skis”!
Leo Zertanna has also witnessed the evolution
of the ski and of Sestriere.
Today everything has changed apart from the
location. Once there was little construction
and only three lifts which took one to
Banchetta, Sises, and to Fraiteve.
The instructors walked up on foot, then took
the cable car to Banchetta and then we came
down with our skis to Borgata.
We returned to Sestriere with two minibuses,
squashed like sardines in a tin with our skis
on the roof. The equipment was such as it
was at that time.
If you fell your ski or binding broke or
….your leg! We felt the cold much more. We
had leather shoes and worn out trousers. The
snow passed through the fabric, melted and
we got chilblains.
Skiing has become a massive phenomenon
which has revolutionized everything.
Pistes groomed like motorways and skis capable
of going ever faster are now rendering
the sport more dangerous than before.
After he had stopped instructing, Leo
worked as an apripista (preparing and opening
runs prior to events) along with his friend
Pino Armand and Giovanni Sichieri, at the
opening of the Mondial di Sci Alpino 1997 in
Sestriere.
At 95 he is waiting for colleagues and friends
to have another ski. “ I have a painful knee
which the Doctor says is arthritis. It will remain
as it is a sign of the times. At my age I
wonder how I am still alive”!
To conclude – a bit of useful advice to skiers.
“Always ski with care, especially to start with
especially if your muscles are not tuned. Go
always taking care and don’t throw yourselves
down the piste like a kamikaze” (e.r)
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