2024/2025 winter season

PILA

La seconde section de la nouvelle télécabine 10 places Pila-Couis 1 entrera en service. Ce projet s’inscrit dans un plan plus large qui prévoit le remplacement complet de 2 télésièges et d’un tapis roulant existants par une nouvelle et moderne télécabine. Celle-ci partira de la station d’arrivée de l’actuel téléphérique Aoste-Pila et, compte tenu de la complexité des travaux, sera achevée à l’automne 2025.

La réhabilitation globale du domaine skiable ne se limite pas à la construction de la télécabine. Elle inclut également la création d’un restaurant d’altitude avec terrasse panoramique, situé à 2 700 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer, ainsi que la rénovation de la station de vallée à Pila.

En parallèle à ces interventions, d’autres travaux importants ont été réalisés dans le domaine skiable, comme la création d’une nouvelle piste reliant Couis 1 à Couis 2, l’agrandissement et l’amélioration des pistes n° 7 et n° 8, ainsi que l’ouverture d’une nouvelle variante de la piste n° 9.

LA THUILE – ESPACE SAN BERNARDO

The Espace San Bernardo ski area, La Thuile-La Rosière, celebrates 40 years of international connection this year. In line with this anniversary, the new 6-seater automatic Chardonnet chairlift will replace the existing lift, providing a strategic link between the Italian and French sides.

Summer works included upgrades to the Fourclaz chairlift, which now features a new surveillance system and a suspension system for improved skier comfort. The snowmaking system on slope No. 5 has also been upgraded with high-efficiency snow cannons to reduce water consumption while producing artificial snow.

The area has acquired two new snow groomers, and two webcams have been installed at Petit Saint-Bernard and Les Suches. New weather stations connected to the centralized information system will provide real-time updates on lift openings, slope conditions, and weather forecasts via the revamped website, lathuile.it, set to launch in November.

BREUIL-CERVINIA – VALTOURNENCHE

In the Breuil-Cervinia international ski area, the lifts, which opened on October 26, will remain operational until September 7, 2025. For the second consecutive year, there will be no interruptions between winter and summer, offering extended enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, and pedestrians exploring Zermatt or the Matterhorn through the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing.

Among this year’s novelties is the new Goillet chairlift, a state-of-the-art 6-seater lift with heated seats, single footrests, and transparent protective domes, providing quick access from 2,692 to 3,093 meters in just 5 minutes while reducing energy consumption by 20%.

MONTEROSA SKI

During the summer, Monterosa completed its planned work program, covering various areas including ski lifts, snowmaking systems, and play areas.

Among the main new attractions, which will undoubtedly appeal to those looking for fun on the snow at any time of the day, is the new Murmeltier sledding track. The track was built in the Gressoney Valley in Staffal, near the Moos chairlift, inaugurated last season. The trail, equipped with artificial snowmaking and lighting for nighttime use, spans a length of approximately 450 meters, descending from 1,913.10 meters to 1,840.90 meters, with a total elevation difference of 72 meters.

Still in the Gressoney area, the construction of a building in Sant’Anna has been completed. This building will enhance the Sant’Anna Village, a new meeting and entertainment hub complementing the existing baby park and the end of the fun slope.

In Weissmatten, the namesake baby park has been modernized with the installation of a new conveyor belt alongside the existing ones. In the coming months, a structure similar to that of the Sant’Anna Village will be built. Additionally, this area has undergone slope leveling work and the creation of two new tubing lines, as well as an expansion of the snowmaking system.

On the Ayas side, the design of a fun slope park adjacent to the Ostafa 1 slope is underway. This will allow even inexperienced users to try this enjoyable activity before moving on to the more challenging Colle Betta slope.

Regarding the snowmaking systems, significant upgrades and refurbishments were carried out over the summer, including the replacement of cannons and pipes to improve efficiency while reducing energy consumption. These works affected the Ostafa slope in Val d’Ayas, as well as the Sitten and Bedemie areas in the Gressoney Valley.

Finally, in Champorcher, modernization works are ongoing, including the construction of a new artificial reservoir with a capacity of 16,000 m³. This reservoir will optimize water management for snowmaking on the main slopes from Cimetta Rossa to Laris. On these slopes, 79 state-of-the-art snow generators will be installed, enabling the area to be snow-covered within a limited number of production days.

Reorganization of the lift systems has also begun, which includes shortening the Chardonney-Laris gondola line and creating a new arrival station in the same area as the Cimetta Rossa chairlift. This will make the area more functional and complete. The overhaul of the ski area, scheduled to be completed for the 2025/2026 winter season, will also include replacing the Baby Laris ski lift with a conveyor belt.

INVISIBLE WORKS

Every year, in addition to the visible projects that represent the season’s novelties, a series of “invisible” interventions is carried out within the ski areas. These are essential to ensure a safe and high-quality experience for users.

These significant economic efforts are, however, necessary to improve the level of services offered. Among these works are all improvement activities aimed at maintaining the efficiency of the cableway systems, enhancing the artificial snowmaking system, and ensuring the maintenance of slopes, safety systems, and buildings.

THE AOSTA VALLEY HOSTS MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

In addition to the numerous infrastructure developments, the ski resorts of the Aosta Valley will host major international sporting events this winter.

The season kicks off with the Snowboard Cross World Cup in Breuil-Cervinia.
This tourist destination has long been the venue for the Snowboard Cross World Cup, a traditional event held just before Christmas.
The circuit will arrive in Valtournenche during the week of December 10–15, 2024. This year, the FIS has chosen the Aosta Valley resort as the opening venue for the World Cup circuit. The event, featuring around 130 athletes from 15 nations, will take place on slope No. 26, where the first points of the 2024–2025 season will be awarded on December 14.

Next, it will be the turn of Crévacol – Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, where on December 21 and 22, athletes will compete in the Youth Ski Mountaineering World Cup, in both the men’s and women’s sprint events and the mixed relay.

Winter sports enthusiasts can then head to Cogne for the Nordic Skiing World Cup. This Aosta Valley destination, six years after its last event, which featured a memorable double victory by Pellegrino and De Fabiani, will host races in this discipline from Friday, January 31, 2025, to Sunday, February 2, 2025.

In March, it’s time for the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill and Super-G.
On March 14 and 15, 2025, the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup returns to La Thuile with a downhill race and a Super-G on slope No. 3 Franco Berthod, which is known as “the steepest in Italy.” This globally significant event will undoubtedly be the most anticipated moment of the 2024–2025 winter season.

The final major sporting event of the winter will be the traditional Mezzalama Trophy, an international ski mountaineering race for pairs with classic equipment. The race will take place on April 26, 2025, across the Monte Rosa massif, starting from Breuil-Cervinia and finishing in Gressoney-La-Trinité.