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The Place - Abetone, Italy As you travel further South through Italy, almost to Florence, at the end of March, it is hard to believe that you will find a ski area that has snow! Abetone has never yet failed to deliver good conditions for racing, however! Set in the Tuscan hills, it is a beautiful ski area with plenty of lifts, and good race pistes. The town itself is small with a single main street lined with shops selling all varieties of olive oil and all shapes of pasta (as well as assorted Pinocchios of just about every size imaginable!). The Team is always very well entertained her, and there are Opening and Closing Parades through the village as well as a party and firework display. We are thoroughly spoiled at the Sportalm Hotel where we are treated to home-made pasta at every meal. The Team Managers travel to Collodi (Pinocchio's village) where the flame is lit. It is then carried to Abetone by teams of athletes, and then a top Italian skier (Deborah Compagnoni one year, even Tomba the Bomba!) lights the 'Olympic' tower in the town square where it stays alight through the duration of the competition. The Team that went out in 2001 got quite a shock. At the last moment (less than 24 hours before they left) the race venue was changed because of difficult snow conditions. This was not a small change - the races were shifted some 250 miles further north to the Dolomite region, to a place called Pecol di Zoldo. They were excellent races, with the usual friendly atmosphere that the Ski Club of Abetone always generates. Move to The Race or Abetone 2008 |
