WINTER FUN
Sports on ice at the foot of the tower The first stop is Val Venosta. If you had to give a title to this starting point, it might read like this: "Skate on the ice around the bell tower." In fact, the largest expanse of water in South Tyrol is an artificial lake that was dammed in 1950 under the Reschen pass. In order to generate electricity, the villages of Graun and Reschen were sacrificed, disappearing beneath the water. Only the bell tower of Old Graun is still standing and reminds us that once people lived where there are now 120 million cubic meters of water. At 1,500 meters above sea level, ice is often up to 40 cm thick, so even the most sceptical can rest easy. The constant wind blowing in Val Venosta is perfect for kite skiing, a sport that has been practiced on Lake Reschen for many years now. In winter, you can draw circles on the ice on skis or snowboard towed by a kite. In addition, Dutch amateur athletes have a real passion for Lake Reschen. Every year they come back for speed skating races on ice, and Lake Reschen offers the perfect conditions. Due to the vast expanse of ice, competitions can go on for hours. And, speaking of speed skating on ice, while the Lake Reschen amateur athletes pitch their tents nearby, in Collalbo-Renon professionals are on stage. Here is the only 400 meter ice rink in South Tyrol In the winter of 2013 , future Olympic athletes are featured in a double event, the Finals of the Junior World Cup and the Junior World Championships, where the best little athletes on the planet will be crowned. For many years the Ritten Arena is where international competitions of speed skating on ice are held. This is not due to the beauty of the structure, but rather because it is the world's fastest outdoor ring.
Unique: ice sports in the vineyards The next stop on our "Discovery of ice sports in South Tyrol" is the lower Adige, which brings wine to mind more than ice. This is the setting for "skating in the vineyards"
38 路 WELCOME 路 WINTER 2012/13
on the largest natural lake in South Tyrol: the Kalterer. Even if the water does not freeze every year, when it does, the lake offers perfect skating on a large flat surface. Oltradige maintains the most Mediterranean character of South Tyrol, yet sport on ice is hailed with great enthusiasm: ice hockey is the undisputed number one popular sport, with three successful teams: Appiano, Caldaro and Neumarkt, all in the second Italian League. For this reason, it is not surprising that many youths can be found chasing the puck on the ice of Lake Monticolo.
First cousins: ice stick shooting and curling Ice hockey is also played in Renon and there is evidence from the early twenties of the last century. But if you decide to take a detour to the mountains of Bolzano, to the idyllic Lake Fi猫 you can't help but notice the fans of ice stick shooting, dedicated to their hobby for days on end. You will find more of the same in East Tyrol, where on Lake Dobbiaco, a relic of the Ice Age, the shooters with sticks try to get as close as possible to the "pallino" (little ball). The practice of ice stick shooting is geographically limited to the Alps. Curling is very close to ice stick shooting, but the latter uses polished granite stones. In addition, curling is an internationally sanctioned sport and an Olympic discipline. Ice stick shooting still lacks this recognition. On Lake Braies, located in the remote Braies Valley, curling is practiced. The difference is that while professionals require a specially prepared rink, here races are held on natural ice - a trend that has taken hold for a range of winter sports and offer a message of getting back to basics. In South Tyrol, with its varied landscape and its rich resources of lakes and stretches of water, something important would have been missing if the ice element had not been revitalised, because it reflects tradition and links to the modern. What's more, winter fun is enjoyed in this area like no other.