Sella Ronda Circuit on a Friday?

dellaga wrote:The view of the mountains is quite spectacular. (Photo1)

That is a fantastic photo dellaga, many thanks for posting. Would love to have a copy of the original to go on my desktop background rotation.

Thank you Dellaga - really useful info and lovely photos too! Really good of you, thanks! :D

Hi Alpine Flower

I'm afraid I have a less favourable view of the Sella Ronda circuit than others who have replied. This is only my personal opinion of course, but I felt it worth sharing. I have skied in the Dolomites numerous times over the years, and I actually now make a point of avoiding doing the Sella Ronda circuit. It has always been very busy no matter what time of the season (early, late and out of school holidays), and this is made worse by the fact that most people seem to think that it's a race to do it as quickly as possible. This means that many people ski recklessly and without consideration for other less confident skiers. To me, it just seems like a cattle market, with lots of herding around waiting for gondolas and chairlifts. The tops of pistes get very chopped up even by mid-day, and I don't believe that it is possible (though I'm happy to be corrected) that the circuit can be done only on green & blue pistes. I was told by a local that at least one of the the red runs on the circuit is is actually a black, but is classed as a red simply in order to attract tourists. I am a confident intermediate skier, and confess that I find several of the runs (again particularly at the top) quite challenging, especially given the amount of traffic. I'm off to the Dolomites again in March (it is one of my favourite places to ski), but will avoid the circuit as there are much more pleasant days out in my opinion.

mark01walker wrote:I was told by a local that at least one of the the red runs on the circuit is is actually a black, but is classed as a red simply in order to attract tourists. I am a confident intermediate skier, and confess that I find several of the runs (again particularly at the top) quite challenging, especially given the amount of traffic. I'm off to the Dolomites again in March (it is one of my favourite places to ski), but will avoid the circuit as there are much more pleasant days out in my opinion.

Mark
I wouldn't disagree with your general assessment but there is definitely a sense of achievement to be got from completing the circuit, as well as the sense of having gone on a tour instead of the usual up/down sequence that we follow in most ski resorts. The SR in my view is best regarded as a highway to get you to another part of this fantastic ski domain.

I am guessing that the local commenting about the red that is really is a black is probably referring to the top section of the run at Portavescovo. The top section is quite steep and really quite tricky with lots of people struggling on it. If you read Faye-c's recent report on Arabba you will see that a new lift now enables people to bypass this section which will be a welcome relief for many skiers :wink:

cocchgi wrote:I have done the Sella Ronda several times in the last 40 years in both directions and 1.5 hours looks unlikely, unless perhaps you are a local athlete and the only skier on the slopes, with perfect snow and weather conditions.

I did the Sella Ronda in 1.5 hours, in 2002.

There were far fewer skiers on the slopes than there are now, so fewer hindrances, and small lift queues.

As far as being an athlete, (which I was), I had the year before just broken, for the second time, the Niederau day run record.
This record was first set in 1948 by Austrian international, Toni Seelos. He started a ski school in Niederau for Austrian racers.
Over the years, the record was broken several times, including, by myself in 1973 and 2001. My 2001 record was beaten by the now head instructor. I was the only person to hold the record twice, in it's 69 year old history.

All this stuff is just to respond the the skepticism.

This year marks 50 years of skiing for me ~ I don't think I will be breaking any more records!

I did the Sella Ronda on the 20th Jan ( as well as the rest of the week) ...absolutely no problem and not that busy apart from the run from the top of Ciampinoi above Selva . A great area I want to go back to...