Ski Sauze d oulx

Catering for the budget end of the ski market, but with a large ski area

Sauze d oulx (pronounced sow-zee-doo) has long been associated with the lower end of the skiing clientele. Lager louts and other less agreeable life forms spent the 70s and 80s looking for somewhere to get drunk in the vague proximity of snow. Thankfully this reputation is fading and a lot more discerning Italians are coming to stay, but the big tour operators are still in residence doling out budget ski packages.

People have been skiing here for over 100 years thanks to a certain Adolfo Kind who taught the first visitors to ski with two planks of wood strapped on their feet in the 1890s.

During the 2006 Winter Olympics Sauze d'Oulx hosted the Freestyle Ski contests, indeed this was the stomping ground of 1976 gold medallist Piero Gros.

The heart of the village is still very enchanting but unfortunately the rapid development surrounding it leaves a lot to be desired. It sits at 1350 metres above sea level encircled by a larch forest.

Large Ski Area

The Milky Way region is one of the biggest in Europe to ski, with a whopping 486km of piste! Regrettably quantity doesnt always mean quality and you will find the snow conditions pretty average. Expert skiers have to go a long way to find the more demanding terrain and the beginner runs are very limited. However this really is an intermediates paradise.

Located in North West Italy and straddling the border into France, the Milky Way links up Sauze, Sansicarrio, Borgato, Sestrieres, Claviere with Montgenevre in France being at the furthest end. The highest peak is at 2840m and although queues are rare, the lift system is a little antiquated with too many drag lifts, one of which takes 18 minutes. Boarders may want to check their piste map and avoid that little beauty!

Aside from the buttons, this is a popular resort for snowboarding holidays. You will love the wide motorway pistes, the off-piste and cheap aprs-ski.

Experts should make for Borgato and Sestrieres for some testing black runs and Sauze DOulx itself has a great knot of reds where you can nip in and out through the trees onto various routes. Beginner skiers are not well catered for at all, youd be much better off in resorts such as Alpe DHuez, La Plagne and Tignes for well linked blues and greens.

The transfer of 110 km from Turin is a big plus and the outstanding yet inexpensive restsurants and bars will always ensure this resort stays popular, especially with the young crowd. If you need alternative amusement Sauze D Oulx offers a well equipped sports centre, pool and sauna, a bowling alley and an ice rink.