4 The wide open resort: Val Gardena (South Tyrol region)

This is one vast area.

Wide rolling runs are interspersed with the odd steep and linked by gentle off-piste. Or you could get into the vicious couloirs slashing down past the world-famous walls of pink rock that tower above the sweeping great blues. These are conveniently placed next to restaurants reachable by road, so non-skiers in the group can admire your staggering ability. We use that phrase advisedly – with eating featuring German portions, Italian quality and Austrian value, it can be hard to get going again after a jolly four-hour feast.

If you’re based in Selva Gardena or S. Cristina, heading up to the Ciampinio station gets you into a decent string of reds with some long returns to town. You can head over to the Piz Seteur for all those wide blues and to set you on the way around the 17-mile Sella Ronda. Keeping the Sella on your left, you’ll glide past temples of the extreme and cute villages in equal number. Skiing off the Col Rodela – a 10-minute drive from Selva or an hour around the Sella Ronda – gives a reasonable spread of localised red and blue action. There’s a rack of short learner blues just above Selva Gardena. If you’re down the valley in Ortisei, there’s a bunch of runs for all sorts heading straight out of town.

• www.valgardena.it