Cervinia
Mountain stats
Lift count :
2 x Cable-cars
2 x Gondolas
10 x Chairlifts
6 x Drag-lifts
75miles (120km) of pistes
Pass (Low/High Season) : £28.62-30.25 Day, £127.55-158.61 Week
Cervinia is set under the 4478 meters that is the Matterhorn. Truly one of the world's most beautiful mountains, almost always in view whether your shredding the slopes in Cervinia or adjoining Zermatt.
The town has a pleasant feel with a few poseurs mincing up and down the main street - nothing too bad, though. The resort is placed near the top of the Aosta Valley, and you can cross over the Swiss border into lift linked über expensive Zermatt. If you want to board this exclusive resort without the cost, then Cervinia's for you. One thing which is a real pain is the first run into Zermatt from Cervinia. It's flat, full of skiers poling along trying to take each others eyes out, and if the cable-cars closed the only way back is via two long t-bar draglifts. You can access Zermatts glacier in the summer months from here as well.
Cervinia
Photo: Steve, WSG
The 150km of pistes here are nice, and wide open motorway, but pretty bland after a while and there's a few flat bits to watch out for. The top to bottom runs are proper leg burners and the lift system keeps things moving pretty well. Hop over to Zermatt and you'll find another 200km of slopes, and some more advanced terrain.
The IndianPark is not huge but they do a nice job keeping it in top shape, but you must wear a helmet or they won't let you in.