PILA

PILASKI.CO.UK

Little-known Pila in the Aosta Valley is a fabulous ski holiday choice.

The 75km of slopes for all abilities climb to a snow-sure 2,700m, where there are spectacular views out across the Alps reaching Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. There’s 90% slopeside accommodation, a lively après-ski scene at weekends, a cable car down to the city of Aosta below with its Roman remains, and it’s all a short transfer from Turin.

Pilaski is run by BASI-qualified instructor and fluent Italian speaker Carole, who takes ski guiding groups out most mornings to help her guests make the most of their holidays. Pilaski offers holidays to all, from individuals, families or groups, with a choice of packaged or affordable ski holidays tailor-made to your requirements. Either way, clients are very well looked after with 80% returning each season.

“With Pilaski you will get a personalised experience. I spend time with my clients, not just at the end of a phone. No call centres, no speaking to someone that does not know the resort, and if by any chance I don’t know the answer, I will find out!” says Carole.

Escape. Find your pace.

Put life on hold, and take the time to just be. Whether it's a rush of adrenaline, or the art of pampering, immerse yourself in the lifestyle, sport and cuisine of Italy's natural gateway.

Imagine if, after all those years of ski lessons, trying to improve, never quite getting beyond that “intermediate plateau”, it was never really down to our skills progression on the slopes – it was all down to our ski boots?

The problem for most of us is that we start skiing with low-quality rental gear. We perhaps ski a week or two each winter, maybe trying and buying a pair of boots we feel fairly comfortable in, and we never really get the boot that’s right for us – we just make do. There are, after all, enough things to buy in our lives without wanting to splash out on some boots we only wear one week a year. The thing is that getting your boots right can make a phenomenal difference to your skiing. Probably a lot more than a good week in ski school. There have also been huge advances in just the last five or ten years which massively increase comfort as well as functionality.

“In ski boot design, everything starts with the foot because even minor foot problems can ruin a ski day,” says Paul-Eric Chamay, Salomon’s Product Line Manager for Alpine ski boots, adding, “The foot is also the key to steering the ski on the slope, so it must be well-fitted to the boot and lead the movement to the ski. As podiatrists will