Sauze d’Oulx holiday 2023

Reporter: Leo Kroll

We were very lucky to get a cancellation spot on the Sauze d’Oulx holiday, our first trip with SCoM, and our first trip to Sauze.

We did not know what to expect having not been on a group ski holiday before, but we did not need to worry. Everyone was very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. The Sauze Hotel was good value for money, and the room, although snug was good for us, although some other people had problems with the plumbing. Lovely breakfast and buffet every day, but main courses and pudding were interesting especially for veggies like us.

After 60cm of snow we were set for the week, and even when it was snowing, the visibility was not too bad. We skied with a variety of people, including on our own. Unfortunately, there were some injuries during the week, and the links to the full ski area did not open up until day four because of the amount of snow and avalanche risk.

Jen supported and encouraged a regular group of ladies (and a few men) and everyone’s confidence seemed to improve by the end of the week. We even tackled the black run home from Sestriere and Sansicario.

We felt the club was very inclusive and people seemed to find the right group of skiers for themselves, including solo skiing. Likewise, the après ski was inclusive and relaxed, by all accounts.

Highlights were ski-touring trip for Leo on the Friday and some powder skiing for Hilary, and the group, on a recently opened red run (thanks to Sarah). We called it the “naughty red”. Lowlights were injuries, and inevitable early starts. We hope to go on another trip next year, and appreciate everyone (especially committee members) for their friendship and making the holiday run smoothly.

Ski touring in Sauze d’Oulx

David and Paul and Leo started out on some snowmobile tracks next to the main lift at 7.45am on the last day of the holiday for an “easy” skinning morning up the cafe. It was a calm and quiet morning in the woods and we met one other ski-tourer half way up making for the ridgeline. We kept to the tracks until close to the café, when we started into the deeper powder before our break.

After hot chocolate and pastries we went for some kick turn practice and powder tracking in the woods under the closed lift. Leo snaked a route through the woods and we practiced kick turns, Leo learning a new version from David (thank you).

With half an hour to go, we unexpectedly found ourselves near the Col Bourget and had to complete, even though it meant being late for lunch by a quarter of an hour.

We saw all the off-piste leading down to Sestriere, and a lot of skin tracks along the ridge. We then transitioned to ski-mode and after a short bit of off-piste skiing, we headed down the piste back to the café.

It was a good morning of skinning {about 800m of ascent} in beautiful and peaceful woods, and with enough deep powder skinning to keep us honest, and take stock of ourselves. Looking forward to further touring opportunities…