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| 29 Apr 2008 16:04:14 |
| Jim Whalen NULL |
| Marcialonga |
Has anyone skied the Marcialonga in Italy? I am looking for a recommendation on where to stay. Thanks. |
| 06 May 2008 14:15:05 |
| Re: Marcialonga |
On Apr 29, 6:04=A0pm, Jim Whalen NULL <xcskier2...@yahoo.com > wrote: > Has anyone skied the Marcialonga in Italy? =A0I am looking for a > recommendation on where to stay. > Thanks. Lucky you, the Italians know how to throw a great party/ski race. I believe they pioneered a type of rolling start the last few years to avoid bottlenecks. We were last there three years ago and had a great time. If you are a coffee fan make sure you take the shot of expresso that is offered at 67K just before a very serious climb to the finish. Big crowds and lots of hoopla along the way and at the finish, this is a very fun race The lodging/tourist group in the Val de Flemme is at www.valdifiemme.info They were very helpful. We stayed in Carona which was about a 15 minute walk from the finish. The bus to the start picked us up about 100 meters down the road. Our Hotel was "Beauty and Vital Hotel Maria". Exceptional food, nice wax room out back, a little happy hour with great snacks around 4 pm. In the basement they have a stunning Spa area with two different saunas, steam rooms, an icy cold shower right from the sauna and a very cold small pool to stand in to rejuvenate your legs. Had a little culture shock the first day when I went down to the sauna wearing running shorts and the very attractive 21 yr old attendant looked at me, shook her finger and said " no boxers". Yep, the Spa area is Au Natural. If your schedule will allow it the Thursday before there is a sweet 21K classic race, THE LAVAZELOPPET that is up in the mountains not far from the Marcialonga finish. This race also can count as a short Worldloppet race towards the Silver Masters designation. Nice rolling course with one forever climb and some of the best vistas I have experienced in a lifetime of ski racing. Plenty of time to recover in the Spa before Sundays big race. John O'Connell Saint Paul, MN USA |