It’s nearly over: on Sunday, March 27th, the Altopiano del Sole ski area will say goodbye to the winter season for good and get ready for summer.

After last year’s closure to the public due to the pandemic, the turnstiles at Borno Ski Area began “turning” again to welcome the many snow sport enthusiastic visitors, despite the fact that the weather was anything but wintry.

In this new interview, we talk about the season with Borno Ski Area managing director Demis Zendra, to get a first look at the progress of these past months and turn our attention to the resort’s plans for the future.

INTERVIEW WITH DEMIS ZENDRA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BORNO SKI AREA

How was last winter for the Borno Ski Area team?

This season has been very positive in terms of attendance and feedback from people, but negative and difficult in terms of snowfall.

Despite the lack of natural snow, we managed to open the whole ski area with artificial snow, with the first openings as early as December 4th.

This was a satisfactory result, achieved also thanks to investment in the snowmaking system, which allowed us to intervene more effectively and in a shorter time on making snow for the slopes.

Expectations of snow conditions like last year’s were disappointed: how do you plan to respond to the future challenges that climate change will face us with?

This last winter had little snow, but tended to be cold, while the previous season the snow was abundant, which is why it is difficult to predict future developments.

The new snowmaking system, however, is intended to be only the first step in the process of modernizing the ski area, which, thanks to developments in new technologies, will have the ability to “shoot snow” even at temperatures closer to zero, hence getting the best results at all temperatures.

At the same time, we are working on a new water storage basin, which will allow us to snow all the slopes in one step.

We have been hearing a lot lately about the Borno Ski Area “dream,” the project to build a new gondola and renovate the mountain lodge at the top of Mount Altissimo. At what point are we in the process?

At the moment we are working to be absolutely certain that this work will be carried out, so that we can alter the current conditions of use of the mountain area and make it truly accessible to everyone.

Among the projects in the pipeline is the desire to create a refuge equipped with new facilities dedicated not only to those who love skiing on the Altopiano del Sole, but also to all those who, thanks to a more modern and faster ski lift, will be able to reach the summit all year round.

One season is closing and another is already around the corner: what are Borno Ski Area’s plans for next summer?

In anticipation of the arrival of the warmer season, we will continue to implement the services already present of Downhill and to create a bike park increasingly responsive to the needs of fans of this sport. We are working to increasingly deseasonalize the area and offer residents and visitors a wide range of activities that can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

A Downhill race is currently scheduled for the second weekend in July, valid for the Italian Cup.

Apart from the strictly “biker” world, we want to organize a calendar of events dedicated to everyone, which also takes advantage of the connection with the town created by the new bike path, thanks to which it is now possible to reach Borno Ski Area in a convenient and pleasant way.

The presence of the Barissimo at the beginning of the lifts is a plus, to provide days of entertainment, music and fun for the whole family, and there will also be a series of events dedicated to the discovery of the mountain and the enhancement of the trails to reach Mount Altissimo.

On Sunday, March 27th, the last day on the snow is scheduled with free ski passes and music to celebrate the closing of the season together.

An opportunity to thank all those who have visited Borno Ski Area and whose passion helps to make the Altopiano del Sole ski area an even more beautiful place.

A goodbye to the winter atmosphere and a welcome of the Altopiano del Sole to the warmer months when you can visit the attractions of the mountain in a new light.