Sport: La Thuile

La Thuile owns a wide area for the practice of snowkite which lies at 2.188 m at the Little-Saint-Bernard pass. The area is definitely ideal for snowkiters, who can surf while being guided by the wind.
It is a funny sport which must be tried: to love it one only needs an* introductory course* which provides basic information about the winds and the equipment needed.

Snowkite: how does it work?

Snowkite can be practiced with a kite. Thanks to the wind traction, the kite flies and hauls the skier, who is able to surf on the snow and have fun with jumps and evolutions. By exploiting the wind’s power one can both ascend and descend slopes and, thus, not use the ski facilities to move.

• Activity suitable for any kind of skier
• Instructors available
• The activity can be practiced with ski, snowboard or telemark equipment

Discover the Espace San Bernardo international ski resort: http://www.lovevda.it/en/sport/downhill-skiing/la-thuile 

Altitude: 3,357 m.
Location: Colle del Rutor, at the beginning of the north-eastern summit ridge of Testa del Rutor
Sleeping places: 6
Open: always open
Difficulty: A (mountaineering equipment)
Trail sign: 3-AV2 until Rifugio Deffeyes, 16 until Rifugio degli Angeli
Ascent:
• from La Thuile (La Joux hamlet 1,607 m) 7h
• from Rifugio Deffeyes (2,500 m) 3h30
• from Valgrisenche (Bonne hamlet 1,664 m) 6h
• from Rifugio degli Angeli (2,916 m) 1h40

The bivouac is dedicated to Edoardo Camardella, a young freerider and ski instructor who died in 2019 overwhelmed by an avalanche on Mont Blanc.
Edo was a young boy who loved sport and dedicated himself with passion to many sporting projects in La Thuile.
In 2013, together with some partners, he founded the Boulder Up & Down.
In 2015 Edo completed one of its first ultratrails, the 60km Liconi Trail. From this great passion, he decided to organize a trail in La Thuile, which since 2016 has been attracting and hosting athletes from all over the world. Edo has always lived off sport, and through his engaging passion, he has inspired many young people to love the mountains.

The bivouac was born thanks to “Progetto CMR”, with the patronage of the Edoardo Camardella Bivouac Foundation and the Municipality of La Thuile.
The design of the project represents two joined blocks (a tribute to the two friends) and the external structure is inspired by the Vedette del Rutor, which act as a reference point during the ascent to the bivouac.
The construction of the bivouac began in summer 2020 and ended in September 2022.
The bivouac is entirely built with eco-sustainable materials and is self-sufficient from an energy point of view.

Access:
• from Rifugio Deffeyes: proceed in the direction of the glacier following the path that runs along the moraine, in some places there are safe ropes and chains. Once you get to the glacier, you cross it in a rope with mountaineering equipment until you reach the bivouac. From the bivouac you can reach the Testa del Rutor (3,486 m).
• from Rifugio degli Angeli: proceed along the trail following many stone cairns until you reach the Morion glacier. Cross the glacier (mountaineering equipment) heading north to the spur that leads to Colle del Rutor, where the bivouac is located. Always inquire about the conditions of the route as stone falls may occur in the climb to the Colle del Rutor.

Equipment: 6 beds with mattresses and mattress covers, solar panels for energy autonomy, underfloor heating and LED lighting, there is also a low voltage USB socket for charging telephones and / or electronic equipment. The property does not have an equipped kitchen. In the bivouac there is a large window that opens onto a spectacular view of Mont Blanc. The bivouac is also equipped with a weather station with a 360 ° webcam.

Outside pitches that can be lighten up for evening matchs.

Open-air and lighted football pitch.

Open-air, lighted and regulation football pitch.

Outdoor sports area with various facilities:

• football pitch
• 5-a-side football pitch
• tennis court
• playground for children
• osteopathic surgery with equipped gym, where various kinds of courses are organised.

Indoor sport area with:

• 5-a-side soccer pitch
• tennis court
• gym
• indoor boulder hall

Helimontblanc Helicopters operated by Starworksky

L’heliski è il sogno di molti, provare un volo in elicottero, raggiungere la cima, scenderla con sci o snowboard adatti ai fuori pista, ammirare paesaggi, per molti difficilmente raggiungibili, sono solo alcune della sensazioni che si possono provare.

I depositi in elicottero sono veramente vari e le discese in fuori pista a La Thuile sono innumerevoli.

Il Rutor è la punta più alta del comprensorio, con i suoi 3.480 m. Sciare sui pendii immacolati alla ricerca della neve migliore, è sicuramente un’esperienza indimenticabile.

L’heliski è un’attività che si svolge in alta montagna e che richiede delle buone condizioni fisiche.
Tutte le discese sono obbligatoriamente assistite da una Guida Alpina. Il livello richiesto è quello di sciatore con buona esperienza, piste rosse o superiore.

Lo zaino airbag, l’ARTVA, pala e la sonda sono attrezzature di sicurezza obbligatorie, così come l’imbragatura su ghiacciaio.

Meteo: in caso di maltempo l’organizzazione sarà costretta all’annullamento dell’attività di heliski.

Elicotteri e piloti: I piloti sono preparati e con notevole esperienza vi accompagneranno nell’avventura, al comando di elicotteri di tipo AS 350 B “Ecureuil”, capacità di trasporto di 4 persone + la guida.

Info e prenotazioni: ogni prenotazione dovrà essere corredata da nome, cognome, indirizzo e una e-mail di recapito di ogni singolo cliente. Si potranno anche effettuare prenotazioni, inviare foto documenti di identità anche con l’applicazione Whattsapp.

• Bosco Express chairlift

Departure: La Thuile (1.441 m)
Arrival: Les Suches (2.088 m)

• Chalet Express chairlift

Departure: Les Suches (2.088 m)
Arrival: Chaz Dura (2.345 m)

Both the chairlifts are open both in summer and in winter.

Winter 2024/2025

• open from 30th November 2024 to 21st April 2025

Les Suches cableway

Departure : La Thuile (1.441 m)
Arrival : Les Suches (2.176 m)

The cableway is open in winter.

Winter 2024/2025

• open from 30th November 2024 to 21st April 2025

Summer opening: July and August

The horse centre is located close to the Planibel residence, the ideal starting point to go trekking in the mountains. The structures (box, paddock, saddle-room, reception, pitch) are situated in an easily reachable area: close to the manège there is a big parking, cafés, restaurants and an equipped pic-nic area.
Activities suitable for everyone, always accompanied by qualified employees:

• hikes and trekking
• pony routes for children
• animation and didactic activities
• approach to riding
• carriage tours
• didactic activities in the stable and photos service

Horse lodging service available.

Spoken languages: Italian, French

Equestrian tour guide: Chantal Ferraris

Summer 2024: from 22nd June to 8th September

For MTB lovers, the large bike park guarantees lots of adrenaline and fun on over 220 km of routes and is served by the Bosco Express chairlift which starts from the town and Chalet Express chairlift in altitude.
The trails in the wild nature have been the scene of national and international competitions such as Enduro World Series, Superenduro, Internazionali d’Italia and Junior Series Cross Country.

The MTB Natural Trail Area of La Thuile is a paradise for those who love mountain biking and extends from 2,600 meters. of altitude of Chaz Dura and goes down for over 1,200 mt. to the center of the village of La Thuile.

Enveloped by a powerful mountain, capable of rebalancing body and mind in a natural way, it offers to beginners and experts opportunities to cycle enjoying a spectacular view of Mont Blanc.

This year, moreover, will be proposed paths and circuits not only to gravity lovers, but also to those who use mountain bikes, on which stretches it’s possible to alternate soft descents alternate with easy climbs, by e-bikes. Do not miss the new international connection with La Rosière, created as part of the Alcotra “4 Nouvelles liaisons” project which can be tackled either entirely by bike, or using the chairlifts on both sides in order to reduce the difference in height, thus making this path accessible to all. For more information: https://www.espacesanbernardo.eu

And for those who are beginners?

The Cycling School, coordinated by instructors of the La Thuile Mountain Bike School,are part of the Italian cycling federation, offers guided tours in the area and lessons for beginners, children and experts to learn and improve MTB technique, in an extremely energetic natural context.

The office is located near the departure of the Bosco Express chairlift
It offers various routes with structures and equipment to develop balance and correct position on the bike, a dual slalom track and a path for the balance bike, the balance bike designed for the little ones

Another novelty is the pump track: a track full of curves and bumps, where you can ride your bike without pedaling, but only moving in the right way with your body and your bike. But that’s not all: it’s in fact a great way to train your skills even on skates, skateboard or scooter. 

• Adrenaline courses
• Touristic trails suitable for everyone
• Paths and special structures for children
• Qualified teachers available
• Pump tracks

Summer 2024

• the chairlifts will be open from 22nd June to 8th September 2024, included.

When the Bosco Express and Chalet Express chair lifts open in the Summer mountain bike enthusiasts can take their bikes to the top and come down on the panoramic plateau along the marked tracks and through the beautiful pin wood overlooking La Thuile.

A large parking is available to customers next to the first chair lift departure station.

There are lots of welcoming bars/restaurants and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

The wid side of the Mont Blanc will wait you for over 14 downhill and freeride tracks (gravity) on the Italian side and may cross country tracks in the international La Thuile – La Rosière area.

Furthermore, from Summer 2023, the offer for two-wheel lovers is completed thanks to a series of tracks and loops for cycle-excursionists, to be tackled with both muscle mountain bikes and e-bikes. Among all, note the new cross-border route that will connect La Thuile with La Rosière also in Summer created as part of the Alcotra “4 Nouvelles liaisons” project, which can be tackled either entirely in the saddle, or using the chairlifts on both slopes in order to reduce the difference in height, thus making this route accessible to all.
For more information: http://www.espacesanbernardo.eu

Before and after the opening period, the viability of the tracks need to be checked at the local information points, remembering that, at the beginning of the summer as in the autumn, some sections may be covered with snow.

Here the rental shops of MTB

Baby snow park for beginners that offer various facilities:

• Free baby park with inflatable games open from 10am to 4.30pm
• 2 30-metre magic carpets for beginners (free)
• 1 100-metre magic carpet for beginners (paying)

The magic carpets are open every day except Wednesday from 10am to 4.30pm according to snow conditions

Indoor boulder point for experts, lovers and beginners with:

• 40 blocs
• 10 circuits with various difficulty levels, starting from the easiest to the most complicated (grey, white, green, blue, yellow, red)
• fitness area to train with weight training, beam, bars, the rings, campus board and inclinable system wall

Ice skating rink for adults and children. 

Do you wish to enjoy a bright day and do some sport while being surrounded by a wonderful and luxuriant nature? This route is for you!
The course is composed by 16 stages that correspond to the same number of exercises. The route starts in piazza Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto, right in the town centre, close to the War Memorial. Some of the stages are inside the park close to the events stage, and some others are at the Preylet picnic area, in the hamlet of Entrèves.
Body exercises, running, gym facilities, knee-bends, press-up… you will surely find your dimension! Some orange panels, which have been especially conceived and are easily visible, will tell you what to do and how many series you will have to do and then… let’s go towards another stage!

• Free of charge activity
• Route suitable both for adults and children
• Open-air activity that can be practiced in spring, summer and autumn

The swimming-pool of the TH La Thuile - Planibel Hotel & Residence Planibel Hotel offers two swimming-pools:

• a pool for adults
• a pool for children

• facility open to everybody
• facility open in summer and in winter
• the use of swimming cap is compulsory
• admission allowed to children under 13 years old only if accompanied by an adult

Outdoor heated swimming-pool in Loc. Les Suches dessous (2.088 m). The swimming-pool is reachable by the Bosco Express chairlift, which is open everyday from 22nd June to 8th September 2024. Chairlift opening times: 9.30am - 5pm.
The swimming-pool can be reached both by car, by driving on the Little Saint Bernard national road for 6 km and then by turning left towards Les Suches, and on foot, starting from the Sapiniera area (close to the camping) and walking through the woods.

• open to everybody
• open in summer only

La Thuile (1,441m) is a small village located in a large basin dominated by the Rutor glacier, on the international road of the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo. Its ski area, called Espace San Bernardo, is one of the largest in the Aosta Valley thanks to the international ski-on-foot connection with the French station of La Rosière, offers 152 km of slopes served by 38 lifts. It is therefore possible to ski on both sides of the Alps, up to reach 2,800 m. of Mont Valaisan, the highest altitude of the area.
The heart of the area can be reached from the town center thanks to a comfortable cable car or the Bosco Express chairlift: all this translates into non-stop and queueless skiing, thanks to the vastness of the area and the reach of its facilities of 62,500 people/ hour. It is a real border ski area that stands among the most articulate and adrenaline of the Alpine areas, boasting a very long ski season and an entourage of pristine peaks. Adrenaline that can not miss if you challenge the legendary track n. 3 Franco Berthod that with its maximum slope of 76% is the steepest in Italy and has already hosted twice the Women’s World Cup. And in 2025, for the third time, the speed queens will return to the slopes of La Thuile: on 14 and 15 March, there will be DH and SG races.

La Thuile is not just for experts: to help families and bring children to the practice of skiing, children up to 8 years ski free, if the ticket is purchased at the same time as a daily paying adult (otherwise the promotional rate of € 14 is applied). Attention from the large area for beginners, with over 13 km of easy slopes and daily ski passes at special prices.
Buying the ski pass online is quick and convenient, with discounted rates depending on the winter season. Find out more: https:///www.lathuile.it/super_ski_area.html

La Thuile also offers outdoor activities in its most alternative forms: from snowkite to surf on the snow, to freeride to follow the call of 'powder' and energy from Mont Valaisan, from the exciting heliski to experience the mountains in total freedom and in all its power, to ski mountaineering with trails for experts and beginners.

Espace San Bernardo international Ski Resort (La Thuile + La Rosière):
80 slopes: 33 easy - 34 medium - 13 difficult
1 cableway - 21 chairlifts - 11 skilifts - 5 magic carpets

La Thuile Ski Resort:
41 slopes: 12 easy - 20 medium - 9 difficult
1 cableway - 11 chairlifts - 2 skilifts - 4 magic carpets

Winter 2024/2025

• from 30th November 2024 to 21st  April 2025

La Thuile offers a range of loops of varying difficulty, with something to suit all cross-country skiers, from beginners through to experts. The runs are located in Arly, on the way out of La Thuile on the road to the San Carlo Pass.

• In Arly:
  1 km loop - easy
  3 km loop - easy
  7 km loop - medium

Free slopes.

Consult the snow report to find out which cross-country trails are open.

La Rosière
On the French side of La Rosière the snowpark is located close to the La Poletta ski lift and equipped with hip, fun box, rails, handrails and big air.
Close to the Du Fort chairlift is the boardercross area while next to the Sévolière ski lift and the Roches Noires Express chairlift is the snowcross Espace Freeride trail Des Zittieux where you can freeride in perfect safely.

Indoor tennis court.

Four synthetic outdoor tennis courts (two with ligths), in front of the TH La Thuile - Planibel Hotel & Residence in the hamlet of Entrèves.
The Accademia del Tennis organizes:

• intensive and semi-intensive courses both for children and adults during July and August with 3 hours of sport activity (tennis, volleyball, 5-a-side soccer and swimming) and one hour of athletic preparation every day
• tennis tournaments for all levels

Outdoor synthetic tennis court.

Outdoor table tennis close to the pic-nic area.

An open air archery pitch.