Passo Tonale: 2025 Inspection Visit - Day Two

Day two of our Passo Tonale ski inspection visit began with yet another superb breakfast in the Piandeneve hotel restaurant. Afterwards, guests headed off in all directions to make the most of the final day on the slopes, enjoying both skiing and snowboarding as the sun shone over the perfectly groomed pistes.

The eastern valley proved especially popular, with many groups riding the Occidentale and Contrabbandiere lifts to enjoy long red runs boasting some of the best snow in the resort. Others made their way down to Ponti di Legno through the tree-lined slopes, while some were drawn to the glacier, taking in the spectacular views from the top of the resort at 3,000 metres.

Many met up at the Nigritella restaurant for lunch, where they were treated to one of the finest mountain views imaginable, while others sought out the best pasta dishes at Malga Valbiolo. With the sun shining, it was the perfect opportunity to sit back, recharge, and soak up the stunning alpine scenery.

Determined to make the most of every moment on the slopes, the groups went full throttle throughout the afternoon, making full use of the resort’s impressive lift system — including the heated “Ferrari” chairlift — before finally returning their skis and enjoying a well-deserved après-ski drink at one of the many venues at the base of the lifts.

Just before heading in for the impressive buffet dinner, the group gathered in the cosy American Bar downstairs for an end-of-tour meeting. Dave congratulated everyone on their efforts and achievements and thanked them for their wonderful company. It had been a remarkable visit, and the following awards were presented to celebrate the fantastic experiences of the past few days:

Ryan was presented with the “Daredevil Award” for fearlessly tackling the toughest runs on the glacier on his very first day on real snow. Despite having only a few visits to the Manchester Snow Centre under his belt, he amazed everyone by flying down red runs — and even a black — on just his second day of skiing. Needless to say, he’s now completely hooked!

Charli was presented with the “Cultural Award” for fully immersing herself in everything Tonale had to offer off the slopes. It was a well-deserved recognition of her total commitment and boundless energy.

Cameron, one of the group’s most skilled skiers, received the “Ski Equipment Award.” In just two days on the slopes, he visited the ski shop no fewer than five times to swap boots and skis, determined to find the perfect setup for his technique. A true perfectionist — and great fun off the slopes too.

The final award went to Alastair, who was named “Top Tourist” for throwing himself into literally everything — from dancing with the hotel staff to singing at every opportunity — while also smashing the slopes, including being the first down the glacier top-to-bottom race.

All of this was achieved with just a small rucksack and an enormous amount of enthusiasm.

And finally, to finish off a truly awesome day, we were delighted to celebrate James’ birthday with him and Jane the resort mascot.