Vintage Party

There's an unwritten rule in Alta Badia, the winter season isn't truly over until the Ski Carousel Vintage Party takes place. It's been like this for years—long enough to make it seem like it's always been there. Yet at first, it was just a slightly crazy idea: “Why not do with skis what Gaiole in Chianti already does with the Eroica on bikes?”

And after all, what better place to do it? It was right here in 1946 that the Col Alt, Italy's first chairlift was installed, and in the same year, the Ladinia Ski Club was founded. Alta Badia is a land of snow pioneers: celebrating skiing in a retro style is almost a duty, as well as a pleasure.

Old skis with worn edges, boots that are stiffened and faded with time, tracksuits in impossible colours, oversized sunglasses worthy of a 1980s cult film reflecting the white snow and a touch of nostalgia.

The concept is as simple as it is appealing: skiing together, not taking oneself too seriously, and celebrating an era that never really goes out of style. Between one run and the next, some sport diamond-patterned tricot sweaters, others wear fluorescent slalom racing outfits, others a wool hat passed down from generation to generation. In the days leading up to the event, family cellars and attics are emptied, parents' old trunks are rummaged through, and the warehouses and storerooms of old sports shops are opened in search of forgotten treasures. Geometric-print windbreakers, corduroy ski slacks, shiny nylon ski-suits with colour-block inserts, huge mirrored sunglasses, and time-worn leather gloves all make an appearance.

Today, the Vintage Party involves both the local community and tourists, bringing together different generations on the slopes and in the village, united by the desire to share two days of light-hearted fun. Its story is one of simplicity and initiative: originally an idea that started as a bit of fun, it expanded year after year thanks to the enthusiasm of those who took part, the commitment of those who worked behind the scenes, and the creativity of those who can't wait to show off the most bizarre outfit.

Saturday Morning – Warming Up

Saturday morning is for real connoisseurs and the more daring: a few, but easily recognizable, who can’t wait until Sunday to show off their garish ski-suits and vintage accessories. These flamboyant figures stand out against the white snow, ready to kick off the party a day early and watched with curiosity (and perhaps even a hint of admiration) by the more mundanely dressed skiers they meet along the slopes. The atmosphere is relaxed: groups meet calmly, exchanging smiles and comments on each other's outfits.

The festive atmosphere is already in the air in the mountain huts: tables set in the sun, clinking glasses, cool, multi-coloured drinks, food reminiscent of the mountains and vintage playlists that take everyone back in time. The air is filled with the lightness of Spring just around the corner and the desire to enjoy the winter season to the last moment.

Saturday Night – The Square Lights Up

With the sun setting behind the Dolomites and the peaks turning pink in the “enrosadira”, the heart of the celebration moves to the village. The village of La Villa closes the main street to traffic and transforms it into an open-air lounge with warm lights, local bar counters, live music and steaming dishes. Here, vintage becomes even more creative: not just skiwear, but also elegant outfits from days gone by. Sheepskin coats with fur collars, 1970s-style wool suits, oversized diva-style sunglasses, carefully knotted silk scarves, double-breasted velvet jackets, and wedge-heeled ankle boots. The active participation by the village community makes everything even more authentic: residents and guests gather side by side, toasting, dancing and chatting like old friends. It's an evening that brings the spirit of the Vintage Party to the square, even for those who enjoy the mountains without skiing, transforming the town centre into a stage where only music, company and the desire to celebrate matter.

Sunday – the Grand Finale

Sunday is the high point of the Vintage Party, the moment in which all the energy is concentrated on the slopes. From the early morning, the “vintage triangle” between the I Tablá, La Para, and Bioch huts comes to life, but the party also spreads to other stops such as the Piz Boé Alpine Lounge, Ütia Crëp de Munt, Ütia La Tambra and the historic Club Moritzino, all united by a combination of music, toasts and vintage clothing. The skiers, now all in full retro style, move almost in procession: 1980s windbreakers intermingle with Norwegian sweaters, corduroy trousers next to shiny pastel-coloured ski-suits, a slightly unsteady gait due to the long vintage skis and the wax that, in some cases, seems a distant memory.

We start with an aperitif in the sun, then as a group we head to the next refuge, a short break to exchange opinions on outfits and ask where the most unusual pieces come from, and then we head back down, in an improvised choreography. At Para, the pace picks up: a DJ set transforms the terrace into a dance floor on the snow, with vinyl records and evergreen hits reverberating among the peaks. On the slope opposite, served by a 1979 ski lift, “Les gobes dl giat” takes place, a ski race for the bravest. Yet here it's not the stopwatch that counts, but the most spectacular outfit, including metallic down jackets, fluorescent ski-suits, and unlikely hats. Along the descent, a stall with a wheel of fortune awards prizes that have nothing to do with cups or medals; every stop is an opportunity to laugh and toast. Upon arrival, a jury crowns the winner, rewarding creativity and spirit rather than the descent time.

From there, we reach Markus at the Bioch Refuge, the last stop at altitude and a meeting point for those who don't give up when the party ends. The atmosphere here is electric: the terrace is packed with people dancing as the last rays of Winter fall, the view of the sunset behind the Dolomites, and the sky glowing pink and orange. They stay right until the last minute of sunshine, almost as if they don’t want the season to end. Then the long descent along run 8 begins, from Bioch to Boé: a long white snake that leads back to the village, amidst laughter, greetings and that unique “end of the party” feeling. There is a hint of melancholy at the season coming to a close, but above all there is the satisfaction of having lived it to the fullest.

And in Corvara, the die-hards continue to dance in the pine forest, ski boots on and chatting while the echo of music fades away in the first spring breeze.

The next day, traces of the party can be found throughout the valley: a pair of skis leaning against a wall, a snowshoe abandoned outside a mountain hut, a windbreaker forgotten on a bench. Small relics that tell the story of the night just passed and the energy of a ritual that never truly ends. This is how the Vintage Party ends: with a collective hug, a final smile, and the promise to meet again next year, once again, to close the season in style.