In line for the chairlift you might catch their eye. Some might appear pensive, others - perhaps more expansive - respond with a smile or even a joke. However all are focused, and ready to guarantee each and every skier’s safety and the impeccable maintenance of the slopes, whilst providing assistance to anyone in need. The ski lift operative is an ever-present that has often aroused a certain ambivalence. A combination of admiration and solidarity perhaps? The most fantastic job in the world in many people’s eyes. Out in the open, bronzed by the sun with little to consider other than the safety and supervision of the comers and goers piste-bound. But it’s surely a perspective which changes dramatically in times of bad weather when the temperatures are sub-zero and a raging storm lashes your face with snow and ice.

Fancy taking on their role, under those conditions?

Nevertheless, it’s almost impossible not to acknowledge him as one prepares to climb aboard the chairlift heading for the piste. The presence of the “impiantista” figure radiates a rather special charisma, particularly if he’s a hardy perennial - the type who spends season after season at the very same spot. Stretch the imagination just a little and you begin to identify the transport system with its “guardian”, a single entity almost in terms of physiognomy, character and personality. A mere observation, of course, but one we thought we’d like to try to investigate by incorporating some of the legendary operatives within the Madesimo skiarea.

Biker, 58 years old, 40 of which have been spent as a ski lift operative. A legend almost. Nowadays he’s responsible for maintaining the quality of the slopes themselves. Over the years his personal “patch” has been that of Lago Azzurro. Among the most appreciated within the skiarea.

Pista Lago Azzurro, difficulty BLUE, accessed by the Lago Azzurro 4-seater chairlift, leaving from 1.545m, and reaching 1.957m. A distance of 2,5 km in all taking in woodland much-loved by poet Giosuè Carducci, a combination of gentle plateaux with some interesting technical variants on the way down.

 

Technician. He spends much of the season at the arrival point of the Groppera cable car at almost 3000m. 53 years old, he’s spent 30 of them serving the slopes. His passion? Valle di Lei. Immaculate, spectacular snows. Perfect, even at the end of the season, breathtaking panorama. Sheer poetry.

Pista Caurga, difficulty RED, accessed by the Valle di Lei chairlift. With a length of 1,660m and a height differential of 440m, the arrival point touches down at 2,878m. The attraction? Speed. Incredibly fast downhill stuff, improvising your own tight curves all the way.

 

Senior Manager of the ski slopes since 2017 with responsibilities for safety and Rescue. 38 years old, he travels the length and breadth of the slopes on a daily basis in order to provide help for anyone in difficulty. Out on the piste all day might seem idyllic however it still remains hard to find time to ski just for pleasure!

Pista Italo Pedroncelli. Slopes favoured by champions and accessed by the Montalto chairlift, it’s where racing takes place in Madesimo. A kilometre and 100 metres in length it involves a height differential of 351 metres, ending up right back at the village itself. Features?

Steep slope variations which really encourage pacy runs.

 

Started his “occupation” of the slopes way back in 1997. Today at the age of 57 he’s still concerned with the running of the Sky Express. Hence every day he’s involved with the transportation of vast numbers of skiers from Campodolcino to Motta through the underground funicular railway.

Pista Piani, difficulty RED, accessed by the 6-seater Motta chairlift.

The piste is around 700m in length, with a gentle introduction and an exhilarating final plunge towards Motta. Height differential around 200m, ending up at 1.914m.

Don’t be taken in by the curmudgeonly look! Graziano employs all his meticulousness and attention to ensure that skiers have all the necessary security whilst accessing the skiarea’s safe and efficient transport systems. Maybe it’s for this reason that the piste that comes most readily to mind is the East: biting when the wind blows, but irresistible when kissed by the sun.

Colmenetta Est. Difficulty Red, measuring just under a kilometre, with a height difference of 190 metres and reaching 2,143m. One of those piste which you either love or hate. But it’s impossible not to be swept away whilst making those tight turns on the borders of the freshest of snows.

 

In Val di Lei and observing the scenario before him, with the dam in the background and Pizzo Stella across the way, it’s immediately clear to him how the day will unfold: the promise of snow, sun or wind. At 3000 metres, after so very many seasons spent up there, he’s learned to read the environment like a palm-reader observing a client’s hand.

Valsecchi. Difficulty Red. It’s a run for everyone. To measure yourself against it you must get to know all; hump after hump, section after section, flank after flank. You must be able to read the variants imposed by cold or sunshine.