Winter in Bielmonte and Oasi Zegna

Nature, sport and fun for everyone.

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All up and running for the 2024/2025 winter season, with a big novelty: the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) has granted Bielmonte the prestige status of a training venue for the nation’s ski squads following an agreement between the FISI and Oasi Zegna Ski Racing Center. Other new developments include Bielmonte’s new Ski Rental, special ski-pass promotions for families, the free-of-charge Biella/Bielmonte shuttle service and the re-opening of the fully renovated Chalet Massaro. The ski-lifts are officially open from Saturday 21 December. For information and details on opening hours, you can consult the relevant page. It will be possible to ski in Bielmonte on Christmas Day too. For information, opening times and prices, visit icemont@icemont.it, while oasizegna.com provides webcam views and the situation on the roads and slopes.

Oasi Zegna’s ski resort, Bielmonte, is an ideal destination for winter sports lovers and anyone wishing to spend some moments of wellbeing at a certain altitude. In its spectacular location in the Biellese Prealps a short drive from Milan and Turin, it offers a unique panorama and services and fun for tourists of all ages and levels of sporting experience.
Bielmonte is a byword for alpine skiing in particular but also cross-country skiing, snowshoe hiking, mountain biking in the snow, mountain watching and special wellness hikes, not to mention traditional food&wine prepared by the local inns, farmstays and charm hotels. Bielmonte has two ski schools (Scuola Sci Bielmonte Oasi Zegna and Scuola Sci Monte Marca Bielmonte) offering over 50 instructors for adults and kids, for learning (or improving) ski techniques.

OASI ZEGNA SKI RACING CENTER AND FISI - FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA SPORT INVERNALI

The Oasi Zegna Ski Racing Center in Bielmonte is an innovative ski center developed during the 23/24 season. Oasi Zegna and the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) recently entered an agreement whereby Bielmonte’s facilities have been recognized as an official training venue for the FISI’s national squads, thus putting Bielmonte in the company of other prestigious Italian ski resorts. The agreement consolidates Bielmonte as a major destination for competitive skiing too. After the success of its first winter season, which saw the presence of numerous international level professionals, national teams and ski clubs, Oasi Zegna Ski Racing Center is continuing to extend its high quality and personalized sports and hospitality offering. During the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 racing seasons, the Italian national alpine skiing squads (World Cup, Europa Cup and Junior Group) will be training in Bielmonte.

FREE BIELLA-BIELMONTE SHUTTLE SERVICE AND WINTER PROMOTIONS
Thanks to Consorzio Turistico Alpi Biellesi and in response high demand, an initiative designed to reduce the use of private vehicles and guarantee a tourist service linking the mountains to nearby cities has now been re-introduced. The connection between Biella (also reachable by rail) and Bielmonte will operate on 26 and 28 December and thereafter every Saturday in January and February. The bus leaves from Biella Railway Station at 8:45. There are ATAP bus stops at Cossato (railway station), Valle Mosso (bus station in P.zza Alpini), Valdilana (Centro Zegna) and Bielmonte (Plazas 1 and 2). The bus back from Bielmonte leaves at 16.00. Booking on alpibiellesi.eu.

Other promotions for this winter include a 20% discount on ski lessons for people who stay the night in an accommodation facility affiliated to Consorzio Turistico Alpi Biellesi and also discounts for families with at least two kids.

1+1 PROMOTION: for people staying in an affiliated accommodation facility, there will be a free ski-pass with every full price ski-pass purchased (to use from Mondays to Saturdays from 8 December 2024 to 31 March 2025; full rules on the website alpibiellesi.eu).

Bielmonte is also offering promotions for families, with discounts of up to 25% on ski-passes (“Gift a ski-pass for Christmas” initiative). For further information and ski-pass purchases, please contact the Icemont team on phone 015 744102 or e-mail icemont@icemont.it.
WINTER BIELMONTE KIDS

On level ground a stone’s throw from the bottom of the ski slopes, the WBK is a large area for various snow activities for small kids under the care and guidance of experts.It’s in the sun for most of the day and kids can enjoy their first experiences on the snow here, in protected and equipped surroundings. Ski lessons alternate with play time on the snow, including snowman building and a merry-go-round (GiraGira).Next to Winter Bielmonte Kids, there are three handy magic carpets for going up the slopes with skis on: one is shorter and designed for zero-experience beginners and the two longer ones are for kids wanting to go on skiing after their lessons with the instructors.

Times: Saturday and Sunday, from 10:30 to 16:00. From 26 December to 6 January: open every day. Where: at the bottom end of the Bielmonte ski-lifts, over the covered car park. Tickets: 7€ per kid. Every ticket comes with a 5€ voucher to use at the Veglio Adventure Park. Deckchairs can be hired for 5€. Info: 340.6923227, bielmontekids@diagoline.it.

WINTER EVENTS

Snowshoe Christening – from December to March - every Saturday and Sunday morning
Winter 2024-2025 is another season for snowshoes, great for everyone, accompanied by nature guides from OverAlp. Set off on adventurous but at the same time easy snowshoe hikes through Oasi Zegna’s enchanting landscape. There’s a trail for everyone, even for those trying out snowshoes for the very first time. The 3.5 km hike (around 2 hours), with no particular height differences or other difficulties, goes from Plaza 2 in Bielmonte to the top of Monte Marca. The same route is used for the return leg. Snowshoes can be hired on site (booking obligatory). Outings will only be confirmed after snow conditions have been checked. For info: overalp@overalp.com

Ski Instructors’ Torchlight Procession - 30 December
Scuola Sci Bielmonte Oasi Zegna invites you to attend the Ski Instructors’ Torchlight Procession on Monday 30 December in Bielmonte, a uniquely appealing event bidding farewell to 2024. In the magically enchanting atmosphere created by torchlit snow, the center of attraction will be the statue of Our Lady of the Snows, the patron saint of skiers, which traditionally closes this spectacle of beauty and emotions.

New Year’s Eve Snowshoe Outing to Chalet Massaro - 31 December
To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, Evolution Project is organizing a nighttime end of the year snowshoe outing from Bocchetto Sessera to Chalet Massaro, where the participants will drink to 2025.
For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Snow Bike Experience - 4 January
Evolution Project is organizing an adventurous mountain bike (electric or muscle driven) snow excursion on the cross-country ski trail. Meet-up at and start from Bocchetto Sessera. E-bikes available for hire (booking obligatory). For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Torchlight Procession for Kids - 5 January
On the evening before the Epiphany, Scuola Sci Bielmonte Oasi Zegna is organizing a special torchlight procession for small children. The kids will be involved in an exciting torchlit ski procession to close the festive period and open the New Year on a high.

Full Moon Snowshoe Outing - 11 January – 15 February
An initiative open to both trekking fans and snowshoe hikers, who will walk from Bocchetto Sessera to Artignaga, in upper Valsessera. The enchantment of the moon, the surreal silence of the woods at night, broken only by the scrunch of snow under foot, and then the stars: with a hand from Paolo Cattaneo (Evolution Project), it will be possible to admire Orion, the winter constellation so easy to recognize on clear cold nights, and follow it along its celestial arc. For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Four-legged Snowshoe Outing : “Me and my friend agility”- 19 January – 23 February
Special four-legged snowshoe outings for lovers of nature and man’s most loyal companions. This snowshoe hike will start from Bocchetto Sessera and follow the trail normally reserved for cross-country skiing. Dogs must be kept on leads. The overall length of this round trip is 4 km. At the end of the hike, there will be a brief Slalom Agility time trial for anyone wishing to take part (with dogs still on their leads). Prizes for the top three and a prize draw for all participants. For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Snowshoe Outing under the Stars - 25 January – 22 February
As nature rests, adventure beckons amidst snow-laden landscapes lit solely by the moon and stars. Silence blankets all except muffled footfall, while plays of light and shade dancing on the snow create a unique atmosphere in which the colors of the night, from shades of livid blue to sparkling white, transform the landscape into something completely new and fascinating. The magic of nature awakens in this stillness, making the nighttime snowshoe hike an unforgettable experience, a journey through beauty and serenity. For information and booking, contact Evolution Project. For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Snow Bike Race - 9 February
Evolution Project is organizing a daring mountain bike competition (electric or muscle) on the cross-country ski trail. Meet-up at and start from Bocchetto Sessera. E-bikes can be hired (booking obligatory). For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.

Sciatori d’Epoca – Trofeo Mario Ferragut - 22 February
On Saturday 22 February, the slopes in Bielmonte see the return of this fascinating vintage skiing event, a special nighttime slalom dedicated to ski teacher Mario Ferragut, who founded the Bielmonte Ski School in 1956. This extraordinary event has come to be seen as a sort of historical re-evocation in which sport and costume from the 2nd half of the 20th century appeal to sports people but not only. Public attendance at this vintage race is free-of-charge in fact and all the spectators too are invited to don period clothing. The race itself is open to all, the sole requisite being the use of straight skis. For further information, the full rules and registration: scuolascibielmonte.it.

Vela Sci Golf VSG Cup Bielmonte
The VSG Championship Cup is an inter-regional and inter-sport team event designed to promote passion for sailing, skiing and golf, with four different competitions organized in Liguria and Piemonte. The aim is to encourage teams to compete across different sports - the winners being the ones who get the best results overall - and in the meantime discover various cities and regions in Italy. The sole purpose of this not-for-profit initiative is to promote sport and tourism. The Giant Slalom will be held on Saturday 1 March on the Bielmonte slopes, while on Sunday 2 March the event will move over to Cavaglià Golf Club. For further information: vsgcup.it.

End of season Ciaspolenta – 9 March
Evolution Project is holding a big snow fest that will open with a snowshoe hike and close with a polenta lunch to usher in the 2024/2025 winter season. For info: monticchiosportecamere@gmail.com.
ALSO IN OUR AREA

GIANT NATIVITY SCENE AT MARCHETTO
This year too, as tradition demands, it will be possible to visit the Marchetto Giant Nativity Scene in Mosso. On Sunday 1 December: Christmas Market from 10:00, animations and official inauguration visit at 16:00. Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve): torchlight procession from the Nativity Scene and a bonfire at Marchetto at 21:30. On 6 January, the Nativity Scene is the venue for Epiphany celebrations. The Nativity Scene will be open every day (from 10:00 to 22:00, free entry, donations welcome) till 12 January 2025.

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