Ski Race Training at Passo Stelvio

The Alps’ great summer glacier

Passo Stelvio is the only summer-only ski area in the Alps and home to the largest summer glacier in the region. Sitting above Bormio (home of the English Championships), the glacier links Italy to Switzerland, with terrain rising from the 2,758m pass to 3,450m on Mount Cristallo and a season that runs from late May to early November, long after the winter resorts have closed.

It’s a true racers’ venue. International teams and World Cup athletes use the Stelvio for high-altitude summer training, and the dedicated training pistes make it ideal for structured camps. It’s also used by the Italian ski instructors’ federation for their instructor courses.

A typical training day

We normally train in the morning, break for lunch up the mountain in the restaurant, then continue with a shorter afternoon session. Afternoons and evenings are mostly given over to ski prep, recovery and dinner back at the hotel. As a change of pace, and to catch some oxygen at lower altitude, we often head down to the old spa in Bormio, the Bagni Vecchi di Bormio.

Altitude shapes everything here. Because you’re training and sleeping high, fatigue builds quickly, so we keep our Stelvio camps to no more than six days. The hotel we use sits about 100m from the morning lift, so the days start without a long trek.

Masters training at Stelvio

Stelvio has long been a home for our Masters racers, with long, well-pitched summer pistes that suit adult racers building form. Early-bird pricing has run at £575 (standard £600), with camps kept short, up to six days, to manage the altitude.

This camp isn’t currently scheduled. Running it depends on confirmed numbers, so register your interest and we’ll let you know as soon as dates are set.

Getting there & staying

Getting there. The glacier sits at the top of the Stelvio Pass, above Bormio. The nearest airports are Bergamo, Milan and Innsbruck, with the final approach a drive up the pass.

Where to stay. We stay right at the top of the pass, at the Passo dello Stelvio. There are only hotels up there, Airbnb isn’t an option. They’re basic but reasonably priced. We deliberately use the pass-level hotels rather than the ones higher up on the slopes, because the extra altitude isn’t worth the added strain on recovery.

Food and supplies. There are no supermarkets on the pass, just the hotels and a few tourist shops, so bring anything specific you’ll need with you. Lunch is taken up the mountain, with dinner at the hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Passo Stelvio open?

As a summer-only glacier, Stelvio typically runs from late May to early November, ideal for off-season and pre-season training.

How high is the training?

Slopes reach up to 3,450m on Mount Cristallo, giving the high-altitude conditioning racers want before the winter season.

Why are the Stelvio camps shorter?

Because you train and sleep at altitude, fatigue builds quickly, so we keep camps to no more than six days to get the best quality from each session.

Where do you stay at Stelvio?

At the top of the pass, at the Passo dello Stelvio, around 100m from the morning lift. It’s hotels only up there (no Airbnb), basic but reasonably priced. We avoid the higher on-slope hotels to limit the altitude load.

What does a typical day look like?

A morning training session, lunch up the mountain, then a shorter afternoon session, with ski prep, recovery and dinner filling the evening.

Who trains at Stelvio?

International teams and World Cup athletes use the glacier for summer training. It sits above Bormio, home of the English Championships, and links Italy to Switzerland. It’s also used by the Italian ski instructors’ federation for their instructor courses.

Ready to train on the Stelvio? Join our Masters race training camps or train as part of our FIS race training programme.