Winter Soul Days

What is the soul of things? Where can we find it? What drives people to travel, to delve deeper, to have certain experiences, to share them with others to the point of moving them, to explore not only their external environment but also their inner world, which involves understanding not only ourselves but also what moves and motivates us? What’s more, can we find shared and sharable values that are connected to the mountains? Can we appreciate them, even if we’re dealing with new terrain and a deep, multi-faceted culture such as that of the Dolomites? Can we take these values with us, recognising them if we come from somewhere else? In some cases, these questions do not have exact answers. Or rather, getting the answers is not as important as asking the questions in the first place.

Soul Days
''Soul Days'' follow the stories of four friends as they embark on a journey from four different countries to the peaks of Val Badia in the Dolomites, South Tyrol. They will get to these by using more environmentally-friendly modes of transport such as bicycles, trains and buses. Yannick Boissenot, a French free-rider who is part of the Salewa People Team, Maria Zlotecka, a Polish ski mountaineer, Nina Gigele, an Austrian entrepreneur and skier, and Michael Mair, a ski instructor and free-rider, the local in the group, are the protagonists of a story of discovery, sharing and the pursuit of those cultural values and quirks that set the Dolomites apart. The places where four different types of Ladino, the Judaeo-Spanish language, are spoken. Where life still flows slowly through the farms and homesteads. And where the flavours of tradition blend with the contemporary touches of international chefs who have introduced fresh, modern ingredients to local tastes. It is a hybrid culture made up of modernity and tradition, technology and nature, all at once.

Unique Moments
Sharing unique experiences lies at the heart of the journey, intended to be frozen in time between a turn in the powder, a climb with Manuel, the local guide who knows every nook and cranny of his valley, and the rural life of the Luch Coltz farm, where the four skiers find themselves getting up close and personal with cows, horses and hens. And then there are the gullies – the most stunning ones that South Tyrol has to offer. The gullies that call for sharp eyes and skiers who are capable of grasping the nuances of the snow. The gullies that at times turn you away, but if you get the right line they can make your soul thrum. As they make their ascent, our skiers’ breath comes out of their mouths. It’s cold and shapes can be confusing.
A few icy drops have frozen on their helmets. The blades of their skis cut into the crust of the snow. They can hear it crunch beneath their feet. Every step brings with it new sensations and memories.

Exploration and Discovery
Ski touring is about exploration and discovery. It’s about getting to a gully that may display a new shape, a new consistency, every time. It’s about looking at the mountain from different angles, those of the edges of your skis, which sometimes lead and sometimes are led. It means experiencing the elements with their contrasts, the soft powder and the wind in your face, the icy snow and the rocks that caress your crampons. It is experiencing multiple dimensions all at once. There is the solitary one, listening to your heart beat and your breathing, and then there is the shared one, made up of smiles and roped groups.