Newsletter 1
Dear SCIJ friends,
Abetone ski resort opened its winter season last weekend with a wonderfully snowed landscape! There's already one meter of snow, fallen in the last week!! What a nice beginning for the season that would culminate with our meeting next spring.
We will meet March 1st (it's Sunday) in Florence or Pisa airports, or in Florence train station S.M Novella, but we can arrange hotel reservation in Florence for those who want to come earlier and spent a couple of days visiting the city by yourself. During the meeting, we will enjoy the friendly traditional hospitality of the region. We will stay till sunday March 8th in Hotel Boscolungo (upper picture) (http://www.boscolungo.it/) and in Hotel Le Piramidi (lower picture) (http://www.abetonepiramidi.it/) in Abetone. The two hotels are close to each
other, and are in a comfortable location near the commercial center of the village and near the slopes. Anyway, during the week, every morning bus service will be available to transport you to the main ski-lift. Abetone has 50 km of slopes for everyone to enjoy. The most advanced and expert skiers will find very challenging ski races. Skiers who appreciate quiet and the natural beauty of the snow forest will certainly enjoy their time.Abetone (mt. 1.388 asl) is 90 km from Florence, about one hour and an half by bus, on the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, on the Appennines mountain chain. During the week, besides our traditional competitions that will be sponsored by the Italian Federation of Winter Sports, we will organize even a special ?parallel slalom? by night for the 30 fastest racers of the giant slalom. And talking about speed, we are preparing an amazing surprise: a special visit to the Ferrari F1 factory in Maranello! You'll find more details in the attached draft program, where you will also discover the ?post tour?. We have organized three wonderful days around Siena and the ?Chianti? region, following the most delicious italian wines, and some of the most beautiful and romantic villages like Pienza or Monticchiello. Please read the detailed program in the attachment and note that for the post tour there are only 50 place available.
We are looking forward to welcoming you once again in Italy, and to showing you the Tuscany taste of life! If you need any further information please feel free to write an e-mail to: info@gisgis.it
Mario Sensini - President of Italian Journalist Ski club - GIS
Filippo Cicognani - President of the Organizing Committee of Abetone 2009
First practical info to plan your trip
Pre tour
Firenze is very easy to reach from anywhere. You can get in by plane, train or car. ThereÕs not an official SCIJ Meeting pre-tour, but if you want to come earlier and spend a couple of days visiting the city by yourself (thereÕll be someone of us to give you assistance, anyway) we have already reserved a numbers of rooms in Hotel Mediterraneo (http://www.hotelmediterraneo.com) a nice four stars hotel in the Lungarno riverside. Booking has to be confirmed soon: we have a deadline at the end of the year for 25 double rooms: price is 120? per night (two people, with breakfast), thatÕs not so high for the standing and for the city. So, if you plan to come to Firenze on February 27th, Friday, or 28th, Saturday, let us know as soon as possible writing directly to info@gisgis.it
Post tour
There will be 50 places available for the post tour in Siena and Chianti region, from the 8th of march to the 11th (see the draft program). Partecipation fee is 200 ? per person, half board. In the post tour you will have the opportunity to know the most famous Italian Brunello, Nobile, Chianti?s wine cellars, and to taste their product, but that?s not the only focus of the tour. You will have the chance to visit one of the oldest bank in the world, Monte dei Paschi di Siena http://english.mps.it , founded in 1472 by the Repubblica di Siena, and his extraordinary collection of arts and manufact (thereÕs also the first cheque paid in the history?).
Reservations for the post-tour can be made only by the captains with the special form they will receive soon.
Meeting Points
Meeting points will be set up on Sunday 1st of March from 9.00 in the morning in the arrival lobby of Firenze Airport, Pisa International Airport and Firenze SM Novella train station. You will find SCIJ stands with hostess and our team members waiting for you. Each meeting point will be served by shuttle buses to Abetone, starting approximately from 11.00 in the morning, till 18.30 in the afternoon. Later bus will be available on request.
Arrival by plane
SCIJ members will be collected by bus in Firenze and Pisa airports, from 11.00 to 18.30 on Sunday march 1st. There are a lot of connections and cheap flights to these two airports, but if you need we can consider to organize a pick-up service in other airport (Bologna): let us know. Here you will find a useful timetable of flights to/from Pisa
(http://www.pisa-airport.com/index.php?lang=_en&id_sect=100 ) and Firenze (http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/EN/index.
php?percorso=generale&ln=1&jk=&tipo=&curr=0&op).
Arrival by train
There will be a Meeting point operating in Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, served by high speed trains from the North, from 10.00 in the morning on Sunday 1st of march. Here, http://trenitalia.com , youÕll find trains timetable. Firenze SM Novella will be the Meeting point even for those who already are in Firenze.
Arrival by car
Abetone is:
280 km from Venice,
265 from Milan,
220 from Genova,
110 from Bologna
90 km from Firenze and
560 km from Zurich,
630 from Zagreb,
1000 km from Barcelona,
860 from Wien.
Coming from North, after Milan, you have to follow A1 highway direction South, till Modena. In Modena Nord leave the highway and follow the Tangenziale to Modena-Sassuolo. You will find directions to Maranello and Abetone (National road SS12 del Brennero).
Coming from Genova, follow A12 highway to Livorno. Leave the highway in Viareggio to follow A11 higway to Lucca- Firenze. In Lucca Est, leave A11 and follow the directions to S. Marcello Pistoiese - Abetone, (National road SS12 del ?Brennero?).
Coming from Venice, you have to go south on A13 highway to Ferrara- Bologna, than before Bologna turn right into the A14 to Florence and then right into A1 highway direction Modena - Milan. In Modena Sud, leave the A1 and follow the directions to Maranello - Abetone (National road SS12 del ?Brennero?).
Insurance
This year we will provide insurance covering injuries during ski activities, through the affiliation to the Italian Winter Sports Federation. ItÕs not binding but highly recommended. The insurance will cover all the year till 30-09-2009 and gives you special discount on ski-lift in Italy and in different shops. The price of the insurance will be 15 euro per person.
Captains' next communications
By the end of the year the Captains will receive
- A communication with the available places for each national team.
- The participation form for the Scij Rencontre ? Included alpine and nordic ski rental
- A special form for the insurance
- The participation form for the Post-tour
TOP
NEWSLETTER 1
Welcome to Abetone
continued
You know this is not the first time that the Italian journalist Ski club - Gis, organizes a SCIJ Winter Meeting, but never before we have chosen a place in the Appennines mountain chain, rather than the better known and beautiful Alps, where most of you have already been.
If we made it, it is because we strongly believe that Abetone, in the heart of the country, close to some of the most beautiful cities of the world, like Florence, Pisa and Siena, can give you a totally different but even greater taste of Italy. We are sure you will appreciate Abetone's mountains and ski tracks, and of course the nice people, wonderful arts, fantastic food and wine traditions of this region, and the millenary culture that made it possible.
Getting there
Going to the first practical info, the 55th SCIJ Winter Meeting “Abetone 2009”will be on the week 1st - 8th of March 2009, Sunday to Sunday. Abetone is about 80 km from Florence, and it is extremely easy to reach from everywhere by car, plane or train. We will pick up people in the morning or early afternoon of March 1st in Pisa "Galileo Galilei" and Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" airports, and Florence train station Santa Maria Novella (we can consider even a bus service from/ to Bologna "Guglielmo Marconi" airport), and bring you back to the same places on Sunday 8th morning.
Post tour
The International SCIJ Meeting will be followed by a post tour, from sunday 8th till 11th of March, Wendsday (day of departure) through the Tuscany region: Chianti wine production area, Siena, Firenze. As usual it will be for a limited number of Scij members.
On early arrival
Moreover, we are arranging agreements with some hotels in Florence for any of you that plans an early arrival. If you haven't been there, we warmly suggest to spend one or two days by yourself to visit the city. It really worth it. It's not a pre tour, but we’ll aim to provide you good hotel fares, information and tips.
More info coming
We will give you detailed news about Abetone, the week program and the post-tour, with the newsletters we will produce from mid November. We are looking forward to seeing you all in Tuscany next March.
Ciao a tutti.
Mario Sensini
President of GIS - Italian SCIJ
55th Scij International Meeting
Abetone, Pistoia, 1st–8th March 2009
Draft Week Program
Sunday of March 1st
14.00-18.00 Arrival of the participants in Abetone by car or by bus from Firenze, Pisa and Bologna airports, and from Firenze SM Novella train station. Accomodation in Hotel Piramidi and Hotel Boscolungo.
18.00 Welcome drink in the PalaSCIJ tent, in Abetone. Registration, ski-pass and press-kit distribution. Tasting of local wine and food. Welcome speech by local Authorities
20.00 Dinner in the hotel
22.00 Disco Hotel Boscolungo
Monday, March 2nd
9.00 Bus leaving from the hotel to Abetone cable cars "Ovovia"
9,30 Ski rental. Who asked for ski to rent will find them in Salomon Ski Center on the first floor of "Ovovia"
10.30 Free ski. Groups leaded by ski National School Trainer in Abetone ski area.
13.00 Lunch on the slopes
17.00 CaptainsÕ Meeting ? Hotel Boscolungo
18.00 Bus leaving to Abetone Central Square
18.30 Official opening ceremony 55¡ SCIJ International Meeting.
20.30 NationsÕ Evening at Hotel Boscolungo
22.30 Disco, Open Bar at Hotel Boscolungo
Tuesday, March 3rd
9.00-10.00 Bus leaving to Abetone "Ovovia"
9.30 Free ski
12.30 Lunch on the slope
13.00-15.00 Giant Slalom training track set up on the Slalom Stadium "Ovovia"
14.00 Guided tours to Terme di Montecatini and Grotta Giusti.
20.30 Visit to Cutigliano and dinner.
Wednesday, March 4th
8.00 Bus leaving to Ovovia cable cars
8.45 Giant Slalom race track recognition "Zeno Col" race track
9.30 Giant Slalom race start
13.00 Winners ceremony in the Slalom Stadium and lunch on the slopes
16.30 Parallel Slalom ? Best 30 position in Giant Slalom
19.30 Dinner in Zeno Col˜ refuge on the top of the mountain and way back by ski.
Thursday, March 5th
8.30 Capitan?s Meeting ? Hotel Boscolungo
9.00 Bus leaving to Ovovia
9.30 Free ski or cross country training, and lunch on the slopes
14.00-15.00 Bus leaving to the Hotels
15.30 Captain?s Meeting ? Hotel Boscolungo
16.00 Bus leaving to Abetone?s center
16.30 PalaSCIJ Tent ? SCIJ General Assembly
21.00 Dinner in the Hotels
22.00 Hotel Boscolungo ? Presentation of next International Meetings, Open Bar
Friday, March 6th
8.30 Bus leaving to Cross Country race stadium
9.30 Cross Country race
12.30 Winner ceremony and lunch - Hotel Boscolungo
13.30 Guided tour to Ferrari car factory Maranello - Modena.
20.30 Dinner in the Hotels
22.00 PalaSCIJ Tent, Disco - Open Bar
Saturday, March 7th
9.00 CaptainsÕ Meeting ? Hotel Boscolungo
9.30 Bus leaving to Ovovia
10.00 Free ski: Cross country race eventually
14.00 Space dedicated to the Scij Think-Tank: Round Tables - Debates , Hotel Boscolungo
19.00 Wine and food tasting PalaScij Tent
20.00 Gala Dinner and Prize Award
22.00 Disco, Open Bar - Hotel Boscolungo
Sunday, March 8th
6.00-12.00 Bus leaving to airports and Firenze train station
9.00 Post-tour starts
55th SCIJ Meeting: Post tour
Siena -Toscana, March 8th - 11th 2009
Draft program
Sunday, March 8th
9.00 Bus leaving from Abetone. Pistoia and San Gimignano guided tours.
13.30 Lunch in San Gimignano
16.00 Monteriggioni
18.00 Arrival in Siena and accomodation in hotel
20.30 Dinner
Monday, March 9th
9.00 Siena guided tour
10.00 Palazzo Salimbeni
13.00 Lunch offered by Monte dei Paschi di Siena
15.00 Accademia Chigiana guided tour
17.00 Siena by walk.
20.30 Dinner in a typical restaurant
Tuesday March 10th
9.00 Bus leaving to Montalcino
10.00 Brunello wine cellars guided tour
13.00 Lunch in Montalcino
15.00 S. Quirico, Pienza, Montepulciano, Monticchiello
20.30 Dinner and hotel accomodation in Bagno Vignoni
Wednesday March 11th
7.00 Bus leaving to Firenze, Pisa, Bologna airports, and Firenze S. M. Novella train station