01 Alpine skiing · Piste
Piste skiing,on the edge.
On piste, it's all about grip on hard snow: a narrow ski with full camber, a precise boot and warm clothing for the chairlift. That goes for holiday skiers and for anyone training between the gates, in slalom or giant slalom.
i In short
Sport Extreme, at Via Prestefan 14 in Livigno, sells piste, slalom and giant slalom skis, boots, helmets, goggles and ski clothing from brands such as Atomic, Völkl, Head, Rossignol, Salomon, Nordica, Descente, Spyder and Colmar, and tunes skis in its own Ski Service workshop.
A The kit, piece by piece
What matters,
piece by piece.
Scroll: for every piece of kit we tell you what to look for in this sport, and which brands you'll find in store.
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Helmet
Compulsory for everyone in Italy. It should sit firmly without pressing, be certified to EN 1077 and ideally have a system that reduces rotational forces in a crash.
Brands: Uvex
Goggles
In sunshine you want an S3 lens; in cloud or fog an S1 or S2 in yellow, orange or rose that shows you the shape of the piste. There should be no bare skin between frame and helmet.
Brands: Uvex
Jacket
On piste you sit still on cold chairlifts: go for an insulated jacket, or a shell over a warm layer, with a 10,000 mm waterproof rating, a powder skirt and a ski pass pocket.
Brands: Descente · Spyder · Colmar
Gloves
Five-finger gloves give grip on your poles; look for a waterproof membrane and a cuff that closes over your sleeve. Leave a little room at the fingertips: a tight glove is a cold glove.
Brands: Level · Reusch
Trousers
Insulated or in stretch softshell, close-fitting enough not to flap at speed. Inner gaiters close over the boots and keep the snow out.
Brands: Descente · Spyder · Colmar
Skis
66–75 mm underfoot with full camber: they get into the turn quickly and hold on hard snow. A slalom ski has a radius of around 12–13 m, a giant slalom ski 15 m or more.
Brands: Atomic · Völkl · Head · Rossignol · Salomon · Nordica
Bindings
On piste skis the binding often sits on a plate that raises the boot and helps you push the edge into the snow. The release setting (DIN) depends on weight, height, boot sole length, age and level, and should be set by a technician.
Brands: Marker · Salomon · Atomic
Boots
For confident skiers, flex sits between 100 and 130 and the last between 98 and 100 mm: the narrower it is, the more precise the boot, but your foot has to fit without pain.
Brands: Atomic · Nordica · Head · Salomon · Rossignol
Poles
Aluminium, with small piste baskets. Turn the pole upside down and hold it under the basket: at the right length your elbow is at a right angle.
Brands: Leki
All of this,
at Via Prestefan 14.
Come and try it on: we put together the right kit for you, piece by piece.
Call the shop→B Winter
How to choose a piste ski
- LengthA slalom ski reaches chin to nose, a giant slalom ski close to your height.
A slalom ski reaches between chin and nose, a giant slalom ski close to your height. Shorter turns tighter, longer is steadier at speed.
- Waist widthNarrow underfoot, to switch edges quickly on hard snow.
66–75 mm: the ski switches edges quickly and grips on hard snow. Up to 80 mm it's still a piste ski, just more forgiving.
- Camber and rockerThe whole edge works in the turn; rocker, if any, is just a hint at the tip.
Full camber, the arch from tip to tail: the whole edge works in the turn and the ski springs you out of it. Rocker, if any, is just a hint at the tip.
- FlexA torsionally stiff ski and a 100–130 flex boot, if you ski well.
A piste ski is stiff, especially torsionally, so it doesn't chatter on hard snow. The boot, 100 to 130 flex for confident skiers, carries your push to the edge.
D In Livigno
Between the gates in Livigno
On 27 December 2025 the Li Zeta piste, in the Sitas area, hosted Livigno's first Alpine Ski World Cup race, a men's super-G. To time yourself, there are courses with gates at Carosello 3000 (chairlift 14 Federia), Amerikan and San Rocco. At Mottolino there's a giant slalom course with two start gates, reached from the Pemonte drag lift.
E Quick advice
What turns do you make most?
Our advice
F In store
Sharp edges, the right boot
We let you try boots from different brands and help you choose skis for the turns you make. In our Ski Service workshop, with Wintersteiger machines, we sharpen edges and prepare bases, from €12 (Express) to €49 (Pro). If you'd rather rent, book online through Alpy and pick up from the day before, after 3:30 pm.
G Frequently asked questions
Good to
know.
Slalom or giant slalom skis?
It depends on the turns you make. A slalom ski, with a radius around 12–13 m, turns tight and is nimble on narrower pistes; a giant slalom ski, with a radius of 15 m or more, is steadier at speed on long turns. If you want one pair, a piste ski with a mid radius is a good compromise.
How wide should a piste ski be?
Between 66 and 80 mm underfoot. Below 75 mm the ski switches edges faster and grips better on hard snow; towards 80 mm it's more forgiving when the snow gets chopped up. Beyond 80 mm you're into all-mountain skis.
Where can I ski gates in Livigno?
There are timed courses with gates at Carosello 3000, near chairlift 14 Federia, at Amerikan and at San Rocco. At Mottolino there's a giant slalom course with two start gates: you get there from the Pemonte drag lift, where you ask for tokens to start the clock.
How often should I get my skis serviced?
Get them serviced on the first day of the season, then roughly every 4 ski days, and again at the end of the season before you store them. Sharp edges and fresh wax make skis turn with less effort and glide better. Packages in our Ski Service workshop range from €12 (Express) to €49 (Pro).
Come and
see us.
Every day 09:00–12:30 · 14:00–19:30
Via Prestefan 14 · 23041 Livigno · 1.816 m