# Piste skiing · Sport Extreme Livigno > 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. Fonte: Sport Extreme, Via Prestefan 14, 23041 Livigno (SO) · tel. +39 0342 996863 · info@sportextremelivigno.com · aperto tutti i giorni 09:00–12:30, 14:00–19:30 Pagina: https://sportextremelivigno.com/en/shop/alpine-skiing/piste/ Aggiornato: 2026-11-05 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. Brands in store: Atomic, Völkl, Head, Rossignol, Salomon, Nordica, Marker, Descente, Spyder, Colmar, Uvex, Level, Reusch, Leki - [Alpine skiing](https://sportextremelivigno.com/en/shop/alpine-skiing/) - [Piste skiing](https://sportextremelivigno.com/en/shop/alpine-skiing/piste/) - [Freestyle skiing](https://sportextremelivigno.com/en/shop/alpine-skiing/freestyle/) - [Freeride skiing](https://sportextremelivigno.com/en/shop/alpine-skiing/freeride/) ## The kit, piece by piece - **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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (Leki) ## How to choose a piste ski - **Length**: 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 width**: 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 rocker**: 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. - **Flex**: 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. ## 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. ## What turns do you make most? - **Short turns**: A slalom ski: radius around 12–13 m, length between chin and nose. It turns tight and reacts fast, but wants you on the edge all the time. - **Long turns**: A giant slalom ski: radius of 15 m or more and a length close to your height. Stable at speed, but it takes more effort in tight turns. - **A bit of everything**: A 72–80 mm piste ski with a mid radius of 14–16 m: it holds on hard snow and is more forgiving when the piste gets chopped up in the afternoon. ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### 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).