World's Longest Torchlight Descent – Ortisei Ski School

The world's longest torchlight descent

In the heart of the Dolomites, the Scuola Sci & Snowboard Ortisei organizes an event that has become a Val Gardena legend: the world's longest torchlight descent. Spanning approximately 10 kilometres along the famous La Longia slope, the event holds the international record for the longest torchlit ski run. This annual gathering takes place in the town of Ortisei/St. Ulrich, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, the heart of the Trentino-Alto Adige region.

A serpent of light on the snow

The descent begins at the Seceda mountain station, where ski instructors gather and light their torches before heading down the slope. Typically, around fifty instructors form a long serpent of light, gliding through the darkness across the snowy slopes against the dramatic backdrop of the Dolomite peaks. The long red La Longia slope descends from Seceda to the valley floor, winding through forests and clearings, and finishing near the Rifugio Val d'Anna.

An experience open to guests

The torchlight descent is not reserved for instructors only: experienced skiers and holidaymakers can join the group and experience the night descent with a torch in hand. It is an intense experience that combines technical skiing with the thrill of descending in the dark in a high-mountain setting, immersed in a unique atmosphere created by hundreds of flames moving down the mountainside.

Meeting point and schedule

The meeting point is at the Seceda valley station in Ortisei in the late afternoon, from where participants take the cable car to the starting point at the top. The descent begins at nightfall and ends in the valley, where guests can extend the evening with dinner at the mountain hut. For registration and information, please contact the Scuola Sci & Snowboard Ortisei or the Ortisei Tourist Association.

Val Gardena, a land of skiing and tradition

Ortisei is one of the iconic villages of Val Gardena, in Trentino-Alto Adige, renowned for the Dolomiti Superski area and its strong Ladin identity. Events like this record-breaking torchlight descent strengthen the bond between the local community, the ski instructors, and the mountains, offering guests an unforgettable memory of the winter season in Ortisei/St. Ulrich.