Lo Ski Club Brissago – It has a long history, but it is a reality more alive than ever. We asked the president, the municipal councillor Reto Repetti, to tell us that story and explain how the association works today by promoting the passion for skiing among children and young people.

“So, if we start with history, we have to take quite a few steps backwards, because our Ski Club was founded in March 1993, more than 30 years ago, even though the first official season of activity was in 1994. The idea came from my father and Paolo Canevascini. Previously it was the Municipality to organize directly the week of carnival on the snow, entrusting the management to individual people from time to time. Over time, however, this commitment had become rather burdensome for the municipality. So my father and Paolo proposed to create a real company that would deal with this activity in a more organized way. From there the Ski Club was born, which has taken up and continued the tradition of the ski week, which still remains one of the pillars of our activity and a central moment of the season.’

Is there a favourite winter resort or do you choose from year to year?

“Inizialmente si cambiava spesso destinazione. Ma da una ventina d’anni abbiamo trovato una sistemazione ideale aVeysonnaz, in Vallese, a circa 2’000 metri di quota. Si tratta di una capanna situata direttamente sulle piste, una soluzione perfetta dal punto di vista logistico e della sicurezza. I ragazzi mettono gli sci fuori dalla porta e sono subito sulle piste; a mezzogiorno rientrano per il pranzo e la sera ceniamo tutti insieme. Non ci sono spostamenti esterni e questo garantisce tranquillità anche ai genitori. Non solo: la ristorazione è gestita da cuochi del posto, quindi non dobbiamo portare personale da fuori. Sotto la capanna c’è un ristorante frequentato dagli sciatori, mentre sopra si trovano i nostri alloggi. Per il momento non abbiamo motivo di cambiare località: funziona tutto molto bene. Quest’anno la settimana bianca inizia il 14 febbraio”.

From an organizational point of view, how does it work?

“Simple: children leave Brissago with the monitors of the Ski Club and return with them at the weekend. Parents do not participate, apart from one or two mothers to whom we ask for support and who support us in daily management, especially in case of small ailments or moments of nostalgia. Children and young people can participate from the third grade and up to the fourth grade. For residents of Brissago, we propose a ‘political’ lump sum of only 280 francs, all inclusive, thanks to a contribution from the municipality, which covers part of the budget. This very low cost allows many families to send their children to the ski week without incurring high expenses.”

In addition to the White Week also organized daily outings?

“Yes, usually four or five between January and March. We often go to Splügen or Airolo. We have also tested other locations, but we try to stay in Ticino or in places easily reachable by a large bus, because at each exit between 60 and 70 children participate. In this case there is no lower age limit, but for kindergarten children we ask for the presence of a parent, as a matter of safety and management”.

Again, do you charge ‘political’ tariffs?

“I would say yes: for children the cost is 30 francs, including bus travel, teaching, daily ski pass and lunch. Adults who wish to participate instead pay 70 francs, which remains an advantageous price.To guarantee these prices we sometimes make use of our membership funds: For example, in a recent release we had to cover around CHF 1,700. We can do this thanks to the summer activities and events we organise during the year: all revenues are reinvested to keep the costs of winter activities low”.

How is the organisation of the Ski Club structured?

“The committee is made up of nine people, but around the club there are many collaborators and monitors. We are very fortunate to see many young people approaching the teaching of skiing: Only last year, four of our 18-19 year olds obtained their GS degree and are now fully-fledged monitors. It is very nice to see that so many young people who started as students today want to become teachers. In middle school, just ask who is interested in this path and almost all hands are raised. A young and very motivated group is being created, and even in the committee we are gradually involving new levers. It is crucial to: The life of any association depends on the involvement of young people. Compared to a few years ago, the situation has improved considerably and today we can say that the Brissago Ski Club is in excellent health.”

And as in any sports club, there is also an educational element aimed at the younger generations...

“Assolutamente sì: è magari l’aspetto educativo e sociale è forse quello meno visibile, ma per noi fondamentale. Oggi vediamo tanti ragazzi un po’ spaesati, o annoiati. Soprattutto per gli adolescenti è fondamentale avere qualcosa in cui identificarsi, un’attività o una disciplina nella quale convogliare le proprie energie e la propria passione. In questo senso, il percorso che porta alcuni ragazzi da allievi a aiuto-monitorie poi amonitori veri e proprisi è rivelato estremamente efficace: si sentono parte di una comunità, si assumono responsabilità, trovano un ruolo non solo sportivo ma anche sociale. Ma sia chiaro, tutte le associazioni legate al territorio svolgono un compito importantissimo tenendo i giovani agganciati alla comunità, e trasmettendo valori, relazioni e identità. È un lavoro silenzioso, poco visibile ma a mio parere essenziale”.