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The story of Scuola Sci Cortina, on snow since 1933

Our story

Where tradition meets the future
Some places follow history. And then there are places that write it. Since 1926, Cortina Ski School has accompanied the evolution of Italian skiing, helping to transform a passion born among the mountains into a discipline recognised and taught to the highest professional standards. Since then, generations of instructors have shared the same spirit: passing on not just a technique, but a culture built on respect for the mountain, dedication and the constant pursuit of excellence.

The origins

In the 1920s, Cortina d’Ampezzo was becoming one of the iconic destinations for winter sports. It was here that the idea was born to create organised ski instruction, founded on method, preparation and professionalism. In 1926, the Club Sportivo Dolomiti promoted the creation of a dedicated teaching structure, laying the foundations for what would become one of the most important institutions in Italian skiing. That vision — simple but revolutionary — would change the way skiing was taught in Italy forever.

1933: A story begins

On 15 December 1933, the Scuola Nazionale di Sci Cortina was officially established — the first ski school recognised by the Italian Winter Sports Federation. The founders were Mario Bernasconi, Enrico Lacedelli, Luigi Zambelli, Federico Terschak and Rinaldo Zardini, pioneers who shared a common vision: to make Cortina a point of reference for ski instruction and mountain culture. What began as an innovative project soon became a model that would influence the entire Italian skiing landscape.

Excellence as a method

From the very beginning, the School understood that teaching meant continuing to learn. The ongoing training of instructors, technical updates and exchanges with the most important European Alpine schools all contributed to building a method founded on quality, safety and passion. This philosophy allowed the School to quickly become a national benchmark, contributing to the training of entire generations of instructors and to the development of ski instruction across Italy. To this day, the pursuit of excellence remains one of the founding values of Cortina Ski School.

Cortina on the world stage

As Cortina d’Ampezzo grew in international fame, so did the School, becoming a reference point for skiers from all over the world. The 1956 Winter Olympics definitively established Cortina as one of the world’s capitals of winter sports, reinforcing a reputation built over the years through the expertise and professionalism of its instructors. Since then, the School has continued to welcome skiers of all ages and backgrounds, keeping alive the spirit that made it famous.

A legacy that lives on

Throughout its history, Cortina Ski School has accompanied the evolution of Italian skiing, including playing a role in the founding of the Associazione Maestri Sci Italiani in 1963, and continuing to serve as a benchmark for the ski instructor profession. Today that history lives on the slopes of Cortina, in the experience of its instructors and in the enthusiasm of those who choose to discover the mountain. For nearly a century we have preserved a heritage of expertise, passion and authenticity. Because teaching skiing means much more than passing on a technique. It means sharing a way of living the mountain. And this is the spirit that, since 1926, has accompanied every one of our seasons.

A vintage group photo of men in uniforms posing in front of a building labeled Scuola Nazionale di Sci.. - Scuola Sci Cortina

Group of skiers posing with gear on left; single skier mid-jump on snowy slope on right. Black and white photo. - Scuola Sci Cortina

Vintage ski school brochure with mountain map, article, photos of skiers, and ski school advertisements. - Scuola Sci Cortina

Ten women in matching red and purple ski suits pose together, smiling, with snowy mountains in the background. - Scuola Sci Cortina

People skiing and standing on a snowy slope with mountains and trees in the background. - Scuola Sci Cortina

Our roots

1902
First training courses for ski instructors, organised by the Austrian Alpine Club; several local mountain guides took part.
1926
One of the first organised ski teaching groups is established in Cortina.
1933
The Scuola Nazionale di Sci Cortina is founded — the first officially recognised ski school in Italy.
1956
VII Winter Olympic Games, the first Winter Olympics in Italy, crown Cortina as one of the world’s great ski capitals. Cortina Ski School instructors collaborate in the organisation of the event.
1963
School instructors contribute to the founding of the Associazione Maestri Sci Italiani (AMSI). Yvonne Ruegg becomes the first woman to join the team of instructors.
1965
Foundation of the company I.S.T.A. by members of the school and subsequent construction of facilities at the Socrepes ski area. The first ski holidays (settimane bianche) are born.
1982
The school takes part in the formation of the “Consorzio per lo sviluppo Turistico di Cortina”.
2002
With the introduction of the snowboard instructor figure, the association changes its name to Scuola Sci Snowboard Cortina.
2026
XXV Winter Olympic Games, Milano Cortina 2026. As in 1956, School instructors are involved in the organisation of the event.
Today
More than 100 instructors, more than 20,000 hours of teaching. A tradition that continues, season after season, in the spirit of passion, professionalism and a love for the mountain.