Back to the Basics: at the Intersection of Ski Technique and Italian Coffee Culture
Olympic cappucino - Olympic-sized inspiration in every sip
Spring is a time for skiers to reflect on the past season and make plans for the upcoming winter. In the Lumi world, this means reviewing guest’s post-trip evaluations from last winter and planning improvements for our trips for the upcoming winter.
Something we started to include more of last winter were technique sessions and informal tips. For me, a Lumi trip should be a vacation for our travelers. Lumi trips are not meant to be “learn to ski” weeks or “training camps,” but rather, a vacation on skis. That said, many of our trip leaders are ski instructors, coaches and even Olympians. They have a wealth of technique tips and knowledge. So, we’ve been incorporating optional light technique sessions and informal tips into the trips when they fit in well – and when guests are interested. The feedback we’ve received about the sessions has been positive and we look forward to incorporating more technique and tips in upcoming trips.
Trip leader Holly Brooks sharing some technique tips in the snow-covered woods above Lillehammer
Lumi trip leader and Olympian from Germany, Elisabeth Schicho, demonstrating double-pole technique in the 2026 Olympic Stadium
Join one of Lumi’s Italian trip leaders for a brief ski technique lesson and you’ll learn more than skiing. You’ll learn the Italian language and coffee culture at the same time. You’ll probably learn a few hand gestures too (chef’s kiss anyone?).
Lumi trip leader Elisa offering some pointers with a the stunning Dolomite backdrop
That’s why I love the Italian names for ski techniques. The Italians name their techniques after coffee:
V1 = Corto or “short” - say Corto in an Italian coffee shop and you’ll get a short, single-espresso shot
V2 = Doppio or “double” - order a doppio and you’ll receive a double-shot of espresso
V2-alternate = Lungo - order a lungo and you’ll soon be sipping a tall, black coffee, often known by the Italians as an Americano, as that’s how Americans tend to prefer their coffee
Matt Liebsch from Pioneer Midwest demonstrating V1 technique on Austria's Dachstein Glacier last week
Perhaps this is why US Ski Team racer Julia Kern is so fond of Italy. We caught up with Julia while she was working on the basics at the US Ski Team’s Spring Training Camp in Bend, Oregon last week. Check out our brief interview video with Julia and hear about what she’s looking forward to this coming winter, when the eyes of the world will be on Italy for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games!!
US Ski Team Coach Chris Grover observing Lumi guest's technique before the Holmenkollen World Cup
Want to experience skiing in Italy (and Italian cuisine and culture!) for yourself next winter? Sign up for one of our many 2026 Lumi trips that visit Italy!
2026 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES TRIPS - hands-down our most popular trips for 2026. Spend 6 or 7 days in Italy cheering on your favorite skiers and immersing yourself in the incredible Winter Olympic atmosphere
2026 Tour de Ski Trip in Cavalese and Seiser Alm, Italy where you can see World Cup athletes ski the Olympic trails just weeks before the Games, plus cheer them up the famous Alpe Cermis hill climb before spending 4 more days skiing in beautiful Seiser Alm
2026 Seefeld & Seiser Alm Trip in Seefeld, Austria & Seiser Alm, Italy is a full week of skiing in two of the world’s most iconic ski destinations. No racing, just lots of skiing and fun discovering Austrian and Italian culture. The January 18 departure is already sold out, but limited space is still available on the January 4 trip!
2026 Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga Trip: Already sold out for 2026!
2026 Marcialonga & König Ludwig Lauf Trip: May 31 is your last chance to save $300 on this trip to ski in three different countries in 10 days.
2026 Slovenia Sight-Skiing Trip: stay in Slovenia, nestled into the 3-country corner, where you can walk from your hotel to the ski trail, then ski less than a kilometer over the border from Slovenia into Italy. Boat ride on Lake Bled, try biathlon in Pokljuka and ski the stunning Planica trails.
Lumi guests practicing their no-pole technique during a session in Iceland
It’s not too late to get a 2026 Lumi trip on your calendar and start preparing for next winter!
Reach out to garrott@lumiexperiences.com to receive a detailed trip itinerary and secure your spot before they all fill!
See you on the trail,
Garrott Kuzzy
garrott@lumiexperiences.com