Luca Rolli

Name: Luca Rolli

Nationality: Italian

Home Mountain: Courmayeur

Discipline: Mountaineering, Guiding, Freeriding, Climbing

Athlete talk

How and when did you start skiing, how has it evolved ever since and what got you into freeskiing?
I was born in Parma, in the flatlands. I learned skiing when I was 8 with my uncles during christmas holidays. But ski resorts were too far away from Parma, so I could not practice that much. At the age of 18, as soon as I got a driving licence, I started going to the Appennini (a small mountian chain in the center of Italy) for backcountry skiing: skinning up and skiing down. There were no slopes, I was always skiing in the forest, and most of the time the snow quality was awfull.

During the winter I spent every day off up there. It was in that period that I developed my personal interest for offpiste skiing, but I didn't know anything about fatskis and powder days. At the age of 20 it came to the first skiing experience in Chamonix: it was love on first view. At the age of 25 I moved to live in Chamonix. After a couple of years I moved to Courmayeur. Then came the stage to become Mountain Guide which was a big step ahead in my life, because the complete vision of what I can do in the mountains gives me a deep confidence in how extende my limits.
 
Who were/are your idols on and off the hill?
For many years I had alpinist and climbing heroes between whom Mariacher, Casarotto and Manolo. Stefano De Benedetti for sure is my reference point for what is related to the ski world. He really showed the world what was possible to ski...
 
What does skiing mean to you personally?
Skiing for me means freedom to be what I am. Nobody can tell me when to ski, what to ski and how to ski it. Ski is the the way I can express myself.
 
What were your 3 biggest accomplishments on hill and why?
 - ski descent of Couloir Whymper at Aig. Verte. One year before this descent I injured my left knee, and only patience, courage and a lot of streght made it possible to come back on skis stronger than before.
- ski descent of Aig Blanche de Peuterey: skied only by De Benedetti, Baud and Vallencant; attempted by Jeremy Jones and Xavier De la Rue. That was a perfect day!

What aspect of skiing thrills you the most?
It’s difficult to sum up in few words: I spent a lot of effort, energy, sufference in it. Now it is giving me back energy..
 
In what conditions and what terrain do enjoy riding the most?
At the beginning of the winter season I like to freeride: long runs in the trees or on the glaciers. Later on, when snow get ready in high mountains I love steep skiing.
 
Any activities that aren’t ski related?
I’m practicing parachuting. It’s a nice sport: no effort to get  at the exit and a lot of adrenalin.

How do you manage to combine family/ friends and job?
The job is the easiest part: I am a Mountain Guide, so I spend time for work and for myself in the mountains. The most difficult part was to let family and friends understand that the life around snow was part of me. Nowadays everything work quite well and even parents don’t complain if they don’t see me for 3 or 4 months.
 
Please answer, if possible, with one word only.
Trick/Move: Backflip
Movie: I Corti
Book: T. Terzani, La fine è il mio inizio
Drink: Spritz
Food: Tortelli di zucca
Country: Italy
Resort: Courmayeur
Car: FIAT 16
 
What do you like about SCOTT?
The fact that Scott have a 360° equipment for sport activities with the highest quality.
 
What are your favorite SCOTT products?
Skis, backpacks and goggles
 
What SCOTT products are you using this year?
Skis, goggles, sunnies, poles, ski boots, sofgoods, gloves, basically everything I use in the mountians.
 
Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?
Mainly in the mountains. I have some new project, but I’m superstitious and I don’t talk about it.
 
What sponsors do you ride for besides SCOTT?
BlueIce Mountain equipment and Dynafit boots
 
People you feel you need to thank
My friends Francesco Civra, Davide Capozzi and Julien Herry.
 
What’s playing on your iPod right now?
Empress Marina, Gideon Time

Twitter
@LucaRolli1