Offroad Club Monaco is using the winter season to push a clear message: off-piste skiing should be about skill, preparation and respect for the mountain—not reckless thrills. Founded in the Principality by Massimiliano and Ermina Fezia Mordenti, the club is stepping up its public outreach to promote a more responsible approach to skiing beyond marked runs.
Already active in educating its members, Offroad Club Monaco says the aim is now to reach a wider audience, encouraging skiers to embrace supervision, safety awareness and environmental responsibility when venturing off-piste.
Central to the initiative is the contribution of Pier Paolo Ballarè, director of the Scuola Sci Limone Piemonte and president of the Piedmont Regional College of Ski Instructors. Drawing on his professional experience, Ballarè outlines the fundamentals of safe off-piste practice, starting with one non-negotiable rule: never ski alone.
According to Ballarè, off-piste terrain should only be accessed via ski lifts and always under the guidance of a qualified instructor or mountain guide, in line with Italian regulations. Essential safety equipment—including an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe—is mandatory, while avalanche airbags are strongly advised. Snow conditions, he warns, can change rapidly, turning even familiar terrain into a serious hazard.
Technical ability also plays a decisive role. Off-piste skiing, Ballarè stresses, is not an extension of recreational skiing but a demanding discipline reserved for those fully at ease on red and black pistes, capable of adapting to deep powder and unpredictable terrain.
Environmental awareness is another pillar of the club’s message. While winter snow masks vegetation, Offroad Club Monaco and its partners emphasise that mountain ecosystems remain fragile. Wildlife, Ballarè notes, follows a natural rhythm in which humans are guests rather than owners—an understanding that should shape how skiers move through these spaces.
The club’s philosophy blends adventure with restraint: exploring untracked slopes while leaving as light a footprint as possible. That outlook is reflected in its partnership with Limone Piemonte, a resort known for its innovative spirit and historical role in the development of modern skiing.
Beyond the slopes, Offroad Club Monaco has also opted for a lighter, more visual way to communicate its values this season. A series of festive videos features Santa Claus swapping his sleigh for skis, off-road vehicles and even jet skis, moving between Limone, Monaco and the Yacht Club of Monaco.
The nautical segment showcases alternative mobility on the water, with bioethanol-powered and fully electric jet skis piloted by figures from Monaco’s powerboating community, including riders from the Monégasque Powerboating Federation and the Roca Jet Club. The sequence is playful in tone but deliberate in intent, spotlighting innovation and sustainability in sport.
Through a mix of technical expertise, environmental advocacy and carefully staged spectacle, Offroad Club Monaco is positioning itself as a promoter of adventure that doesn’t come at the mountain’s expense—a message that may be overdue, but one that lands firmly this winter.
