È disponibile una versione in Italiano
All activities and programs of the SUCAI are reported every six months on "Album" magazine; ask for it at the Secretary's Office of the CAI in Via Barbaroux 1 - Torino
Who we are
The SUCAI (Sezione Universitaria del Club Alpino Italiano, University Section of the Italian Alpine Club) was founded at the beginning of the century (see also the history of the climbing school G. Gervasutti); already in 1921 a "manuale Sucai - Sci" (Sucai manual - Ski) was published, and in 1928 we find a patrol of SUCAI skiers in the polar regions looking for the survivors of the "Italia" zeppelin. The SUCAI was later incorporated in the GUF (Giovani Universitari Fascisti, Young Fascist University Students) and practically disappeared with World War II.
In 1941 a sub-section of the CAI Torino was founded with the name UNICAI, to become SUCAI-Torino in 1945, with the purpose of attracting young people, and specifically students, to the mountains, in full respect of security and by counting on a lively and stimulating environment. One of the founders was Mario Balzola, swept away by an avalanche in 1945, to whom a bivouac was dedicated at Col des Clochettes in 1946; in 1949 the hut "Giusto Gervasutti" was built in Vallone del Frébouzie, in memory of the "Fortissimo" (The Very Strong), the founder of the climbing school "Boccalatte", who died in '46 at M. Blanc du Tacul.
In 1951 the SUCAI originated its "Mountaineering-Ski School", the first one in Europe to teach this discipline. Its first director was Andrea Filippi, who died in 1959; there were 43 pupils, and already 112 in the following year. When the CAI founded the National Mountaineering-Ski Schools (1969), the SUCAI was the first one to be confered this prestigious title, and it held it until a single standard was set for managing Mountaineering and Mountaineering-Ski Schools. Still in present days the Mountaineering and Mountaineering-Ski School of the SUCAI-Torino is one of the main organizations of this type in Italy. Just for information, Mirella Malfatto was the first woman to be appointed Instructor in 1978.
The experience of the mountaineering-ski courses revealed that the skiing technique of the mountaineer-skiers, often self-taught people, was quite poor; therefore, in 1967, in collaboration with the Ski Club Torino, a first course of out-of-track skiing, was organized; since then, the course is repeated every year, with remarkable results on the technical improvements of instructors and pupils.
The rock-climbing activity was not put aside: in the same year an expedition to Hindu Kush (Afganistan) named a "Colle SUCAI" in the Sharon Valley and in 1982 a course of Invitation to Climbing was started to initiate young people to this wonderful activity.
Besides the alpine activity in its strict meaning, in the last years SUCAI people originated a number of different initiatives: from cycling to hiking, from dancing parties to... sailing (!), always in a spirit of fun and friendship.
These initiatives are regularly reported in the magazine "ALBUM - Ricordi che saranno", (Memories to be; see also previous issues), published every six months and available c/o the Secretary's Office of the CAI).
Spring Avalanches - (Climbing M. Giasser, High Valle di Susa)
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This page has been realized by Flavio Melindo (INSA - SUCAI Torino). |
