Italian Businessman Cuts Ski Lift Line With Helicopter

Tired of waiting in lift lines?

You could make like Italian businessman Giorgio Bortolo Oliva who, last week, according to several news reports, used a helicopter to fly and land at about 2,400 meters near the slopes of Grostè, an area of the ski resort Madonna di Campiglio.
 
Then, Oliva exited the helicopter and started putting on his ski boots before heading down.

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Members of the carabinieri patrolling the mountains spotted Oliva and his helicopter. The businessman had several necessary papers, including valid insurance and a flying license, but hadn't secured authorization to land at the altitude that he had.

Provincial law in the area requires those planning to land above 1,600 meters to secure prior permission, Rai News, an Italian media outlet, reports. For his violation, Oliva was fined €2,000.

Oliva did have an explanation for his actions, though. He reportedly said that he was busy with work and wanted to expedite his ski day by using a helicopter. After being fined, Oliva took off soon afterward, The Times reports.

The skier and businessman is the president of the Industrie Riunite Odolesi (IRO) steel group, TiscaliNews reports.

Europe is known for its sporty liftlines, where skiers jostle to get to the chair as fast as possible. Snaking around other skiers is fair game, but Oliva, apparently, couldn't be bothered to participate in the rat race.

His destination of choice, Madonna di Campiglio, is a sprawling ski resort in Italy's Autonomous Province of Trento. Across its three ski areas—Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, and Folgarida-Marilleva—there are 109 trails, 97 miles of slopes, and 62 ski lifts.

Notching every run at Madonna di Campiglio would take a significant chunk of time, although it would be quicker if you had access to a helicopter and didn't mind losing a few thousand Euros for your troubles like Oliva.

Meanwhile, mere mortals can opt for one of the many heli-skiing outfits peppered throughout North America and the world. Be forewarned, though—even the legal option usually isn't cheap.