The origins of skiing in the Val Gardena go back to the beginning of the 20th Century, but it was in the 1930s that ski tourism was further developed. Drafg lifts were introduced, such as the mythical "sledge lifts" of Costabella and Ciampinoi - giant toboggans for 12 people pulled uphill be a rope; modern, efficent touristic structures were built, including hotels which attracted national and international visitors, and the introduction of a system for teaching and regulating skiing lead to the area's maturity as a ski resort.

This wave of increasing popularity of the ski phenomenon lead to the foundation, in 1937, of the "National Ski School Val Gardena" with three sections - Selva, St. Cristina and Ortisei. In 1938 the Italian Ski Federation (FISI)  organised exams for instructors at the Sella Pass, and many local skiers took part. These were years of strong growth in tourism, but were brought to an abrupt halt by the outbreak of World War II. After the war, skiing immediately resumed, but it was from the 1950s that a more noticable increase in tourism took place.

It didn't take long for ski School Selva to develop an efficient structure, to cope with the growing number of skiers. The econimc boom of the 1960s and the Alpine Ski World Championship which took place in the Val Gardena in 1970s, as well as the establishment, in 1974, of the Dolomiti Superski lift consortium, contributed to convert skiing form a simple sporting activity into an economic sector in its own right.

Throughout this historical development Ski School Selva has contributed through targeted teaching and information about the various ski disciplines.

For a more detailed history of the activities of Ski School Selva from 1937 to the present day, we recommend the book  "A white step in the history- 60 years Ski School in Selva" available from Ski School Selva.