Three questions for Claudio Zuccolini

What does zai mean to you?

For me, zai is a part of some of the most beautiful moments of winter. When I know I have zai skis on my feet, I think of early mornings on the piste, especially in Engadin, when the slopes are freshly prepared and the day is still quiet. It is this feeling — being out early, moving through the mountains, and enjoying the calm of the first runs — that I associate most strongly with zai.

What is your connection to the mountains?

My connection to the mountains goes back to childhood. As a native of Graubünden, I grew up close to the mountains and started skiing at an early age. Engadin has remained especially important to me: I went to boarding school there, my wife is from the region, and I return whenever time allows. If I had to choose, I would always choose being in the mountains.

Pontresina in particular is one of the places closest to me. From there, the way up towards Corviglia and Piz Nair opens onto views over the whole landscape. For me, these places are not only beautiful, but deeply familiar. Still, I admit that choosing the most beautiful place in the Engadin is almost impossible, because there are simply too many.

How do you spend the summer, and what are you looking forward to this winter?

Even when I am not skiing, I spend much of my time outdoors. In summer, I enjoy cycling, whether on a mountain bike higher up in the terrain, on the road, or through the fields with a gravel bike. Golf is my second passion. Just as I like to be on the piste early in winter, I like to be on the golf course early in summer, especially in Samedan, when the morning mist still hangs lightly over the landscape.

That being said, by the end of September, that feeling begins to change. I want to enjoy the summer, but as autumn approaches, the anticipation for winter returns. As a zai ambassador, I am especially looking forward to trying the latest zai skis and new clothing collection. For me, that first sense of excitement — the quiet “tingling” before winter — is already part of the joy.

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