Abstract
South Tyrol (Northern Italy) has a strong cultural identity due to the cultural history, the border situation, a gross domestic product depending largely on tourism and a remarkable lively countryside. It seems that the local small ski resorts play an important role in promoting an alternative and authentic way of life. Moreover, they offer flexible working possibilities and serve multifunctional recreational purposes with an important social and educational function in peripheral areas exposed to rural depopulation. They are especially important for the formation of young talents in winter sports. South Tyrol has 38 small and very small ski resorts of a mere local dimension. They actively involve an important number of locals (also volunteers) and maintain an economic circuit and a community-based life style in remote and peripheral regions. Small ski areas have a special attraction to a specific segment of tourists, especially families with young children and elder people. The study focuses on the question: What future can they have in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment and in facing climate change conditions? Are they sustainable in an ecological, economic and social perspective? What benefits can these local ski resorts offer for the communities?