The lake is an area that unites the entire Lario territory and it is the element that characterizes both the Como and Lecco branches of the lake and the practice of traditional water sports and more. The Canottieri Lario Boating Club Sinigaglia 1891, present in Como for more than a century and reference point for rowing, has produced many world champions. Also the Lecco side defends itself well with the Canottieri Lecco Boating Club, founded four years after that of Como. Sailing, rowing, canoeing, swimming, tennis and table tennis: these are the sports principally played and taught. The Olympic kayak champion Antonio Rossi is from here. The lake not only offers the possibility of sailing, but also windsurfing and kite surfing. Notable points being the Gulf of Par and that of Piona near Colico. The Valsassina mountain valley in particular offers skiing in the winter with renowned facilities at Piani di Bobbio, Piani di Artavaggio, Pian delle Betulle and Alpe di Paglio; and in the summer walking or cycling along the cycle path connecting Barzio with Taceno. Fabio Palma, President of the mountain climbing group the Ragni of Lecco suggests three itineraries with different levels of difficulty starting from the simplest: the Zucco dell’Angelone that starts from Piani di Bobbio going to Barzio; Fantasma della Libertà, or the Ghost of Liberty, situated in the Grigne mountains starts from the Alippi at the Piani Resinelli ex-refuge, and finally the Dieci Piani di Morbidezza, the Ten Plains of Softness that is situated in Sasso Cavallo.