For equipment manufacturers specializing in skiing and ski lifts, the closure of the latter beyond February 1 raises fears of a blank year.

This would have long-term repercussions for these professionals, as orders from rental companies will be postponed, as will investments from resort managers.

The mountain world is suffering the full brunt of the Covid-19 crisis, while the ski lifts will not reopen on February 1, as professionals hoped.

Many even fear a white year.

And hoteliers and restaurateurs in the resorts are not the only ones who will perhaps experience a season without fallout.

Concerning equipment manufacturers, ski and ski lift manufacturers, concerns are also strong.

Especially since a white season would suggest a longer-term crisis for them.

"They expect a drop of 60% of their orders," explains Virgile Caillet, who represents the major ski and snowboard brands at Union Sport and Cycles, on Sunday on Europe 1.

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"As the stores don't rent, they don't change their material"

For OEMs, a year without station activity means the next two complicated years.

"Obviously, in the lowland shops, we do not buy skis. And in the mountain shops, we do not rent them. As the shops do not rent, they do not change their equipment and therefore do not buy back. of skis to suppliers and brands, "continues Virgile Caillet.

And because of a lack of cash flow, everything suggests that rental companies will not renew their equipment anytime soon.

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As for the managers of the ski lifts, Benoît Robert, the director of their Cluster Montagne group, is certain: they will shift their investments.

"Their next orders will take place in April 2022, in a year, and again ... if next winter is good," he says.

“Ski area operators are totally dependent on ski lift revenues. It is these revenues that allow them to invest”.

However, this postponement of investments represents a risk.

That of losing competitiveness next season against other popular destinations for skiers, such as Austria.