• The ski lifts are open again this season, some slopes are closed due to lack of snow, factors that require skiers to be careful to avoid accidents.

  • Despite this situation, the accident rate has not increased compared to other years in the resorts of the Alpes-Maritimes, according to the first aiders in the areas.

  • Managers nevertheless recall the rules of the "good skier" to spend "the best possible vacation".

The month of January recorded a record in terms of sunshine in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Good news for the inhabitants of the Coast, less good for the resorts.

"If it's not raining, it can't snow," recalled Marie-France Delansorne, the head of Météo-France in Nice, at the beginning of February.

Thus, in the Isola 2000 ski resort, snow has not fallen since the beginning of December and only 45% of the slopes are currently open.

In Auron, a neighboring area which is one of the largest in the department, two thirds of the slopes remain passable.

In the middle of school holidays, this situation concentrates the flow of people on a smaller area, which increases the risk of accidents.

But for Frédéric Gil, director of the Auron ski area, “the particularity of this season is above all that near the slopes, there is no artificial snow, no snow mattress.

So if we get out of it, we can hit rocks.

»

Daily prevention

That's what happened with a 17-year-old last week.

David Fulconis, head of piste operation and safety at Auron, explains: "He arrived at high speed and surely made a ski fault, which took him off the pistes, which are not snowy.

He had to be airlifted to Lenval hospital, seriously injured.

Even if there is appropriate signage, markup and posters in strategic places since the opening, it is necessary to remain cautious.

With his team of 24 first-aid trackers, David Fulconis also does “daily prevention during patrols on the tracks”.

"It's not just about speed, you also have to be careful where you stop, watch out for the downhill skier and avoid going off the slopes," he warns.

The director of Auron adds: “you have to make sure you're well equipped, that you're on the right track for your level and of course, even if it's not mandatory, wear a helmet.

We share a message of caution because everyone wants to have a good time after a season without lifts.

»

Animations for more prevention

Same advice in the Isola 2000 resort. Several times in the season are also devoted to prevention, especially during school periods.

"Every Saturday morning, we organize a welcome drink and a workshop led by the trackers who raise awareness and demonstrate", explains Lionel Fernandez, the head of the Tourist Office.

And on Friday mornings, we offer a time for discussion at 8.30 am, with the trackers to open up the area and learn more about their job.

»

In addition to these workshops, the Tourist Office, with Xavier Cousseau, world record holder in monoskiing, schedules the privatization of a blue run for each heavy period of attendance.

“People going down see their speed displayed on a digital board, details Lionel Fernandez.

This initiative also aims to prevent the need to wear a helmet.

When the skier sees that he has taken 90 km/h in 200 m and that in real conditions, he can be surrounded by 5,000 skiers, he has an awareness for the rest of his practice.

»

"No more accidents than in other years"

"With the news of La Rozière, it highlights things," says Lionel Fernandez.

The death of Gaspard Ulliel but also the accidents of the last weekend in Auron have shed "additional light on prevention", adds the head of the Tourist Office of Isola 2000 without noticing "more accidents than habit ".

Frédéric Gil concludes: “Since the start of the season, we have intervened 180 times, which is relatively similar to other years.

And most of the time, the interventions do not require urgency.

»

Planet

With nearly 210 cloud-free hours, January has never been so sunny

Society

Isola 2000 turns 50 this year, but what will the resort look like in another half-century?

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