Energy crisis: how are ski resorts coping with soaring prices?

Benjamin Peter (in Font-Romeu), edited by Romain Rouillard 07:27, December 03, 2022

Energy sobriety invites itself on the ski slopes.

While several ski areas are opening their doors this weekend, vigilance is required on the spending side.

Europe 1 went to the Pyrenean station of Font-Romeu where it was necessary to redouble ingenuity to save money and adapt to soaring energy prices. 

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On the slopes, the first skiers are already enjoying their first descents of the season.

“We have a magnificent sky, excellent snow, let it continue!” exclaims Roger.

But behind the scenes, the opening of 50% of the domain this Friday represented a major challenge.

The president of the station, Jacques Alvarez, notably decided that this year there would be no night skiing.

“We are in niches where people will need to heat their apartments and their houses, so the exploitation of night skiing this year did not seem reasonable to us. On artificial snow, we only produce when it is rational That is to say, when it's too hot, we don't produce in such a way that it consumes as little energy as possible."

Reduced chairlift speed, increased ski pass cost 

The chairlifts have also been slowed down as soon as possible.

Sophie, in charge of the Airelles ascent, adapts the pace according to the crowds.

“Here we are in V3”, she explains in front of the computer which controls the ski lift with four speed levels.

"We see the speed of the cable, we are at three meters per second. Normally we are supposed to operate at four meters per second. And afterwards, for example in March when we will have a lot fewer people, we can drive at a meter per second, it's not a problem."

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This measure makes it possible to save between 15 and 20% of energy and the skiers adapt rather well to it.

"It's not embarrassing honestly, it doesn't change anything in practice so it doesn't bother and then ecology is important", assures Basile, student in Staps.

"There when there is no one it's fine, it's not too frustrating. But you still feel in the climb that it's slower", nevertheless specifies Jérôme, straight from Saint-Jean-de- Luz.

On the price side, the price of the package has been increased by one euro, which will certainly not be enough to cover inflation.

For their part, customers seem in a hurry to come and test the snow since the resort already has twice as many packages reserved compared to last year at this time.