#3 Les métiers de l'ombre : mécanos et pros des remontées mécaniques

Behind-the-scenes jobs: snow craftsmen
Behind the scenes at the resort

Every day, men and women work discreetly to ensure the smooth running of Les Orres resort. These are the behind-the-scenes professions, often overlooked , but without whom skiing simply wouldn't be possible. Without them, there'd be no slopes groomed in the early hours, no lifts ready to welcome you, and no safety to guarantee a smooth descent. They make sure everything runs smoothly!

Have you ever wondered who transforms the slopes into gliding carpets every night, or who shapes the snowparks for your stylish tricks? Behind the scenes or under the spotlights of the snow groomers, a team of enthusiasts ensures that every snowflake is in its place.

We take you to meet the groomers and the shapers: discreet but indispensable pros who live by the rhythm of the mountain and make your ski day unforgettable.

Dameuse et préparation des pistes de ski aux Orres, coucher de soleil, Hautes-Alpes

©Les Orres

The groomers

Have you ever noticed the moving lights in the ski area after dark? Those are the snow groomers roaming the resort. They prepare the slopes for the following day.

Every night, 2 teams of around five people take it in turns to pamper the slopes. The first takes over from 5.30pm until 1am, then the second from 2.30am to 9am. A real goldsmith's job, so that everything's ready at daybreak!

In the field, different machines come into play: the "standard" machines, which follow one another to cover as much ground as possible, and the winch-equipped groomers, reserved for the steepest areas. Thanks to their anchoring system, they can move large volumes of snow. This is one of the reasons why access to the slopes is strictly forbidden outside opening hours: safety first!

At the front of the groomer, the snow plough levels out holes and bumps. At the rear, the tiller crushes hard snow to make it lighter and more homogeneous. And for the finishing touch, the famous flap smoothes it all out, giving it that ridged finish we love to feel under our skis.

And inside? It's futuristic : a screen displays snow depths in real time, thanks to a hyper-precise GPS system. Areas with little snow appear in red, those with plenty in blue. This information enables the groomers to distribute the snow as evenly as possible, so that the slopes are always at their best!