+44 (0) 1635 37774RESORT LATEST
Unfamiliar with the Trois
Vallees? Here's a short video introduction about the resort of Courchevel
- view video
New
piste at Verdons. Improvements to Les Arolles piste. Plantrey Snow Park
moved to the Dunes & Canyons zone on Verdons.
For info on these and other resort developments - read
more
Get to know all the
stations and ski levels of the Trois Vallees with our detailed guide
- learn more
The resort
has assembled a variety of piste and station entertainment for all
resort levels - check it here
Inconsistent piste
colour grading debate, do you see red? - what's
it about
Find out more about our
resort and mountain location with Google satellite & terrain maps
- here
Contact numbers
in resort - here
Snowcannons - Societe 3V Lift Company Position
>> Sustainable development
in the 3 Vallees
>> Skiing &
the environmental issues
Many European resorts have experienced a decrease in rainfall during the last three years which has led to some resorts having to better regulate their water supply to conserve supplies. The reduction in the volume of snowfall across the Alps has led to an increase in the use of artificially created snow in many resorts. Ski Press World has reported that low lying resorts like Les Gets (1172m) are spending up to €300,000 searching for additional water supplies in an effort to meet an increase in demands for resort expansion.
Contrary to received wisdom, man made snow is neither an attack on the environment nor an excessively greedy in energy consumption. "It is clear, however: man made snow is widely misunderstood. The absence of clear accessible information about man made snow is the basis of mistaken beliefs, a priori objections that could, in the end, damage the image of mountain resorts and seriously affect their economic survival.” Jean-Charles Faraudo, President of the SNTF (National Syndicate of Telepheriques of France), has identified the problem.
Ask most people what their feelings are about ‘snow cannons and there is a good chance that their answers will not be favourable…. The reason for this can be summed up as an ‘absence of information. Where does the water they use come from? What are their energy needs? and What is their impact on the environment? The answers are straightforward but often difficult to find.
HOW?
To produce man made, a mixture of water and pure air need to sprayed, while
maintaining a balance between cold and humidity. The higher the humidity,
the colder it has to be. The important point to emphasise is that no additives
or chemical agents are used in the manufacturing process
WHY?
Planned mainly in November, in order to prepare for the ski domain opening,
man made snow is used to form a bed, which helps to retain the snowflakes
during the first snowfalls. The primary objective is to prepare the terrain
The 3 Vallees ski lift companies put down a ratio 60 cm man made to 5 or 6
meters of natural snow
WHAT IMPACT?
The impact on water is minimal. Laurent Burget of the Mountain riders association,
points out, “It’s a matter of retention and not consumption. The
water is not pollute when the snow is manufactured and it returns to the natural
environment later with the thaw: 70% goes into the rivers and 30% evaporates
into the atmosphere. “Water retention is regulated which must adhere
to contractual terms particularly those bearing on the ecological impact created
by the work”. The consumption of electricity necessary for the production
of man made snow is about half that of the consumption by the ski lifts. Laurent
Burget concludes: “it’s not the snow machines that have the greatest
impact on the resort, but as in the towns, it’s transport and heating”
IN FIGURES
1 cubic meter of water produces 2 cubic meteres of man made snow
1 cubic meter of man made snow consumes 2.8kWh
About 20% of French pistes are equipped with snow machines compared to 40%
in Italy or Austria.