Behind the scenes on the slopes
Photographer Tilby Vattard spent a morning with the teams who work hard every day to make sure you have the best possible experience on the slopes. Every winter, more than 200 people hired by the ski lifts work to ensure the well-being of skiers. Here's a closer look at some of these behind-the-scenes jobs...
4.03am - At the controls of his snow groomer, Jérémy Favre-Petit-Mermet consults the Snowsat software to prepare the slopes in minute detail.
6.12am - Grooming operation completed! Frédéric Missilier, head of grooming, poses in front of one of the 10 snow groomers at Le Grand-Bornand.
6.12am - Grooming operation completed! Frédéric Missilier, head of grooming, poses in front of one of the 10 snow groomers at Le Grand-Bornand.
8.05am - The piste squadron gets the ball rolling. Franck Fournier-Bidoz and Pierre Moulin, first-aid attendants, join their posts at the top of the slopes.
8.30am - With just a few minutes to go before the slopes open to customers, the final adjustments are made. Here, the installation of a signpost.
8.30am - With just a few minutes to go before the slopes open to customers, the final adjustments are made. Here, the installation of a signpost.
8.45am - In the snowpark, shapers Aurélien Avrillon and Renaud Damiani are busy shaping the last modules, soon to be delivered to the freestylers.
8.49am - Bertrand Perrillat-Amédée, sector manager, begins his daily visit to a chairlift guard before the first skiers arrive.
8.52am - Checking the routing of the seats in the station area.
10.03am - it's open! As the first skiers hit the slopes, Franck Fournier-Bidoz and Bertrand Perrillat-Amédé warm up over a coffee.
8.52am - Checking the routing of the seats in the station area.
10.03am - it's open! As the first skiers hit the slopes, Franck Fournier-Bidoz and Bertrand Perrillat-Amédé warm up over a coffee.
10.17am - Aymeric Maréchal, a ski patroller and first-aider, gets down to some maintenance and safety work on the slopes.
10.33am - In the workshop, mechanical team leader Jérôme Eminet carries out preventive maintenance on the line rollers (pulleys) on the ski lifts.
10.33am - In the workshop, mechanical team leader Jérôme Eminet carries out preventive maintenance on the line rollers (pulleys) on the ski lifts.
11.00am - At Central, the nerve centre of the ski area, Odile Epardeau, the ski area manager, ensures that the various operations are running smoothly.
11:27am - Joris Angelloz-Nicoud and Emilie Raynaud, the ski area's dispatchers, are responsible for regulating and tracking operations, keeping skiers informed in real time.
11:27am - Joris Angelloz-Nicoud and Emilie Raynaud, the ski area's dispatchers, are responsible for regulating and tracking operations, keeping skiers informed in real time.