Our safety on the slopes

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Contact rescue service, dial 112 or find a mountain area staff member.

+33 (0)4 79 07 85 66

 

Safety on the slopes: a collective commitment



Safety is everyone's responsibility: adopting best practices, respecting other users and remaining attentive to conditions on the ground directly contribute to preventing accidents and ensuring a positive experience for everyone.

Together, let's cultivate responsible and considerate skiing and snowboarding, so that everyone can enjoy the mountains in complete peace of mind.

What is the Sliding Code?



The code of conduct for skiers and snowboarders is a set of values that we share on the slopes in order to make skiing and snowboarding safer, smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. It is based on the principles of responsibility, respect and caution: simple guidelines that allow everyone, whether beginners, experienced skiers or experts, to share the mountains in complete safety.

These are simple but essential reflexes that guarantee an enjoyable skiing experience for everyone.

Chronoski - A new speed slope

In the mountains, speed can be fun but needs to be carefully controlled. To remain in control and ensure everyone stays safe, a fun learning slope invites skiers and snowboarders to experiment and progress in complete safety.

Test yourself

Take turns on a gentle slope that has been specially designed and secured. The aim here is to adopt the correct position and launch yourself down the slope. Beginner visitors can discover their first sensations of speed.

Stop and say cheese!

Speed is only valuable when it is controlled. From a designated point, you will need to slow down at the right moment to stop precisely. A stopwatch will record your descent speed.

Remember to retrieve your photo and speed on YUGE!

Our safety advice

How do we prepare the mountain area?

Every morning, our teams carefully prepare the ski lifts and slopes for opening. The day after snowfall, they get up even earlier to secure the resort, but despite all the planning that goes into it, weather conditions can sometimes delay the scheduled opening. 

 Every morning, our teams carefully prepare the ski lifts and slopes for opening. The day after snowfall, they get up even earlier to secure the area, but despite all the planning that goes into it, weather conditions can sometimes delay the scheduled opening. 

Discover ski patroller job

Interested in finding out more about the ski patrol profession?

Young and old alike, come and meet enthusiasts to discover the different facets of the ski patroller's job.
Discover what you don't see:
- the meticulous preparation of the resort before opening,
- the operations to secure the slopes,
- the technical and human tasks that punctuate their daily lives.

📅 When is the event?
Every Tursday from 08/01/26 au 23/04/26.
Every Tuesday, only from 03/02/26 to 03/03/26 (except Tuesday 10 February)

🕐 Schedule
From 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

💡Practical info:

  • Meet in front of the ski patrol post at the top of the Transarc gondola (from Arc 1800) or the Arcabulle chairlift (from Arc 1950/2000).

  • A valid Pass is required to take part in the event.

  • Free registration, open to pedestrians and skiers, subject to a sufficient number of registrants.

  • Booking compulsory before 4:15pm day before

Sign up

Rescue on the slopes

In the event of an accident, alert the ski patrollers, providing them with the following information:

  • The name of the slope

  • The number of the nearest beacon

+33 (0)4 79 07 85 66

Off-piste skiing in the mountain area

Before leaving the marked trails, it is essential to be aware of the risks and adopt the right behaviors to stay safe.

In the mountains, there is no such thing as zero risk. Outside the secure area, the snowpack can be unstable, visibility can change, and many obstacles can be hidden under the snow. Avalanches, falls, wind slabs, and rocky outcrops are all dangers that can take even the most experienced skiers by surprise.

To limit the risks, a few essential rules must be followed:

  • Get informed before you set off: check the weather forecast, the avalanche risk assessment bulletin (BERA), and ask the ski patrollers for advice on which areas are safe to ski in and which to avoid.

  • Be properly equipped: an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and airbag backpack are essential, and it is vital that you know how to use them. Introductory workshops are offered at Avalanche Park to teach you how to use this emergency equipment.

  • Never go alone: travel in a group, always staying within sight and earshot of each other.
    Know when to turn back: if in doubt or in adverse conditions, it is better to stay on the slopes or change your route.

  • Anticipate rescue: off-piste, rescue operations are not immediate. Rescue costs are the responsibility of the person rescued and must be paid to the ski patrol.


Off-piste skiing can offer exceptional moments, provided it is practiced with caution, preparation, and respect for safety rules. If in doubt, our teams are available to advise you: never hesitate to ask them for help before setting off.

Everything you need to know about piste safety

What are the missions of the ski patrollers?
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  • Delimiting the slopes (staking and marking)

  • Preventing risks and signalling dangers as soon as the pistes open, by signposting dangerous areas and obstacles located on or in the immediate area of the slopes

  • Triggering avalanches to make the slopes safe

  • Helping people in difficulty or accidents
    Patrol the pistes and off-piste areas

  • Providing information: the ski patroller is a mountain professional who knows the ski area inside out and regularly monitors the snow and weather conditions. Don't hesitate to come and meet them at the first-aid posts and to ask them questions on the slopes. 

  

What is a dog-handler?
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You can't talk about the dog handler without talking about his dog!


They are a pair trained to search for victims buried under avalanches. It's a long training course where the symbiosis between the two must be perfect. Every year, these dog teams intervene on numerous avalanches as a complement to traditional rescue teams.

 

What is a slope and how do you find your way around it?
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A ski run is a space, groomed or ungroomed, between two lines of wooden poles called markers. These markers are of different colours depending on the difficulty of the piste.


On the right-hand side of each marker, a fluorescent orange height of around 20 cm has been added. This allows you to see which side of the track you're on in bad weather.


Regular marked signs give you your position on the track: the closer you are to number 1, the closer you are to the end of the track.


These marked signs are invaluable in helping the ski patrollers to locate the emergency services: when you raise the alarm, never forget to take down the name, number and sector where you are and give it to the ski patrol office.

 

Why does the domain open late on certain days?
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While you sleep, we are preparing your day.

What is PIDA?
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The PIDA stands for " Avalanche Triggering Intervention Plan ".

This is a procedure to make the open ski area safe, wherever avalanches have been recorded and/or observed.

It is implemented in the ski area as soon as a significant snowfall occurs, with the aim of protecting people and property.

On trigger days, weather conditions permitting, the ski patrols start work very early in the morning so that the slopes can be made safe and the ski area can be opened early in the morning.

 

How do you equip yourself for off-piste riding?
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Before talking about equipment, you need to find out about the snow conditions from the professionals (ski patrollers, instructors, guides' office), check the weather forecast, the  avalanche risk bulletin (BRA) and know the route you are going to take. It's also important not to go off on your own and to inform friends and family where you're going.

In terms of equipment, you need at least an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe, but beyond that, you need to know how to use it. To do this, you need to practise regularly: a DVA Park (a small area where DVAs are buried under the snow) is available free of charge at the Col de la Chal.

You can also use an avalanche Air Bag back pack, but all this equipment is not a guarantee of survival: if you have the slightest doubt about the slope you want to tackle, you must give up straight away.

 

If I have no signal, what should I do?
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In the event of an emergency, your mobile phone allows you to call the 112 emergency number.
If you are in an area without network coverage from your operator, it may be difficult to make an emergency call via this specific network.

If other networks are available (for example, those of other operators or public Wi-Fi networks), your phone may try to connect to these networks to make an emergency call, even if it is not your usual operator's network.
The people on the other end of the line will relay the alert to us.

Remember to locate yourself as best you can by giving your geolocation if possible.