Where to Ski And Snowboard - Val Thorens to ease piste hotspots

Val Thorens to ease piste hotspots

25th October 2016, by Abi Butcher

Val Thorens has developed a system that will tell skiers how busy its pistes are

The French ski resort of Val Thorens has developed a new system that will offer skiers real-time information about how busy its pistes are. The system, called “Ski Flux”, is part of the slope maintenance service in Val Thorens and will help skiers avoid the busy spots as well as give real-time information about snow levels.

Ski Flux was recently tested on the Grand Fond sector where six giant screens were installed at the top and bottom of the ski lifts. The system is the first of its kind in France, and Val Thorens hopes it will offer a number of benefits beyond traffic-free ski runs.

Val Thorens says Ski Flux will allow rescue services to be alerted sooner because the ski patroller nearest to the injured person will have a real-time view of the situation. It also hopes the system will lead to less water being used for making artificial snow since the exact depth of the snowpack on the slopes will be known. There are currently no plans to produce this information as an app.

There will also be geo-located weather forecasts and itinerary advice so that skiers and snowboarders are armed with as much information as they would like for a day on the slopes.

Benjamin Blanc, head of the Belleville Valley slope maintenance service said: “The digital revolution is well on its way for French slope maintenance services – both in terms of skier enjoyment and safety. Ski patrol equipment is being updated with new geo-localisation devices. In introducing these resources, Val Thorens is a truly pioneering and visionary force in terms of what will become common practice three or four years’ time.”

Read Where to Ski and Snowboard’s review of Val Thorens here