Industry News
On Tuesday, December 24, an electrical failure on the La Festoure chairlift at the Superdévoluy ski area in France’s Hautes-Alpes left 240 skiers stranded, prompting a significant rescue operation. The malfunction occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve, rendering the lift inoperable and causing a lengthy rescue operation of the guests stuck on the chairlift. Guests were abseiled off the chairs or evacuated by helicopter.
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Local authorities mobilized substantial resources to ensure the safety of the guests stuck on the chair in freezing temperatures. The Air Section of the gendarmerie dispatched a helicopter, while four rescuers from the high mountain gendarmerie platoon, local gendarmes, firefighters from the mountain rescue group, and the ski lift team from Superdévoluy collaborated on the operation. A reception area was set up by the municipality to accommodate evacuees, with public road monitoring officers on hand to assist. By 4:45 p.m., the Hautes-Alpes prefecture confirmed that the evacuation was successfully completed, and all skiers were unharmed.
Located in the Dévoluy Massif of the French Alps, 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Grenoble Airport, Superdévoluy is a popular ski resort known for its family-friendly atmosphere and extensive slopes. Together with its neighboring resort, La Joue du Loup, it forms a connected ski area offering 100 kilometers (62 miles) of pistes across 60 marked runs, catering to skiers of all levels. The terrain ranges from gentle easy slopes to challenging black runs, making it a versatile destination. Superdévoluy boasts 23 ski lifts, including chairlifts, surface lifts, and a gondola, ensuring smooth access to its slopes. The resort sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), with the highest point reaching 2,510 meters (8,235 feet). Visitors enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Alps and excellent snow coverage throughout the winter season.
It has been an oddly troubled start to the ski season across European and American ski resorts with several lift breakdowns and accidents. While some have resulted in bodily harm, the incident in Superdévoluy, thankfully, had no reported injuries.
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