After the historic resort of Montgenèvre, the first to open its domain in the Southern Alps, it is the turn of Serre Chevalier and its 250 km of slopes to begin its season this Saturday, December 7.
This Saturday, December 7, the resort of Serre Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes) welcomed its first skiers with music, and with a breakfast offered by the tourist office. A concert was also organized from 4 p.m. on the cable car square in Chantemerle, with techno and pop on the program.
From 9 a.m. this Saturday morning, there were already crowds to collect the first package of the season. For regulars, it was time to get back to the top of the slopes.
“The children are starting ski lessons today, they saw the snow on the peaks. We are making the final adjustments and we are going to go there. Being a resident of Briançon, we are going there as soon as it opens”, declares Xavier, a a regular, who himself took up cross-country skiing two weeks ago.
“An exceptional estate”
Gabriel, aged 10, especially appreciates jumps and off-piste, and is also used to coming to Serre Chevalier, resident of Saint-Chaffrey: “For the moment, there is not much snow , I hope it snows a little more during the season, but otherwise it's always good to ski here I couldn't wait to come back, I always come on the first day.”
Some have traveled more kilometers to get to the Guisane valley. Anna and Lola came from Marseille, and this is not their first descent on the Luc-Alphand slope: “It's nice, it's lively, there are a lot of slopes. We're going to ski, eat a lot. But we're going to start slowly, it's the start of the season after all”, they say complicitly.
On the slopes, the regulars would not have missed this meeting for anything in the world and they assure us, Serre Chevalier remains the first choice: “We expected it, it's an exceptional area in France all the same, there has everything you need to have fun, to go for a walk”, comments Georges, who is quickly corrected by his friend Franck: “You forget the essential: there is snow and sun every year”.
Snow early in the afternoon
A feeling shared by Sophie: “I love my resort a lot, it's a lifestyle choice. I came here around ten years ago. In terms of climate, it's perfect: there is sunny today, nevertheless, I'm a little surprised, there's a lack of snow But we can start skiing, it's not bad already, we're not going to complain. We're waiting for the next snowfall.
And they won't need to be asked, since around 2 p.m., it was snowing as expected in Serre Chevalier.
Thomas and Joanes, who came specially from Toulon, were a little disappointed with the number of slopes open: for the moment 18 out of 80: “The snow is a little icy, but that suits us. It's a shame that all the lifts are not open, it's a beautiful area. There's snow in lots of places, but it's still closed.”
These two are regulars at resorts in the Southern Alps, Pra-Loup, Le Sauze, Foux-d'Allos, Montgenèvre, with a slight preference for Vars and Risoul.
