ARCHIVES. When the lowest ski resort in France welcomed 2,000 skiers per week in Pas-de-Calais

The image is etched in the minds of many northerners as a joyous childhood memory. In the 1980s, Olhain Park, in Maisnil-Lès-Ruitz, rented cross-country ski equipment during the winter, making the site the lowest ski resort in France.

Climatologists are clear. By 2050, with climate change, there will probably be less snow, less often, and for shorter duration, particularly at low altitudes. This reduction in natural snow is already being felt in the Nord – Pas de Calais, which in the 1980s was home to the lowest ski resort in France.

Do you remember it? Of course, today you can go sledding at Olhain Park, in Maisnil-Lès-Ruitz, but there was a period when you could ski. We even thought we were in the Vosges or the Massif Central.

The lowest winter sports resort in France was therefore 50 kilometers from Lille, because the Artois hills peak at 180 meters. An altitude sufficient to ski two to three weeks per year. So from 1981, the pOlhain departmental arch decided to transform itself each winter into a cross-country ski resort, with a chalet restaurant, 10 kilometers of marked trails, learning courses and even a ski and boot rental service which was going strong; 350 sets of equipment could be rented each day.

At the height of the season, 2,000 skiers met there every weekmainly residents of the region who did not have the opportunity to go for winter sports. On social networks, we find some vintage photos and systematically, the comments are positive and nostalgic.

“Beautiful memories!! It was the only time I put skis on my feet!“, remembers Valérie. “I went there so many times when I was a child, it was great… The good times!“, adds Lily. “As for Michèle, she notes, bitterly: “In those years, there were still seasons and plenty of snow.“.

In the 1980s, winters were harsher than today and as Olhain Park was located higher than the rest of the region, the snow lasted three weeks, compared to one week in the city.

Management began by renting sleds after noticing that many visitors were using trash can lids to slide down the slope.

Then arrived the cross-country ski equipment, which was rented in a cafeteria which has since been converted into accommodation. In the evening, the staff was responsible for collecting the skis and counting them. If any were missing, we had to go looking for lost athletes.

As further proof that the resort was rated, a cross-country skiing championship was organized each year with candidates from all over France but also from Belgium, who took the competition very seriously, as evidenced by these images of 'era.

The activity stopped in the 1990s, at the same time as the park's natural snowfall. Some people sometimes continue to go sledding there, when the weather is suitable. As for serious skiers, they always have access to the 320-meter synthetic piste at Loisinord, in Nœux-les-Mines.

Please note that the Olhain park closes its doors for the holidays, from Tuesday December 24, 2024 at 2 p.m. to Thursday January 2, 2025 at 7 a.m.