The resort of Roubion (Alpes-Maritimes) is experiencing difficulties linked to the lack of snow. The opening has been delayed while agents must adapt to global warming.
Ski lifts stopped, a bare snow front… The soulless decor of Roubion-Les Buisses (Alpes-Maritimes) illustrates the resort's struggles to start the season. The positive temperatures and the wind of the last few days have prevented the resort from using its snow cannons.
“It’s on the arrival of the track where we have small snow problems because we are in positive temperatures so the cannons cannot produce as we would like”, underlines to BFM Nice Côte d’Azur , Dominique Faure, head of the station’s grooming.
“We’re trying to get 30 centimeters”
The station agents thus concentrate on the most sheltered track. “We try to add about 30 centimeters, given the production we have, we do not widen too much to reach the bottom of the station.”
Even at the summit, the snow is struggling to settle. Gusts of 80 km/h have swept away the little snow present in recent days.
In these conditions, some vacationers appreciate the calm of the mountains. “It’s great for the atmosphere, to see the animal tracks in the little snow,” says Baptiste, who came from Saint-Raphaël to hike.
The obligation to diversify
To continue to attract people, the station has diversified. “We are forced to reinvent ourselves because skiing was seasonal, it becomes random, underlines Philip Bruno, mayor of the town of Roubion. We have developed plans B, the lack of snow, we are starting to get used to it.”
The idea for the municipality is to relaunch its summer activities during the winter, notably with the rental of electric bikes.
The resort is nevertheless hoping for the return of negative temperatures to produce as much snow as possible and distribute it on the slope. The ski lifts should be restarted this Saturday or Sunday.
Gaël Camba with Arthus Vaillant
