The scene is surreal.
In a small car park in the ski resort of Courchevel (Savoie), a stream of taxis, private cars, shuttles from luxury hotels and the ski school, drop off many skiers at the start of a slope, causing traffic jam.
"One would think oneself in Paris at rush hour", sums up, annoyed, a Parisian vacationer who nevertheless came to seek the pure mountain air.
Despite the closure of the ski lifts due to Covid-19, the very chic resort of Savoie did not want to deprive its customers of a few ski runs during these February holidays.
So she prepared, groomed and secured a two-kilometer blue run that starts from the top of the resort, above the altiport, to reach the heart of Courchevel, on the famous Croisette.
"We came on vacation, so we take advantage"
An initiative immediately denounced by environmentalists.
Because, from now on, it is taxis, cars and shuttles which act as ski lift or chairlift.
With the pollution inherent in this kind of traffic.
“I have had to take the taxi three times since the beginning of the morning, recognizes Gilles, a Parisian tourist who puts on his skis.
It is true that this incessant ballet of taxis is not very green.
And with the Covid, these vehicles that carry a lot of customers, this is not ideal either.
But we came on vacation for three days.
So we take advantage of it.
"
Catherine, who comes from Quebec, does not hide her surprise: “I did not expect to find such traffic jams in the Alps for skiing.
I play the driver for my three children and my husband.
I drive them up here so they can get off the track.
And then I go back to look for them downstairs.
To reassemble them.
The children are happy.
It's essential.
"
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Eric, a ski instructor, sends several small pupils off a shuttle: “We are being deprived of lifts this year.
We have to find solutions to work a little ”.
The shuttle driver admits that “all these vehicles going up and down is absurd.
This is not the image we would like to give of the mountain.
But we have no choice, we have to satisfy customers ”.
"A disastrous symbolism"
Frédi Meignan, president of the mountain protection association Mountain Wilderness denounces this operation: “When we know that most of the pollution in the resorts is caused by transport, replacing the lifts with cars is a disastrous symbolism.
And bad publicity for Courchevel.
While there are plenty of other things to do in the mountains right now, such as cross-country skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sled dogs.
"
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Jean-Yves Pachod, the mayor of Courchevel, assumes: “We try to satisfy our customers as well as possible.
And especially the children.
They are still better on this track than in front of a video game.
And then, we must animate our stations, deprived this year of lifts ”.
Alexia Lainé, marketing manager of the resort, promises that Courchevel "will offset the carbon footprint linked to car traffic through certain actions still under study".
Without convincing everyone.