The Ski en Pays de Vaulx association, based in the villages of Saint-Jean-de-Vaulx and Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx, is the beating heart of a unique project: a ski lift run entirely by volunteers. This structure, which has been in existence for several decades, embodies the spirit of the small resorts of yesteryear. ‘It’s an old-fashioned ski lift, open only when there’s snow, and run by parents and local residents”, explains Mathieu Rougier, Director of Matheysine Tourisme.
The Saint-Jean-de-Vaulx ski lift was installed in 1977, at a time when snow was abundant. “At the time, we contacted the municipality to set up a snow line. I was young and was part of that request”, Serge Rejneri recalls. The ski lift, initially run by the municipality, was abandoned in 1980 before being taken over by an association in 2016, now known as Ski Club en Pays de Vaulx. Serge Rejneri, former mayor of the commune between 1983 and 2005, now chairs this initiative.
Pays de Vaulx ski club: a tradition that lives on thanks to passionate volunteers
The association, run by a dozen volunteers from the villages of Saint-Jean-de-Vaulx and Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx, ensures that the ski lift continues to operate while respecting a fundamental principle: “We don’t want to encroach on school time. Activities always take place outside school hours.
Maintaining a viable business despite the constraints
Relaunching the ski lift business was no easy task. “When we reactivated the association in 2016, the ski lift was at a standstill and had to undergo a thirty-year compliance inspection. The municipality supported us, in particular to cover the costs of this inspection”, he explains. Since then, a safety inspection has been carried out every year in November, before the start of the season and after the winter shutdown.
Volunteers are actively involved in maintaining the site. ‘Two volunteer technicians carry out the necessary checks, such as repositioning the poles, installing the protective mats and clearing the undergrowth from the piste, which is used as pasture for the cows in summer”, explains Serge Rejneri. The ski lift requires at least three volunteers for each weekend opening.
The ungroomed slopes retain their natural appearance, and access is offered at a more than symbolic price: 3 euros a day, mainly in the afternoon. And to add a warm touch to the experience, visitors are offered hot chocolate.
An inter-generational activity to promote social cohesion
The ski lift plays an essential role in the social life of the villages of Saint-Jean-de-Vaulx and Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx. “It’s a great place for families to get together. Parents and grandparents come to watch the children ski while enjoying a hot chocolate served in our hut.”
Children from the local communities, aged between 7 and 8, often come to start skiing on this field transformed into a ski slope. In keeping with this community spirit, the association offers free loan equipment for those who don’t have their own. ‘The aim is simple: to teach them to ski while strengthening social ties within the villages,” explains Serge Rejneri.
At €3 a day, the Pays de Vaulx ski lift offers much more than just skiing
“This weekend, we opened the ski lift and sold 25 passes. The users were mainly residents of the two surrounding villages. It was a time for sharing between generations, with grandparents, parents and children getting together to ski or simply enjoy the show. This ski lift is not just a piece of infrastructure, it’s a place where people can come together to share their passion for skiing”, emphasises Mathieu Rougier.
A modest project, but rigorously supervised
Despite its rustic appearance, the ski lift complies with all current standards. ‘We are subject to STRMTG (Service Technique des Remontées Mécaniques et des Transports Guidés) inspections, the same insurance requirements, and the same opening and closing protocols as a traditional ski resort’.
The ski lift sits on communal land, used by farmers the rest of the year. “In winter, when the snow covers the ground, it becomes a dedicated area for our ski lift. It’s usually open on Wednesdays and weekends,” explains Mathieu Rougier.
Sustainability and future projects: preserving the family character of the Pays de Vaulx ski lift
Although this fixed-grip ski lift is in good technical condition, its future is closely linked to snow conditions. ‘Last year, we were only able to open for two days due to a lack of snow”, Serge Rejneri laments. Situated at an altitude of between 1030 and 1085 metres (with a 55 metre vertical drop), this ski lift, although modest, remains a perfectly functional facility that is well suited to the needs of local families.
“The lift has a maximum gradient of 30% and an average gradient of 24.34%, making it ideal for children and beginners. With a length of 234 metres, the equivalent of the length of a field (!), it offers a pleasant descent perfectly suited to family-friendly skiing”, explains Mathieu Rougier.
For Serge Rejneri, the challenge of the Pays de Vaulx ski lift association is twofold: to maintain this authentic activity while attracting new visitors. ‘We want to continue to pass on to children the pleasure of skiing in a family atmosphere,“ he says. ‘This project is based on the idea of preserving an area where skiing remains accessible and friendly, in harmony with the spirit of the villages of Saint-Jean-de-Vaulx and Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx’.
‘This project is above all driven by enthusiasts who want to preserve this local heritage and offer their community unique opportunities to share in the experience”, adds Mathieu Rougier. The Pays de Vaulx ski lift association, which combines simplicity and mutual aid, continues to be a meeting point for the people of the Pays de Vaulx, in a friendly and authentic atmosphere.
Serge Rejneri concludes on a warm note: “Everyone is welcome, and it would be great if volunteers and visitors could bring waffles or pancakes. That would make it an even more convivial occasion, with hot chocolate served in our hut!
At the age of 73, Serge stopped skiing last year, but he is still passionate about this project, which brings local people together to share simple, precious moments.
