In Les 2 Alpes, one of Europe’s largest and most popular ski areas, safety on the slopes is not left to chance. The resort, renowned for its high-altitude ski area reaching 3,600 metres and its descents down to 1,300 metres, welcomes tens of thousands of skiers from all over the world every winter.
In this context, where families, beginners and experts rub shoulders, SATA (the ski area operator) has decided to take the lead. Anticipating risks, streamlining traffic flow and reassuring skiers: these are the pillars of the Ski Safe initiative, a scheme that has been in place for two seasons under the leadership of SATA Group, the ski area operator. The aim is to make safety a collective reflex, rather than simply a rule to be followed.
Ski Safe: concrete and measurable actions in the field
Launched in response to users’ growing expectations in terms of safety, the Ski Safe initiative is part of a process of continuous improvement in everyday life on the slopes. It is a structured programme, based on three concrete areas of action, implemented directly in the 2 Alpes ski area.
The programme is led by Nicolas Mathieu, ski patroller and programme manager, with the support of a dedicated team of ski patrollers who are on the slopes every day: “ Our goal is simple: to teach people how to ski safely. We have designed a progressive programme involving the entire resort and directly raising awareness among our customers. “. Through listening, teaching and action, Ski Safe aims to change behaviour and offer a more relaxed skiing experience that is better suited to the realities of the ski area.
Consulting with local stakeholders before winter
The implementation of the Ski Safe initiative in Les 2 Alpes begins well before the first skiers put on their skis. Before each season, the dedicated team organises a series of meetings with the resort’s socio-professional stakeholders: ski schools, accommodation providers, equipment hire companies, tourist office reception staff, as well as French and foreign tour operators. The aim is to build a shared vision of safety issues and gather concrete feedback from the field, based on previous seasons.
These exchanges make it possible to identify precisely the sensitive points in the area, the zones prone to saturation or poorly understood by skiers, as well as the profiles of users most exposed to risk. Based on this analysis, typical routes are defined to proactively guide traffic flows. This work makes it possible to adapt recommendations to the actual conditions on the ground and the type of clientele present. “At the end of the day, a large number of skiers descend the slopes, particularly beginners or those who are a little tired at the end of the day. To avoid congestion and reduce risks, the Ski Safe approach implements several concrete solutions,” explains Nicolas Mathieu.
Targeted communication to raise awareness every day
As soon as the season opens, a prevention campaign is rolled out across the resort, with a strong presence on digital media and local media. Dynamic displays, visible on screens located in the ski lifts and key areas of the resort, continuously relay clear and accessible awareness messages. At the same time, partner radio stations, such as Radio Oxygène, regularly broadcast safety reminders related to the day’s skiing conditions or areas with high visitor numbers.
“Our aim is to explain the rules to beginners, but also to remind experienced skiers of the right reflexes that are sometimes forgotten or simply need a little refresher.”
All of these messages are based on one central idea: conveying the message that safety is a shared responsibility. The specific characteristics of the area (high altitude, wide range of levels within the same zones, extensive network of slopes) require constant adaptation of behaviour. By disseminating information at regular intervals, those involved in the area hope to instil lasting reflexes in both occasional and regular skiers.
A daily human presence on the slopes
But it is really on the ground that the Ski Safe approach comes into its own. Every day, a dedicated team of seven state-certified ski patrollers patrols the Les 2 Alpes ski area. Some of these professionals have more than 18 years of experience, a longevity that allows them to know every nook and cranny of the resort and to anticipate skiers’ behaviour based on the weather, holiday periods and times of day.
Present from the moment the slopes open until the last lifts close, these pairs cover between 70 and 100 kilometres every day, ensuring constant visibility for users. Their mission goes far beyond the traditional scope of safety: they embody a form of active mediation, ensuring that everyone can enjoy an environment suited to their level. They observe, adjust, guide and intervene with discernment to avoid congestion on certain routes or redirect groups to less crowded areas.
“Our role is not to scold, but to support.” Nicolas Mathieu
They also provide personalised advice on choosing the right equipment or protective gear for the weather conditions, which often change at high altitudes. When a skier shows signs of fatigue or finds themselves with unsuitable equipment, they are the first to intervene, suggesting, for example, a descent by ski lift rather than risking a difficult return on a demanding slope.
Best practices integrated into skiing in Les 2 Alpes
Beyond the Ski Safe system and the daily presence of ski patrollers, Les 2 Alpes has successfully instilled rules of good conduct in the daily lives of skiers. This groundwork is based on a clear foundation: a set of ten essential rules, widely disseminated through the resort’s communication media, ski schools, high-altitude signage and digital channels.
These rules constitute a shared reference framework across the entire domain. They reiterate fundamental principles: respect for others on the slopes, the obligation to adjust speed according to skier density, and the importance of remaining vigilant with regard to signage and weather reports.
With its significant altitude variations, busy areas and technical slopes connecting the glacier to the valleys, the Deux-Alpes ski area requires particular caution.
Changing behaviour takes time, but the momentum is building. Every skier who leaves without injury is a victory for the resort.
And that is perhaps the programme’s greatest achievement: making safety not a hindrance, but a natural and shared condition for enjoying the resort more, day after day.
