When the slopes empty and silence descends on the mountain, another show begins. One that few skiers see, but which everyone appreciates in the early morning: the ballet of the snow groomers. We went to meet Julien, who has been a snow groomer in La Plagne for 12 years, to discover the behind-the-scenes world of a job that is as technical as it is poetic.
It is 5:30 p.m. As the last skiers head for the lifts, Julien starts his shift.
"We start when everyone else stops. Our mission is to make the slopes perfect for the next day. "
Aboard his machine, he begins his rounds. "We call it the snow groomer ballet, and it's true that there is something choreographed about our movements. We pass each other, talk on the radio, and avoid unnecessary crossings."
The work continues late into the night.
"We finish at 2 a.m. But the most rewarding part is seeing the first tracks in the early morning, when everything is smooth and ready to welcome skiers."
Julien concludes with a smile:
"We're not often seen, but we're there every night to make sure the magic happens from the very first descent."