An explosion that saves lives.
Intro
One bang and tonnes of snow thunder down the valley. This is the work of Raphy Gillioz. Once one of the best freeriders in the world, he is today responsible for the safety of the 4 Vallées ski area near Nendaz-Veysonnaz.
Nendaz
Nendaz lies on a sunny terrace above the Rhone Valley near Sitten (Sion), the capital of the Valais. In winter it has everything a winter sports enthusiast could want, being at the heart of the "Four Valleys" ski region with its 92 transport facilities. During the warmer seasons, it is a holiday resort popular with bikers and hikers.
Hint
A new day dawns. The slopes are empty and the lifts are quiet.
Demolition expert Raphy Gillioz hops onto his snowmobile and rides it towards Mont Fort, the highest peak in his area.
He navigates his own cable car to the top.
He turns the key and pushes the right buttons with expert precision. He takes his skis, rescue sled and four fuel canisters with him.
Having reached his base at 2,900 metres above sea level.
... he enters the explosives storage cabinet and prepares a 2.5 kg charge. Each winter, he detonates up to eight tonnes of explosives on the pristine 4 Vallées slopes. These blasts help control avalanches and keep skiers safe.
Sometimes, even we marvel at just how much snow we clear.
Armed with explosives, a fuse and a detonator, he journeys to the remotest slopes on foot. Sometimes the work involves a helicopter – weather permitting.
The ski region around Nendaz-Veysonnaz is renowned for its numerous off-piste runs.
So freeriders are the main beneficiaries of his work. They come from all over the world in search of the ultimate freeride line.
Facts about the region.
Nendaz lies within the sprawling 4 Vallées ski region (Verbier, Veysonnaz, Nendaz, La Tzoumaz & Thyon). The best way to get there is from Siviez, and the possibilities for skiers and snow sport enthusiasts are versatile.
The 4 Vallées in figures
12 km of cross-country trails
40 km of snowshoe routes
92 lifts
100 km of winter hiking trails
412 km of ski runs
21,563 m of freeride lines
Stars on skis.
This powder paradise breeds Swiss professional skiers.
29 year-old Richard Amacker, from Nendaz, has enjoyed a number of successes at the Freeride World Tour. He and Raphy Gillioz share more than just the same home town. Until eight years ago, the demolition expert also took part in freeride competitions. He finished third at the world-famous Verbier Xtreme and seventh at the entire World Tour. These experiences help him to understand freeriders and their love of deep-snow adventures.
More pressure for the boss of the pistes.
As soon there’s a fresh fall of snow, the first people head to the slopes.
This is a major challenge, according to Raphy Gillioz. And makes it all the more important that the patrols work with speed and precision. But despite all his efforts, the family man cannot prevent tragic accidents.
During my 18 years on the job, I’ve pulled four people out of avalanches alive.
Unfortunately, help came too late for one. You have to keep your wits about you when doing any type of snow sport, states Raphy Gillioz.
Going down the slopes at high speeds is just as challenging as riding off-piste.
Raphy Gillioz rejects any notion of extra rules and regulations. «People are allowed to ski wherever they want. That’s the way it should be. But everyone should make sure they are well prepared, like our local hero Richard Amacker.»