A day as a ski patroller – a thrilling story from Chamonix
To celebrate International Ski Patrol Day, we wanted to bring some light into their routine - peak behind the curtain of day in the life of a man on a daily mission to secure la Flégère ski area in Chamonix Mont-Blanc.
"Being a ski patroller is a job that involves a lot of things. It can't be summed up in one sentence. I'm proud that we were able to show on a broader scale our job, and maybe inspire future vocations!"
Tim Moniot - SCOTT Ambassador and CDMB Ski Patroller
SCOTT X COMPAGNIE DU MONT-BLANC
A long lasting partnership. SCOTT is the Official Safety Partner of the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, which currently equips some 80 ski patrollers at La Flégère, Le Brévent, Le Tour - Balme, Les Grands Montets, Les Houches and the iconic Aiguille du Midi.
We are proud to equip the Ski Patrol teams with helmets, goggles, avalanche bags, poles and sunglasses. They work closely with us on product development, as such, our equipment has been put through its ruthless test by weather and altitude, season after season, for nearly 15 years.
Ski patrol products
Symbol 2 Plus: It’s important that ski patrollers keep themselves safe no matter the conditions or danger they may find themselves in. They can put trust and confidence in the Symbol 2 Plus helmet. The integration of Mips, allows for protection against rotational impacts, which is an important feature for the ski patrollers, in the cases of high head impacts. 360 pure sound is another important feature, which allows the ski patrollers to hear clearly all the noises in their surroundings, allowing them to carry out their job with focus.
React AMP Pro: Being a ski patroller requires an immense amount of focus and the ability to see clearly in the most extreme weather conditions. This is why the ski patrollers from CDMB choose to wear the React AMP Pro goggle. These goggles allow them to enhance their contrast and clarity, thanks to the Amplifier Lens Technology, which ultimately amplifies their vision, allowing them to see everything, no matter the weather. The magnetic lens change system allows them to easily change the lens, which is important for ski patrollers, as weather in the mountains can change extremely
Cervina: It’s essential to protect the eyes when out in conditions where light reflection is extremely high. This is why the ski patrollers wear the Cervina sunglasses. These sunnies are either category 3 or 4, allowing for important protection of the ski patrollers’ eyes, against the harsh brightness of the sun on the snow.
Patrol E2 30: The crucial job of a ski patroller is ensuring the mountains are safe for everyone. This requires setting off controlled avalanches, which obviously comes with a lot of risk. This is why it’s important for them to have the Patrol E2 30 Avalanche Backpack. The LED on the side of the Alpride E2 Airbag system allows them to quickly check each other before setting out for the day. This is also a smaller system allowing the patrollers to store more gear in the backpack. Along with this, the backpack is made from Cordura fabric and can therefore withstand incredibly tough conditions, which the ski patrollers often find themselves in.
Mountain 35 Pack: Ski patrollers need to get to and from the mountain, along with all the important gear they need to ensure your safety. This is where the Mountain 35 Pack comes in super handy for them. With multiple storage pockets and fixation points, this backpack allows the ski patrollers to easily and comfortably carry their belongings to and from the mountain.
Poles: The ski patrollers are equipped with poles with a shaft made from our strongest aluminium, 7075. The patrollers find the poles to be incredibly useful, especially when it comes to specific uses, like removing ice from the markers. The markers usually stick to the snow because they’re made out of wood and easily get layers of ice on them during the night. By using the two poles simultaneously and tapping hard against it, it causes a strong vibration that allows the ice to fall off, making it much easier to work on straightening it afterwards. This is only possible with extremely strong poles.
