VERBIER SKI PATROL: Behind the Scenes

Helly Hansen invited us to Verbier to meet the ski patrol team and discover what it takes to manage avalanche safety at one of the most complex mountain resorts in the world.

WORDS: JORDAN TIERNAN

It’s 6:30 a.m. in Verbier, and while the partygoers are just heading back to their chalets, we’re hopping onto the Médran gondola to join the heroes of the mountain – the Verbier ski patrol team – as they prepare to open one of the most renowned freeride ski destinations in the world.

Verbier, part of the vast Four Valleys ski area, has earned its reputation as a premier playground for freeriders. With its steep couloirs, wide powder fields, and cliff-laden faces, set against breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa, the terrain is as stunning as it is challenging.

But with great terrain comes great responsibility. It’s up to the Verbier ski patrol team to ensure the mountain remains safe and accessible. Helly Hansen invited us for an exclusive look at how they achieve this.

We start our day at Ruinettes, home to the ski patrol office. Tucked in a corner of the lift station, the team charts every layer of the snowpack, decides which faces require controlled blasting, and calculates the dynamite needed to secure the slopes. The morning is a whirlwind of activity, with patrollers who’ve already been hard at work for hours.

By the time alarm clocks are going off in the resort below, the patrol team is racing to get 410 km of pistes open for the day. The 10 cm of fresh snow from the night before adds even more pressure.

One of the most efficient tools at their disposal is the Gazex cannon. Positioned in avalanche-prone spots, the cannons fire remote explosions into the snow, triggering controlled avalanches without putting the patrol at risk. These cannons ensure that dangerous slopes are secured – many of which are popular with off-piste freeriders.

Today’s operation is led by Paul-Victor Amaudruz (PV), head of the Verbier ski patrol for over 25 years. As he explains, the increasing number of freeriders, combined with advances in ski technology and the popularity of events like the Freeride World Tour, has raised the stakes. “There are more tourists than ever, and people are less aware of risks,” PV notes. “In the mountains, it’s different – you have to assume people will ski the slopes above the pistes and potentially trigger avalanches.”

Unlike North America, where resorts control all terrain within their boundaries, Europe takes a more laissez-faire approach. Skiers going off-piste are responsible for their own safety. According to PV, this makes knowledge and preparedness vital: “In Europe, more people travel with the right equipment and understand the risks. It’s important to be aware and act accordingly.”

After the avalanche control work is done, we witness the team’s rescue operations. Whether they’re extracting injured skiers in the ‘blood wagon’ or marking hazards on the pistes, the patrol’s job is far from over.

As I prepare to leave, PV and his team are gearing up for another day of managing the mountain. With fresh snow predicted overnight, the dangers of avalanches will return – and the patrol will be ready once again.

READ MORE >>> A local’s guide to… Verbier