TL;DR
The closure of La Sambuy ski resort near Annecy in the French Alps, after 60 years of operation, highlights the profound impact of climate change on winter sports. Last year, a mere four-week ski season due to a lack of snow prompted the resort's decision to dismantle its iconic ski lifts. Rising temperatures, diminishing snowfall, and financial constraints were cited as the main culprits. The town council's move to indefinitely close the lifts in June, effective September 10th, marked a shift away from a summer tourism-centric model previously adopted to offset winter losses.
In a stark illustration of the impact of climate change on winter sports, La Sambuy ski resort, nestled near Annecy in the French Alps, has made the heart-wrenching decision to dismantle its iconic ski lifts after 60 years of operation. Last year, the resort could only manage a mere four-week ski season due to a lack of snow, ultimately leading to this drastic action.Situated at an elevation of 1,200 meters, La Sambuy was renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, boasting ten ski runs, three chairlifts, and unparalleled vistas of Lake Annecy and Mont Blanc.The closure's chief catalyst was a complex interplay of financial constraints, exacerbated by rising temperatures and dwindling snowfall, as explained by local mayor and former resort manager, Jacques Dalex. He pointed to the changing climate, stating, "Between the 1960s and today, the climate has changed a lot. Now, there is less snow in the winter. This year, we opened for only four weeks, that's it. The season is getting shorter and shorter, and obviously, it is not going to get any better."
In a definitive move, the town council decided in June to indefinitely shut down the lifts, effective September 10th, due to the pressing financial challenges exacerbated by climate change. This decision marked a significant departure from La Sambuy's previous strategy, which had been evolving towards a summer tourism-centric model to offset winter losses.Nonetheless, the resort still faced a staggering operating deficit of €500,000 for the 2022/23 winter season. To survive, it would have required substantial investments in renovations and new equipment in the years ahead.The closure of La Sambuy will not only impact skiers but also bring an end to various activities such as rail tobogganing, mountain biking, and paragliding that the resort had offered. According to Libération, the municipal agreement spells out the dismantling of all structures associated with the ski resort within three years.
