Winter sports, - DISCOVER, La Clusaz, Winter sports

The first skiers arrived in 1907.

In 1926, the teacher, Bertone introduced local children to skiing and consequently created the first sport's club in the resort. In 1928, villagers built the ice-rink and in 1935, the first ski lift came in to operation, the "télé traîneau". Since this time, the successes of great local champions such as Guy Périllat, Edgar Grospiron and Vincent Vittoz have also added to the resorts notoriety.

La Clusaz has celebrated it winter sports 100 years anniversary special event on Wednesday, February 28th 2007.

Some dates

1920: 3 hotels
1928: construction of skating rink
1931: opening of Tourist Office
1935: construction of cable-sleigh on the Aiguille Massif
1937: opening of French Ski School
1938: 9 hotels

The 60s
La Clusaz really took off as a winter sports resort after the construction of the Beauregard cable-car in 1955. In 1960 there was a skating-rink, 5 ski-lifts, 15 ski-instructors, and 14 hotels. The ski champion Guy Périllat had his heyday in the 60s and this played a big part in making the resort well-known (he won a Gold Medal for the combined at Squaw Valley in 1960).
Another native of La Clusaz, the mountain guide Yves Pollet-Villard, also brought fame to the resort by his exploits: his first ascents, outstanding treks, expeditions and rescues. He was Mayor of La Clusaz from 1962 to 1981.

The 80s
La Clusaz started to go in for big events and became the leading resort for artistic skiing thanks to the determination, hard-work and passion of Jacques Regard, the much-regretted Sports Director of La Clusaz.

The 90s
In 1992 Edgar Grospiron won the first-ever Olympic Gold Medal for artistic skiing (moguls) and was also World Champion in 1995 at La Clusaz. A media favourite, his sporting exploits made him the representative of La Clusaz throughout the world. In 1996 La Clusaz hosted its last artistic skiing World Cup and the jump ramp was dismantled. A new era of slide sports is now opening up: carving, snowboard, skwal....the slide sports generation is on the runs!
In 1999 Régine Cavagnoud entered legend by her victory in the downhill World Cup, 17 years after the previous French winner !
La Clusaz now had 2050 inhabitants and 20,000 tourist beds.

The 2000s
In 2000 a 16 place cabin-lift was opened in the Combe du Fernuy. In 2001 a four-person chair-lift was opened on the Aiguille Massif.
In February 2001 Régine Cavagnoud became World Super-G Champion at Sankt Anton. But at the end of October 2001 her career was cruelly stopped following a terrible training accident on the Austrian ski-slopes. At 31 the La Clusaz skier was at the height of her powers. Her courage, tenacity and passion will always remain in our memories.
In 2002 Vincent Vittoz became the first Frenchman to win a cross-country World Cup at Kiruna.
2003/04 Scheduled opening of Beauregard cabin-lift system to replace the cable-car.
2004 French cross-country team historical victory, relay during the World Cup in La Clusaz.
Laurent favre is 2nd of the half pipe world cup overall.
2005, Vincent Vittoz is the 1st french to win the pursuit cross-country world champion title!
The same year, Loïc Collomb-Patton wins the half-pipe world vice-champion title.
2006, Laurent Favre is 2nd, Superpipe at the X-Games.

A lot of champions!
La Clusaz has 8 world champions, in nearly all ski disciplines, an exceptional phenomenon for a french resort.
Guy Périllat (Double alpine world champion 1960 and 1966), Alain Pessey (1st speed telemark world champion 1986), André Majewski (Snowboard super G world champion 1989), Catherine Lombard (Aerals world champion 1989), Raphaëlle Monod (Moguls world champion 1989), Edgar Grospiron (Triple moguls world champion 1989, 91 and 95), Régine Cavagnoud (Super G world champion 2001) and Vincent Vittoz (Cross-country skiing pursuit 2005).