Nature Published on 22/02/2022
The Nordic centre in the Pays de Gex and its Monts Jura resort is exceptional. the La Vattay-Valserine domain has been awarded “Site d’Excellence” by Nordic France. If you are a Nordic ski enthusiast, you probably know this site intimately!
We invite you to find out more about it.
It all starts in the 80’s
Before 1982, the Gessiens used to go skiing at “La Vasserode” and “La Pillarde”. The “Jura Gessien” ski club organised competitions. The tracks were made by foot. But the former cross-country skiing champion Jean-Paul Pierrat came from Divonne les Bains with elected officials to evaluate favourably the quality of the site.
In 1978, Alain Girod, a ski instructor at the La Faucille ski school, you certainly know him if you often come to La Vattay, started to make tracks at La Faucille and then at La Vattay with an old snow scooter. It is thanks to his passion for Nordic skiing that La Vattay was born.
A few years later, in 1982, the Nordic domain of La Vattay became operational under the management of Alain Girod. That year they bought their first snow groomer (a 100 horsepower Kässbohrer) to groom the slopes.
As far as Mijoux was concerned, it was the Tourist Office and the Mijoux Sports and Shooting Society that made the tracks with scooters.
It soon became a success and many people started to ski there.
Anecdote: in 1981, the ski runs, and the grooming were exactly the same as they are today.
Always at the forefront of the trend
Over the years, the practice of cross-country skiing has taken on a whole new dimension due to the development of the “skating” style.
Hence, a small yet welcoming chalet with snack bar and ski pass sales was created. From 1985 to 1993, it welcomed the skiers.
Later, in 1994, an expansion plan allowed the construction of the hospitality infrastructures, among which the actual big welcome chalet with the ticket desks, the restaurant, the sanitary facilities, the showers, the picnic room and the rental shop.
The Nordic Centre has always been ahead of the game in terms of innovations to provide quality services:
- Audio-phone answering machine updated every morning at 7.30 am
- Daily grooming from November to April
- Purchase of 2 new, more powerful snow groomers with snow blowers
- Expansion and paving of 800 parking spots in the car park.
In 1997, the Nordic centre’s management was entrusted to the Communauté de Communes du Pays de Gex, then to the Syndicat Mixte des Monts Jura.
In 2021, the project was perpetuated by a balance of income and expenditure, including the depreciation of the machinery, and today, the Nordic centre is still self-financing!
La Vattay, today…
The Vattay-Valserine Nordic domain has been awarded “3 fir trees” label by Nordic France. It is a centre of excellence for the variety and quality of its slopes. It is also one of the most important Nordic sites in France in terms of visitor numbers.
With the quality work done by all the seasonal staff at La Vattay, the site is an exceptional place to be every winter. Many other ski resorts and skiers envy it! So, let’s go!
Anne-Marie, a Pays de Gex, Monts Jura resort and La Vattay lover, wrote this article. You will probably meet her on the slopes! It’ s easy to spot her: she wears a pink hat and has a camera in her hand 😉
And also, thanks to Alain Girod for his help.
