#1 – Winter
Today we have a seasonal article for you as we meet Marie Mathilde Morel, in charge of communication for the Mont Champ du Feu ski resort.
We are going to meet this young woman who is passionate about her territory and who will introduce us to the different "poles" of the Champ du Feu.
She will be our guide to discovering the station's locations, meeting some team members, and perhaps learning some secrets about this place.
This resort, situated at an altitude of 1099 meters and open since 1959, boasts an ideal location in the heart of Alsace. Accessible by ski shuttle during the winter season, it's the perfect and easily accessible destination for a family ski holiday. Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, sledding, and many other activities await visitors seeking thrills or, conversely, tranquility and nature!
Between tradition and innovation, we will dive into the incredible world of winter sports, here on our Alsatian balloons.
At the bottom of this article you will find all the information you need to contact or get to the station.
Now let's turn to the team members of the Champ du Feu ski resort in winter mode.
Let's meet Marie-Mathilde now.
Hello Marie-Mathilde.
Could you start by introducing yourself?
My name is Marie-Mathilde Morel and I work for the Mont Champ du Feu hotel-restaurant and the alpine ski resort which is open every winter.
How long have you been working for Champ du Feu?
I've been working here for 3 years
How did you get this position?
Are you originally from the valley or is it really the job that brought you to Belmont?
I am originally from the area as I was born and raised in Bellefosse, a few minutes from here on the Vallée de la Buche side.
It's a family business because it was created and built by my father. I joined the company 3 years ago, after the first part of my career, to support the teams already in place since the beginning of the project.
Marie-Mathilde, in a few words, what does your work for the CDF station consist of?
My role is to be responsible for all new projects and the development of the site in all seasons.
How is the 2022/2023 season going?
We are fortunate to have had snow-covered peaks for several weeks now!
Are tourists and locals showing up?
It's going well!
We started the ski and winter season a little late because we waited for the snow, which arrived in mid-January, but since then we've had great conditions, people are coming out in force, and it's going well.
Where do your holidaymakers come from?
Our first customers in winter are locals who come for the day, going up to the resort in the morning and returning in the evening after doing their sport or discovering skiing. As for tourists, we mainly have people from the Grand Est region, the Paris region, and Belgium.
As the communications officer for the station, what are you trying to highlight and what do you consider to be the station's real strength?
Mont Champ du Feu is a resort with many activities, it is a family resort where you can discover, summer and winter, the joys of outdoor sports and the great outdoors.
In winter, we have an ideal alpine ski area for beginners. We have 13 slopes with varying levels of difficulty, and we offer a variety of activities, including an ice rink, tubing, and towed sledding (which is essentially sledding where you take a lift back up to allow for a longer descent and more thrills for older children and adults!).
So what we really want to highlight is this multi-activity and outdoor aspect.
What kind of clientele do you have here at the Champ du Feu station?
The downhill ski slopes are mostly family-oriented, but the cross-country ski area offers plenty of opportunities for more athletic pursuits. Does this diverse offering allow you to attract two types of customers?
Here at Mont Champ du Feu, we primarily focus on the alpine skiing area, but we're fortunate to have a large Nordic ski area that's very well-maintained and caters to all levels. It ranges from beginners learning the ropes, like many school groups, to regular and experienced skiers, athletes who enjoy skating on challenging trails and come regularly.
There are also ski clubs like the one from Breitenbach that come once a week during the season.
The resort in a few figures!
How many employees are there during a winter season?
The ski area, ski rentals, and outdoor activities attract an average of 35 people. At the hotel, we double our staff to ensure adequate food service for skiing and après-ski.
How many ski passes are sold on average during a good season?
Approximately 40.000 packages in a winter season.
How many tourist nights are sold in a season?
We are at an occupancy rate between 60 and 70%.
We work a lot in February, operating at around 80% capacity.
How many ski instructors?
3
How many cross-country ski trails are there?
17.
How many alpine ski slopes are there?
13 alpine ski slopes.
We also have two tubing runs and an ice rink open every winter afternoon since last year.
Mathilde, is it possible to meet one of your ski patrollers to ask them questions about their job?
Yes, I'm going to introduce you to Gauthier who has been working with us for a few years now.
Hello Gauthier,
Can you tell us about your job as a tracker-rescuer?
Hello,
So my job is basically to ensure the safety of the ski area. In the morning when we arrive, we check that the trail markers are in place, and that all the safety equipment is also in place: banners, safety mats on the pylons. Generally speaking, we make sure the entire area is safe, that there are no hazards, that the grooming is good everywhere, and that everything is ready to welcome the skiers.
Gauthier, how long have you been a ski patroller for Mont Champ du Feu?
It's been 8 years.
And what do you do the rest of the year, Gauthier?
So I'm a real seasonal worker, winter in the mountains and summer I'm in Corsica where I do canyoning.
Many thanks to Gauthier for his kindness and availability!
The other job that intrigues me and that I would like to talk about now is snow groomer driver!
Who drives the snow groomer here?
So here at our place, our snow groomer driver is called Ludovic and he's right here!
Hello Ludovic,
Can you tell us about your job and what your day is like?
Hello,
My work starts at the closing of the slopes, around 18:00 PM. I start with the furthest part of the resort and finish in front of the hostel.
The job of the snow groomer is to spread out the bumps on the slopes and flatten them out.
This year there's snow, so I suppose your job is easier, but when there isn't much snow, how do you manage?
So either we make snow with snow cannons, or we put a roller behind a snowmobile so as not to damage the snow with the weight of the snow groomer.
If we don't have 20 centimeters of natural snow, we don't take out the snow groomer!
So you do this every day?
Yes, every night!
Many thanks to Ludovic for his time and kindness!
Snow work is something very technical, which requires a lot of knowledge of the terrain and the environment.
Apart from skiing, what else can sustain the resort?
At Champ du Feu, it's obviously about skiing, but also and especially about the site itself, because we have many people who simply come for walks and snowshoeing. We also have a large sledding activity.
But many people come simply for the joy of walking in the snow. It's true that the landscape is so different when you climb just a few hundred meters in altitude; you find yourself completely transported to a winter wonderland.
Our strength lies in the quality of the environment we offer, allowing you to breathe fresh air and stroll in nature.
What is life like here?
While we're not at 2500 meters like in the Alps, conditions can quickly become more challenging depending on the weather. How is it for you, who are here every day?
Things can change quickly, and you can also quickly find yourself alone because there are days when the weather conditions are not the best and there are few people around, you have to be prepared.
It's true we're only at 1000 meters altitude, but we have all the conditions of a major resort, with temperature variations and some rather harsh slopes that arrive quite quickly. We regularly have snowdrifts at the top, and the cold weather sets in; it's "just" 1000 meters, but it's still the mountains!
Marie-Mathilde, is your wellness area located in the hotel accessible to everyone or reserved for hotel guests?
It will be accessible from spring onwards, as it is scheduled to open next week. Access will be available to non-residents by reservation only, except on Fridays and Saturdays, to ensure a pleasant experience for everyone and optimal use for hotel guests.
What is your activity here?
Skiing!
Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing?
Cross-country skiing. It's a bit more athletic, it's a different activity.
I rediscovered it when we weren't allowed to go downhill skiing. I used to do it a lot with school in primary school, and I rediscovered it when the ski lifts were closed. But it's quite nice; it's a good substitute for jogging in winter!
Do you offer snowshoeing trails at the resort?
Yes, there is an accessible snowshoeing and walking route. This route is managed by the department.
For parents who would like to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing without the children, (or for children who would like to spend some time without their parents 😉) is there a childcare service at the resort?
What solution would you suggest to parents who come to you with this question?
Unfortunately, not yet!
We wanted to propose it, but it's still in the planning stages.
For now, the best approach is to enroll them in ski lessons. Later, once they're more independent, the local kids go on their own! There are a few areas here, like the Hazemann ski lift or the old Prés area, where parents can relax; they don't risk losing their children and can leave them to their own devices, which is really good for developing their confidence in themselves and in skiing.
Where is your favorite spot here, Mathilde?
My favorite spot is above the slopes of La Serva with the panorama right in front of you, or when everything is frosted and white, it's really super cool.
What advice would you give to people coming here on holiday for the first time?
Take advantage of it, come early to make the most of the day, and discover all the activities.
We offer several packages, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, so that leaves time to learn to ski, toboggan and have fun.
Mathilde, is there anything I might have forgotten that you would like to add?
Feel free to check out our website, which is updated regularly, and come visit us!
Thank you so much Marie-Mathilde for this very good time.
Thank you for all the encounters made today.
We will return to Champ du Feu to test the activities and meet more of the local stakeholders in this low-altitude resort which offers a choice of high-quality activities and accommodation.
See you soon on the slopes!
Contact Mont Champ du Feu:
+03 88 97 30 52
154 Serva Road
67140 Belmont