Traditional mega-ski area Les Trois Vallees may shortly
be challenged by a rival French super ski area.
A
new mega-area, The 'Diamante Espace' is currently
in pre-development stages. The project would interlink
all the resorts
along the Megeve-Albertville axis including Praz sur
Arly, Megève, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Flumet, Crest-Voland-Cohennoz
and Hauteluce. The developers estimate the total of
skiable pistes would be over 600km.
The
project could ultimately extend towards Mont Blanc
adding Megève's neighbours Saint-Gervais, Les Contamines
and possibly even Les Houches.
Great! Good linked ski areas make for a variety and
different options on the mountain and most experienced
skiers would be bored of any of these resorts on their
own within a couple of days at the most.
The only problem Natives sees with the area is the
altitude. The highest point in the area is only 2350m.
Outside of vintage seasons, this will limit early
and late-season skiing and the commercial viability
of such a project.
The
project, which still still at proposal stage, is due
to start in 2002 and should be complete for the 2003-2004
season. There are question marks as to whether the
project will get off the ground. Disputes still need
to be settled within the Megeve team, who feel they
would be subsidising the smaller resorts for no reason,
and amongst the traditionalists who are concerned
the new area will damage their mountain communities.
