Swiss resort turns to summer swing as Alpine snow thins
A Swiss ski resort has opened a giant mountaintop swing to attract summer visitors, highlighting a broader economic shift as Alpine destinations adapt their business models to less reliable winter snow.
The Villars-Gryon-Diableret ski area has opened a 12-metre-high swing on the Grand Chamossaire peak, launching visitors over a 2,110-metre Alpine drop to boost off-season tourism. The V-shaped structure, made to resemble an Alpine Ibex, holds three people at a time and is accessible to anyone holding a standard ski lift ticket.
The installation is a direct response to the economic threat posed by climate change to Alpine winter tourism. Martin Deburaux, head of the ski area, said the swing "provides us with a source of attraction that can function independently of snow conditions."
The business case for summer diversification is stark. The resort currently draws more than 700,000 visitors during the winter, but only 100,000 in the summer. Deburaux said the goal is to triple summer visitor numbers in the next couple of years, a target that requires building a wider range of attractions.
While the resort has seen record numbers over the past two winter seasons as skiers abandoned lower-lying slopes for higher, snow-reliable ground, the long-term strategy is shifting. "We know we are facing climate change," Deburaux said. "We are looking for substitutes to conserve jobs, the dynamism and the tourist economy built up around our ski lift facilities."
To execute this strategy, the swing was intentionally erected in an already active part of the resort. This leaves other areas untouched for visitors seeking a pristine nature experience, while the immediate vicinity buzzes with hikers and mountain bikers speeding down dirt trails. A nearby hillside also features a large ephemeral land art fresco by French artist Saype.
For visitors, the draw is the mechanical thrill of the ride. An elaborate system of cables and pulleys draws riders backward to a 90-degree angle, suspending them face down over the void before a security cable is released.
"I had a bit of a pit in my stomach" before getting strapped in, said Alexandra Henchoz, 37. "But once it is happening, it is just incredible. You feel like a bird flying."
"The feeling of hanging up there, and then being released, it's an amazing sensation," agreed 38-year-old Yannick Boudouin. "A mini free-fall and then nothing but fun," added his partner, 31-year-old Anais Fougairolles.
Not everyone was immediately enthusiastic. Marc Truffer, 70, admitted he was terrified before the drop. "It was so scary... I didn't even scream," he said. "It took my breath away going down, but then the view was magnificent."
