Our primary work area on this shift is one of our all-time favorite sectors of the Mountain, the Summit off of the Expo Quad Chair to the North-East including Sissy Schuss and La Griffe, but first, we have to get there from the main Mountain Service Garage, located just North and below the top of the Flying Mile Quad Chair.

Proceeding to Beauvalon, then up to the Summit, down the right side of Beauchemin, up Gagnon half way to turn left into the side door of Sissy Schuss, we start making laps there, including La Griffe.

The first thing you realize is that driving up any of Tremblant’s diverse range of trails is such a completely different perspective than the feeling you have from years of skiing down them.

The steepness seems quite a bit more dramatic for example, as we are sometimes pushing what seems like a wall of snow before us while looking skyward on the most inclined portion of Le Griffe. It’s an impressive sight indeed to watch how much weight our machine is moving upward to be spread back over the run from the days traffic.

It does not take long to realize though, that the real magic of the process lies in the skilled hands of people like our units operator Claude, who has been doing this job for literally decades. His experienced hands move on the controls of of the BR350 Groomer/Packer instinctively. He’s not looking anywhere but where he wants the machine to go and with subtle but firm motions of the control levers, it almost magically travels to the points he’s focused on, all the while miantaining the most level ribbon of finished corduroy you can imagine behind.

This is the point that triggered the connection to Sculpting. Claude is not just driving this machine, he is using it as an extension of his hands and eyes to guide its tracks, blades, powerful tiller and corduroy sweeps to create a rendering of smooth Alpine descents that is nothing less than artistic.

The flow of corduroy from side to side of each run that he works on, is in perfect harmony with the contours of the land. Spots that need attention for whatever reason are given extra snow and carefully blended into a seamless field of immaculate white lines that when finished, go on as far as the eye can see.

An additional facet of our drivers skill is his ability to work with the machine in a rhythm that suits its abilities very well. Even with a heavy uphill load, he is not pushing the machine to the point it seems stressed. Working hard, for sure, but never beyond the point that it is doing anything more than using its muscle in exactly the way it was designed and intended to do.

An efficient combination of man and machine can cover just around 4 acres per hour, so obviously to cover anywhere from below 100 acres at seasons start, to what we estimate would be well over 500 acres at the seasons maturity, it takes an inventory of of equipment and support staff that can be deployed to cover the needed surfaces overnight.

The Mountain Operations Management Staff has that down to a science, so much so that it might be easy for the average Tremblant Skier or Snowboarder to come to expect the fine groomed surfaces we see each and every morning, just because they are so consistently there. Behind the scenes however, the logistical efforts required to generate the smooth morning conditions mean the co-ordinated action of a team that must operate with military precision to not only cover the ground foot by foot, acre by acre, but support the equipment with maintenance and service that keeps everything in top shape.

Like all Ski Resorts, Tremblant does not groom everything on the Mountain because there are many Mountain users that prefer natural conditions on certain trails or runs, so the scope of this article does not involve the strategic decision making regarding grooming on specific runs/trails, other than to say that we understand that many factors including Customers, Ski Patrol, Mountain Operations and Resort Management may all factor in to the final decisions.

A significant purpose for this article is to convey to prospective Tremblant visitors/guests the exceptionally fine quality that Mountain crews here routinely deliver. It is a consistent high quality grooming level that you can not find at many large ski resorts, simply because the groomed acreage is so extensive.

This is a standard feature of the Tremblant Alpine experience from the first day of the season to the last, and every day between.

This point is brought into clear focus with the Ski Magazine 2012 annual resort guide issue where Tremblant ranks ahead of all but one of its big mountain peers in the Grooming survey category. Coming in ahead of names like Stowe, Lake Placid, Killington, and Jay Peak,  none of which even made the top 10 of this category as Tremblant did, means that when you make the decision to come to Tremblant, within the scope of Mother Natures weather variables that all Ski Resorts have to contend with, your benefit is that you can rely on having the best possible surface conditions.

We think the Grooming Staff are the un-sung heroes of the very fine conditions we see virtually every day.

They start after we’ve had a great day carving up the Mountain, and they work with the sometimes overwhelming odds of Mother Nature until just before we get back for another fresh start the next morning.

We rarely get a chance to thank them, so here’s our 3 Cheers for the Mountain Operations Grooming Staff!!! 

You do great work!!!

You can read about Tremblant conditions/grooming, both current and archived, in our daily Mountain Reports.

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(Get Real Clauses:

Sometimes we get slammed for being too positive, however, some people would complain about the bruising if they fell into a ditch full of gold nuggets.The people that have the most fun in any outdoor sport effected by weather, are the ones that can adapt the most and the quickest, so within that reference, we will always remain positive.

As fine as things are for the vast majority of groomed areas, that does not mean there are no glitches. Dealing with Mother Nature means that not everything can be perfect, only close.

Mountain users need to use common sense with regard to speed, braking and steering control where natural hazards can exist at any time of season for reasons, including, but not limited to: unpredictable weather variables, daily traffic use, steeper pitches, around trail intersections, run-out zones, or areas that are intentionally left un-groomed for experts who prefer those conditions.

Many complaints can be linked to dull edges, terrain selections too difficult for the users skill set, too much speed for the conditions, or all of the above.

If you have sharp edges, select terrain that is within your skills and control your speed, you will have a great day on the slopes of Tremblant. Period.

If you have not had a ski or board tune-up within 10 days, or if you have been running metal rails/features that instantly dull edges, get your edges and bases done if you want to ski or board open Alpine terrain and maximize safety, control and fun!)

“Tremblant Skis Off With Top Honors Again…”

Taking first place over Eastern North Americas biggest and best such as Stowe, Whiteface/Lake Placid, Stratton and Killigton is no easy feat at the best of times, but Tremblant’s ability to remain solidly on top in the number 1 position for 15 years in a row is nothing short of both remarkable and a testament to the quality of the overall Resort experience.

Year after year, Tremblant continues to deliver a balance of fine accommodations, food  and  Mountain conditions that consumers find an irresistible combination.

Ski Magazine’s Reader Resort Survey covers 20 different categories and in arguably the most important one, “Overall Satisfaction”, Tremblant comes out ahead of all the other “Major” resorts. We say “Major” because there are 3 smaller ski areas ahead on that list, but they are nowhere near the size and scope of Tremblant or the other big resorts listed, which is an important distinction for those seeking the kind of amenities that can only come with the bigger developments.

Similarly, and in a category we really like because we’re “Front Side Carvers” and we just love to rip off thousands of turns every day, there are only 2 of the major’s listed in the top 10 under “Grooming” and you guessed it, Tremblant is right up there. Anyone that’s skied the big areas will know exactly why… the highly skilled members of the Tremblant Mountain Operations crews are just about the peak of perfection when it comes to covering hundreds of acres every night with some of the finest corduroy you’ll ever carve an edge on.

Be sure to check out this Special Edition “Ski” Resort Survey issue, available right now, where ever magazines are sold. We found our copy in Canada at a local “Chapters” book store and we were thrilled to find this great feature that confirms what we’ve known all along… Tremblant Rules!

The 10th annual 24h Tremblant raised a record breaking $1,857,268  for children’s charities! Close to 1800 participants along with event sponsors Volkswagen, Telus and others, as well as the generosity of Mont Tremblant made it all possible. Check out our HD video of the 2010 event below! We’ve also got some free downloadable desktop wallpaper for you below too, taken during the night of the event.

24h Tremblant 2010! (video below plays in HD, click here for a lower-res version):

24h Tremblant Desktop Wallpaper (1600 x 1067)

To preview an image, click on the image below. To download an image, right click (Windows)/ option click (Mac) on the image’s download link further below, and then choose “save link as…” to save it to your computer.

Preview gallery:

Download links:

Close-up shot: download link

Wide angle shot: download link

Cheers and happy holidays from Tremblant360.com!

Come play in the snow! (video below plays in HD, click here for a lower-res version):

Opening day video coverage! (video below plays in HD, click here for a lower-res version):

Opening day video coverage (video below plays in HD, click here for a lower-res version):

Announcing free online classifieds for the Mont Tremblant community!

We’re excited to announce the launch of our free online classifieds section! We’ve been working on it for over a year now, integrating it into the site and it’s finally ready. It only takes a few seconds to register a free account and then you’ll be on your way to posting classifieds that are very quick & easy to use! You can get to our new classifieds section by clicking on “Classifieds” in the main menu above, and then click on the “Register” link in the top right of the classifieds section to get started.

Here’s a link to an example of a classified ad that we set up in 2 minutes: http://tremblantclassifieds.tremblant360.com/ads/old-rossi-skis-for-sale/

Daily Mountain Reports:

Find useful mountain reports about conditions at Tremblant, along with photos and more by clicking here. You can get to the daily reports quickly anytime by clicking on the ad in the upper right section of our site.

Opening day photos:

Event coverage:

• Check out our video covering the event and press conference with Lance Armstrong & Phil Liggett in HD below.
• You’ll find event photos in our gallery below.
• You’re welcome to read our forum or share your own experiences by clicking here.
• You can find more information about the events or how to get involved by visiting www.24hTremblant.com and www.TourdeLance.ca

Video coverage (video below plays in HD, click here for a lower-res version):

Photo Gallery:

It’s available on-line as a PDF file, at 13.1 MB, so it may take a brief moment to load on your system, but in terms of quality and completeness of the content, there’s no other single source that can match its scope. You can also find an overview of Tremblant’s marquis summer activities on their summer activities page on Tremblant.ca by clicking here.

Everything from a short day trip from Ottawa, Montreal, a weekend getaway from up-state New York, Vermont, Eastern Ontario, Southern Quebec, to a week or longer summer holiday from anywhere in the world, you can maximize your fun factor with a thorough look at the summer 2010 “Things To Do” at Tremblant brochure.

Your Tremblant summer vacation doesn’t need to break the bank either, with several affordable options… bring your bikes and explore many of the wonderful trails, hike up to Tremblant’s summit for free, or enjoy the view from the comfort of a Gondola with an unlimited pedestrian lift pass for only $31.27, valid from now until the 17th of October.

If you’re looking for a unique golfing experience, Tremblant’s “Things To Do” brochure also has you covered and is a great place to start planning for a vacation on the links.

From the spectacular views, to dozens of exciting activities and lots of fantastic events, Tremblant offers a wonderful way to escape the ordinary for you and your family this summer!

24h Tremblant Weekend Video

*Please note – The video below is embedded in HD. If your computer has difficulties streaming HD video, we recommend watching it through our Youtube channel by clicking here.

24h Tremblant Gallery

Olympic Torch/ Dec. 9th Mountain Video

*Please note – The video below is embedded in HD. If your computer has difficulties streaming HD video, we recommend watching it through our Youtube channel by clicking here.

Dec. 10th Mountain Video

Olympic Torch/ Dec. 9th Mountain Gallery

Season Opener Video

*Please note – the video below is embedded in HD. If your computer has difficulties streaming HD, we recommend watching the video through our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Season Opener Gallery