On Saturday 17 June 2023, the world’s longest zipline with intermediate pylons opened to the public at the Chamrousse ski resort in Isère, France. At 1,950 metres long, with a 600-metre drop and peak speeds of up to 80 km/h, it is the world’s longest zip line with intermediate pylons. The zip line starts at the summit of the Croix de Chamrousse at an altitude of 2,253 metres. The finish is in the heart of the resort at Recoin at 1,650 metres. Access is via the Croix de Chamrousse gondola.

This new four season activity, awarded by the municipality of the Chamrousse ski resort to diversify its summer/winter offering, was built by the French group MND, a specialist in thrill-seeking leisure infrastructure, cable mobility, snowmaking systems and mountain safety. Thanks to a new patented braking system developed by MND’s engineers, the descent is non-stop and fly over the various intermediate towers, allowing for finer adaptation to the topography of the site, even on steep slopes. This innovation also increases acceleration and sensations tenfold. The Group’s experience in the design of cable transport systems has enabled it to overcome numerous technological barriers to guarantee the sensations and comfort of users in complete safety, and to stand out from existing systems. The public can experience these new sensations, solo or duo, with a top speed of up to 80 km/h over the slopes of the Chamrousse ski area and an average gradient of 30%. On the last part of the course, riders are invited to smile for the camera, with the chance to take a photo to capture the moment.

In Chamrousse, MND has also built an impressive 130-metre Himalayan footbridge, 25 metres above the black slope of Casserousse, the legendary run of the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, offering a breathtaking panorama. Both zipline and footbridge are summer/winter projects that form part of the project to enhance the Croix de Chamrousse site and diversify the resort’s tourism offering, thanks to a four-season economy. This is a tourism development project that the commune is keen to implement, with the aim of regenerating the Croix de Chamrousse site while protecting it from an environmental point of view.

Frédéric Géromin, Managing Director of the Chamrousse site: “We are delighted to have opened the zipline, a major project carried out in partnership with MND and a long-term investment for the resort, with an activity in operation this summer as well as in winter. This new infrastructure will enable us to diversify our offer, which is a major boost in the appeal of the site. After a successful first weekend of operation and more than 70 bookings a day, the summer season is off to a flying start at Chamrousse!

Nicolas Chapuis, Director of MND’s Cable Transport and Leisure Divisions, was in Chamrousse for the public opening and said: “At the last Mountain Planet trade fair in Grenoble, we announced the signature of these two infrastructures for Chamrousse municipality, with the construction of the suspended footbridge and the world’s longest pylon-based zip line. Twelve months later, these two four-season facilities are now commissioned and operational. They will enhance Chamrousse’s appeal, particularly in summer, when the range of activities on offer continues to expand. This zip line, the world’s longest with a pylon, demonstrates MND’s innovation and expertise in the growing thrill-seeking leisure market.

Practical info: Prices: €35 solo, €65 duo. ski.chamrousse.com

Photo credit : ©Yohann Vincent