SnowNews

Intifada, theft and vandalism at the Mondial

Skipass.com is reporting that this year's Mondial du Snowboard and Ski held at Les Deux Alpes in France seems to have been a good deal less 'zen' that the 2003 edition. Maybe it was a mixture of poor snow and high winds that led to some pretty poor behaviour. A band of well prepared and informed thieves arrived with an SUV and at the dead of night took the maintenance track to the glacier. Blocked by snow they then stole a piste basher and used this to ram-raid the storage depo of Rossignol and other snowboard and ski manufacturers who were there to show their wears. The bill for the week was 70 snowboards and 28 pairs of goggles stolen, Rossi lost 20 pairs of K2s. Dynastar and Atomic also suffered thefts and may call it a day on the Mondial as a result. Police are looking for someone who was obviously very familiar with driving a piste basher.


Enormous lines for the lifts

Visitors were also furious at the lift lines and some blamed the resort for opening the glacier to ski clubs during the event. The conditions had an effect on the state of the boards and skis, with some riders testing the planks over the rocks to the intermediate station. During the week over 60 cars were vandalised and a mini-intifada took place one evening between a gang of 50 can throwing 'djeunz' and a squadron of police who were chased ot of resort by the uprising. Visitors described the state of the resort as deplorable and next years Mondial du Snowboard is now in doubt.


Empty stands on the Monday after the thefts

Vols matos au Mondial - link in French

posted by davidof @ 12:52 AM