Erwin Eckl is the founder of Les Saisies village and ski resort.
He was a ski instructor in Austria (his native country) and was the first person to believe in this beautiful place next to the Mont Blanc. At this time there were only a couple of chalets in the mountains pasture of Les Saisies. When mister Eckl saw this landscape for the first time of his life he remembered immediately the country where he used to live : the Tyrol.
In 1935, Erwin Eckl settled in Les Saisies and a wonderful ski resort project grew in his mind. His enthusiasm and his visionnary character enabled him to give birth to very ambitious projects at that time. In 1936, he opened the first chalet hotel of the resort. Then, in 1956,the first ski-lift was built and he soon founded the first ski school.
Everything would not be so easy and the project was stopped sometimes for different reasons. It is only in 1961 after many negociations, that the four villages around Les Saisies (Hauteluce & Villard sur Doron in the Beaufortain, and Crest-Voland & Cohennoz in the Val d'Arly) decided to create the ski resort.
This courageous decision was not without financial risks, but it was taken at the ideal moment as the Winter Sports boomed in the 60s and 70s.
From 63/64, Les Saisies resort is becoming famous because its lonely ski-lift is the only one open in this part of the Alps. It was the only resort having enough snow to open its slopes.
The first tourism chalets and residences were built in 1970. The resort now counts 15000 tourism beds in the resort and welcomed in 1992 all the nordic skiing race of XVI winter Olympic Games of Albertville.
Who could imagine this success and development in 1935, except Mister Eckl ? He already said at this time : "Here, on this mountain pasture of Les Saisies, on this "cow mountains", it is inescapable, one day, some people will build a pleasant resort where the life will be sweet" !
This little history would be incomplete if we did not talk about our champion who makes all the resort proud of him: Franck Piccard !
Everybody remembers his different victories during the Calgary and Albertville Winter Olympic Games in 1988 & 1992.
This famous champion that you can see in the resort (and in his shop) is still the ambassador of Les Saisies.
Les Saisies has changed a lot in a few time but this development is under control by the different services of the resort. Our village is an example of economical and environnemental integration.
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