On the slope with the Pistenbully pilots in Klosters

Published: 13. January 2023

When the skiers are gone, the work begins for the Pistenbully pilots: They prepare the ski slopes for the next day. We accompanied the Madrisa team.

It's 5 p.m. When skiers set off on the last run of the day, the après-ski atmosphere spreads in many places. For the technical staff at the Madrisa ski area in Klosters, it's only now that things really get started: the «Leitwölfe» get to work. These are the snow groomers of a well-known manufacturer, which curve over the snow slopes with around 500 horsepower. Andres Marugg and Micha Meier from the Madrisa slope preperation team then have to work late into the night to prepare the ski slopes for the next day.

13 ton power packs
With the fresh snow this week at the latest, the piste teams in Davos Klosters have a lot of work to be done. «The technology supports us in this», says Micha Meier. The «Leitwölfe», which are among the most powerful snow groomers in the world, are equipped with a sensitive GPS system, he says. They show almost to the millimeter how thick the snow cover is. With aluminum tracks, blade, cutter and winch, such a vehicle weighs more than 13 tons. Even slopes of 45 percent gradient are a cinch. Meier, who also works for the slope and rescue service, tests all the runs early in the morning for a final piste check. A total of eight drivers work every evening until two in the morning for one goal: a perfect, white canvas. Learn more about the work of the slope team at the Madrisa ski resort.