Ski slope and method for producing a ski slope

Abstract

The invention relates to a ski slope (10, 110, 210) created on sloping ground, said ski slope comprising two lateral edges (11, 12, 212) marked by edge marking means (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3). A slope direction (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) is defined by the edges of the slope (11, 12, 212) and the gradient of the ground. Between the two marked edges (11, 12, 212) of the slope, a first section (20, 120) is embodied as a prepared section (20, 120) of the slope and a second section (30, 130, 230) as a deliberately unprepared section (30, 130, 230) of the slope, the second section (30, 130, 230) being located next to the first section (20, 120) in terms of the direction (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) of the slope. The inventive slope (10, 110, 210) enables even experienced skiers to ski in a demanding but safe environment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ski slope and a method for producing a ski slope.

PRIOR ART

Since the advent of ski lifts, chairlifts, cable railways and other people-conveying facilities (ski facilities) intended for the transport of skiers, which convey skiers up easily in a short time and thus make repeated descents possible without arduous climbs on foot, what is referred to as alpine skiing has enjoyed great popularity. In order to make not only convenient transport up but also a safe descent back down on the skis possible for alpine skiers, what are referred to as ski slopes, on which the skiers can ski safely down into the valley, are laid out on sloping ground by the operators of the ski facilities.

The ski slopes made available to alpine skiers in touristically developed winter sports areas are as a rule prepared and safeguarded, a safeguarded ski slope being marked along the slope edges on both sides and being checked from time to time (at least at the end of the day) by “slope patrollers”. Depending on the degree of difficulty, a ski slope is marked as a blue (easy), red (of medium difficulty) or black (difficult) ski run.

Preparation (also referred to as leveling) of a ski slope is to be understood as dressing the snow in the region of the ski slope in such a way that an even, smooth snow surface is produced, which is as free as possible from holes, ribs and other irregularities, which constitute potential danger spots in particular for inexperienced skiers. Nowadays, the preparation of ski slopes is usually carried out mechanically by means of rollers, blowers, rotary snowplows and other mechanically driven snow-dressing implements, which are attached to what are referred to as piste vehicles and are transported and also driven by these. The SKUS (Swiss Commission for the Prevention of Accidents on Snowsport Runs) stipulates that all ski slopes marked blue, red or black have to be prepared within three days of a snowfall.

An inexperienced alpine skier first learns to ski on ski slopes marked blue (easy). With increasing experience and correspondingly increasing skiing ability, he will in time be capable of skiing down over slopes marked red (of medium difficulty) and black (difficult) as well. If a skier seeks even greater skiing challenges, he will often venture into the fresh snow (freeride country) outside safeguarded ski slopes or onto ski slopes marked yellow, which are neither prepared nor checked. In unsafe guarded areas, however, the skier is exposed to considerably greater dangers in the form of avalanches, concealed stones or tree stumps and the like than on the safeguarded ski slopes. Skiing outside safeguarded ski slopes is therefore reserved only for very experienced skiers or skier groups accompanied by a ski instructor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a ski slope which enables even experienced skiers to ski in a demanding but safe environment.

The solution for achieving the object is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a ski slope laid out on sloping ground comprises two lateral slope edges which are marked by edge marking means. A slope direction is defined by the slope edges and the gradient of the ground. Between the two marked slope edges, a first slope section is designed as a prepared slope section, and a second slope section is designed as a deliberately unprepared slope section, the second slope section being arranged next to the first slope section in relation to the slope direction.

The slope direction is defined as a direction parallel to a center line between the two marked slope edges in the falling direction (in relation to the gradient of the ground), the line formed from the points lying centrally between the two slope edges being understood as the center line. It corresponds essentially to the general direction of travel (also referred to as the general descent direction) of the skiers skiing over the ski slope into the valley and generally changes several times along the overall length of the slope. The second slope section is arranged essentially parallel next to the first slope section in relation to the slope direction.

The edge marking means can comprise a plurality of marking poles, which, in a way which is conventional for marking slope edges, are arranged in pole rows running along the slope edges.

By virtue of a prepared slope section and an unprepared slope section being designed parallel next to one another within a checked slope provided with marked side edges, the skier is afforded the opportunity of alternatively skiing down over either the prepared slope section or the unprepared slope section without having to leave the marked and checked slope. The skier can try out and practice the technique of skiing on unprepared, demanding ground on the unprepared slope section without having to forgo the safety of a checked and marked slope. He can practice and learn in particular the techniques known as freeride skiing and mogul piste skiing without having to be exposed to excessive risks or having to infringe any bans with regard to skiing on ground not approved for skiing. The ski slope according to the invention is attractive especially for those skiers who may already have mastered skiing on prepared ski slopes but do not have sufficient experience for safe skiing outside safeguarded (i.e. marked at the edge and checked) slopes.

Compared with a normal, fully prepared slope, the ski slope according to the invention has the further advantage that it affords the possibility of slope preparation with smaller outlay as the area to be prepared of the ski slope is smaller because of course a section of the ski slope can be left deliberately unprepared.

Since the ski slope also still has a prepared section parallel next to the deliberately unprepared section, a less experienced skier can also ski down over the ski slope at any time as he is not compelled to ski down over an unprepared slope section anywhere. He can at any time ski around the unprepared section on the prepared section of the slope.

It is of course also possible for a number of deliberately unprepared slope sections to be designed along the overall slope length, next to which a prepared slope section is also designed in each case. By virtue of this, it is possible alternatively to ski down over a number of unprepared slope sections one after another, or some or even all of the unprepared slope sections can be skied around via the prepared slope sections arranged next to the unprepared slope sections.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boundary between the first slope section and the second slope section is marked by section boundary marking means. These section boundary marking means can be designed in a similar way to or the same way as the edge marking means and, for example, likewise comprise marking poles arranged in rows, as are usual for marking ski slope edges. However, the section boundary marking means are preferably designed so as to be visually distinguishable from the edge marking means, in order that every skier recognizes immediately whether a pole row marks a slope edge or the section boundary between the prepared slope section and the unprepared slope section. For this purpose, the section boundary marking means can comprise marking poles of a different color to the edge marking means, for example. It is furthermore advantageous to install in the uppermost region of the first and second slope sections (i.e. in the entrance region of these slope sections) one or more signs or other suitable indicating means, which indicate to the skier that the ski slope is prepared on one side of the section boundary marking means in the following (first) slope section, while the ski slope is unprepared on the other side of the section boundary marking means in the following (second) slope section.

The section boundary marking means are preferably designed in such a way that, when required, they can quickly and easily be removed from the ski slope and installed again in another location on the ski slope. This affords the possibility of alternatively varying the extent in terms of area of the first slope section and the second slope section quickly and easily by virtue of the section boundary marking means installed on the ski slope being removed from their previous installation locations and installed on the ski slope again in new installation locations at a distance from the previous ones. Such section boundary marking means can comprise marking poles, for example, which are quick and easy to relocate.

The boundary between the first, prepared slope section and the second, unprepared slope section is preferably designed in such a way that it is passable in both directions for skiers. By virtue of this, the inhibition level for trying skiing on unprepared ground at least once is lowered in particular for inexperienced skiers. Owing to the boundary which is passable in both directions, it is possible to change to and fro between the first slope section and the second slope section without difficulty during the descent.

As an alternative to this, however, it is also possible to close the boundary between the first slope section and the second slope section off for the skiers by barrier tapes, nets or other suitable barrier means, for example, or to lay out the first and second sections in such a way that natural barrier means such as trees, streams and the like, for example, form a boundary between the two sections at least in places which is not passable for the skier. The skier must then decide at the start of the slope region with the two slope sections lying next to one another to ski down either completely over the prepared first slope section or completely over the unprepared second slope section.

The second slope section is preferably laid out on the inner side of a curve of the ski slope, while the first slope section is laid out on the outer side of the curve. It is known from experience that the ski slope is used more frequently in the region of the inner side of the curve than in the region of the outer side of the curve. Frequent use of the second, unprepared slope section is conducive to the desired formation of a mogul piste, which increases skiing enjoyment for the experienced skier.

All obstacles not consisting of snow are preferably marked by obstacle marking means in the second slope section. This improves the safety for skiers skiing down over this second, unprepared slope section. All obstacles not consisting of snow are of course preferably marked by obstacle marking means in the remaining, prepared region of the ski slope as well, as is generally normal and in some cases even stipulated for prepared and marked ski slopes.

The ski slope comprising the first, prepared slope section and the second, unprepared slope section may be an easy ski slope marked blue according to the relevant regulations. This affords skiers with little experience as well the opportunity of for once trying skiing on unprepared ground. The ski slope with the first slope section and the second slope section may also be a ski slope of medium difficulty marked red according to the relevant regulations in order to afford skiers with moderate experience, who as a rule use ski slopes marked red, the opportunity of skiing on unprepared ground. In principle, the ski slope according to the invention may of course also be a difficult ski slope marked black, although in this case only experienced skiers who have mastered skiing on black ski runs may take advantage of the opportunity for skiing on unprepared ground on a safeguarded ski slope.

A method for producing a ski slope according to the invention is characterized in that the first slope section is prepared regularly from time to time in a way which is known for the preparation of ski slopes, while the second slope section is left unprepared for at least a week. The second slope section can also be left unprepared for a number of weeks and even for an entire skiing season.

The second, unprepared slope section is preferably designed in a region of the ski slope which has been prepared in past years and is known to be much frequented by skiers. Heavy use by skiers forms moguls in the unprepared slope section, so that in the end a mogul piste is created in the unprepared slope region. Such a mogul piste increases skiing enjoyment for the experienced skier.

According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the ratio of the first slope section to the second slope section in terms of area is varied at the start of a season period depending on the expected number of skiers on the ski slope for this season period. So, for example, at the start of a season period with a skier number estimated to be low, the area of the second slope section can be enlarged, and the area of the first slope section can be reduced. By virtue of this, the outlay necessary for slope preparation can be reduced, as the overall area to be prepared of the ski slope is reduced. If section boundary marking means mark the boundary between the first slope section and the second slope section, it is merely necessary for this purpose to move the section boundary marking means into the until then prepared first slope section and then to leave the entire enlarged second slope section unprepared. On the other hand, at the start of a season period with a skier number estimated to be high, the area of the second slope section can be reduced, and the area of the first slope section can be enlarged, in order to make sufficient room for a large number of inexperienced skiers on the prepared slope section. If section boundary marking means mark the boundary between the first slope section and the second slope section, it is merely necessary for this purpose to move the section boundary marking means into the until then unprepared second slope section and then to prepare the entire enlarged first slope section.

A further possibility for enlarging the area of the unprepared second slope section consists in merely moving the edge marking means marking the slope edge of this unprepared slope section away from the slope center toward the outside, so that not only the second slope section but also the ski slope overall is widened. In this case, the outlay for slope preparation remains the same, because the overall area of the prepared slope sections is not changed.

Further advantageous embodiments and feature combinations of the invention emerge from the following detailed description and the patent claims as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings used to explain the illustrative embodiment show:

FIG. 1 a simplified, diagrammatic partial plan view of a section of ground with a ski slope according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 the section of ground from FIG. 1 with a ski slope according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in a partial view corresponding to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 the section of ground from FIG. 1 with a ski slope according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention in a partial view corresponding to FIG. 1.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

Ways of embodying the invention

FIG. 1 shows a simplified, diagrammatic partial view of the plan of an inclined section of ground, in which a ski slope 10 is laid out. The section of ground is inclined as a slope which falls from the top (in relation to the illustration in FIG. 1) to the bottom.

The ski slope 10 comprises two lateral slope edges 11, 12 (illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 1), which are marked by edge marking means in the form of marking poles 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3. A slope direction 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, which is illustrated by means of the arrows 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 in FIG. 1, is defined by the slope edges 11, 12 and the gradient of the ground. The region illustrated in FIG. 1 of the ski slope 10 forms a curve in such a way that a skier entering this slope region at the location A and leaving this slope region at the location B overall executes a right curve from the point of view of the skier.

Between the two marked slope edges 11, 12, a first slope section 20 is designed as a prepared slope section 20, and a second slope section 30 is designed as a deliberately unprepared slope section 30. The edges of the first slope section 20 and of the second slope section 30 are illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 1. The second slope section 30 is next to the first slope section 20 in relation to the slope direction illustrated by the arrow 13.2, the second slope section 30 being arranged in the inner region of the curve formed by the ski slope 10, and the first slope section 10 being arranged in the outer region of this curve.

The boundary between the first slope section 20 and the second slope section 30 is marked by section boundary marking means in the form of marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3. The marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means are distinguished by their color from the marking poles 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 of the edge marking means; otherwise they are designed identically to the latter.

To produce the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the marking poles 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 of the edge marking means and the marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means are first inserted into the snow in the locations intended for them. Then, the first slope section 20 and all other slope sections of the ski slope 10 with the exception of the second slope section 30 are mechanically prepared regularly from time to time in a way which is known for preparation of ski slopes, while the second slope section 30 is left entirely unprepared. More and more moguls are formed by the descents of a large number of skiers over the second slope section 30, so that a mogul piste is formed in time in the second slope section 30.

The ski slope 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 differs from the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 only in that the marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means are moved toward the outside of the curve, so that the first slope section 120 of the ski slope 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 occupies a smaller area overall than the first slope section 20 of the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, while the second slope section 130 of the ski slope 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 occupies a larger area overall than the second slope section 30 of the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to produce the ski slope 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 starting from the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means are simply moved into the previously prepared first slope section 20, and then the entire enlarged second slope section 130 is left unprepared.

The ski slope 210 illustrated in FIG. 3 differs from the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 only in that the slope edge 212 on the inner side of the curve and the marking poles 12.2, 12.3 which mark this slope edge are arranged further away from the marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means, so that the ski slope 210 illustrated in FIG. 3 overall and its unprepared second slope section 230 are wider than the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 and its second slope section 30. On the other hand, the first, prepared slope section 20 of the ski slope 210 illustrated in FIG. 3 is identical to the first, prepared slope section 20 of the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to produce the ski slope 210 illustrated in FIG. 3 starting from the ski slope 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the slope edge 12 on the inner side of the curve of the ski slope 10 and the marking poles 12.2, 12.3 which mark this edge are simply moved away from the marking poles 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the section boundary marking means, and then the entire enlarged second slope section 230 is left unprepared.

To sum up, it can be stated that the invention provides a ski slope which enables even experienced skiers to ski in a demanding but safe environment.

Claims

1. A ski slope (10, 110, 210) laid out on sloping ground with two lateral slope edges (11, 12,212) which are marked by edge marking means (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3), a slope direction (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) being defined by the slope edges (11, 12, 212) and the gradient of the ground, characterized in that, between the marked slope edges (11, 12, 212), a first slope section (20, 120) is designed as a prepared slope section (20, 120), and a second slope section (30, 130, 230) is designed as a deliberately unprepared slope section (30, 130, 230), the second slope section (30, 130, 230) being arranged next to the first slope section (20, 120) in relation to the slope direction (13.1, 13.2, 13.3).

2. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the boundary between the first slope section (20, 120) and the second slope section (30, 130, 230) is marked by section boundary marking means (15.1, 15.2, 15.3).

3. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the section boundary marking means (15.1, 15.2, 15.3) are designed in such a way that, when required, they can quickly and easily be removed from the ski slope (10, 110, 210) and installed again in another location on the ski slope (10, 110, 210).

4. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the boundary between the first slope section (20, 120) and the second slope section (30, 130, 230) is designed to be passable in both directions for skiers.

5. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second slope section (30, 130, 230) is arranged on an inner side of a curve of the ski slope (10).

6. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that all obstacles not consisting of snow are marked by obstacle marking means in the second slope section (30, 130, 230).

7. The ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ski slope is an easy ski slope or a ski slope of medium difficulty.

8. A method for producing a ski slope (10, 110, 210) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first slope section (20, 120) is prepared regularly, while the second slope section (30, 130, 230) is left deliberately unprepared for at least a week.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the second slope section (30, 130, 230) is designed in a region of the ski slope (10, 110, 210) which has been prepared in past years and is known from experience to be much frequented by skiers.

10. The method as claimed in 8 or 9, characterized in that the ratio of the first slope section (20, 120) to the second slope section (30, 130, 230) in terms of area is varied at the start of a season period depending on the expected number of skiers on the ski slope (10, 110, 210) of this season period.