As the mountaintops in the Isère region begin to turn white, impatience is growing. Winter is fast approaching, and for everyone from local enthusiasts to world-class manufacturers, the countdown to a new season of skiing has officially begun.
Community Gears Up
At the community level, the Tain Tournon Alpine Ski Club is already deep into preparations. Before anyone clips into their bindings, the club is handling its preseason business. A general assembly is scheduled for 8:00 PM on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Maison des associations in Tain-l’Hermitage, where the group will present its upcoming activities and review its performance.
This is followed by the traditional ski swap, a key event for local families, taking place Saturday, November 22, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM in the Octroi parking lot in Tournon-sur-Rhône. For those looking to sell used equipment—skis, boots, or outfits—gear can be dropped off at the Tournon Intersport store until noon on Thursday, November 20.
The Technology of Speed
While local clubs prepare their gear, the technology that defines the sport is being perfected nearby. The same Isère region is home to Saint-Jean-de-Moirans, the location of one of France’s few remaining ski manufacturing plants, operated by the Rossignol group. We visited the facility this week, where the focus isn’t just on the upcoming season, but on developing the future of competitive skiing.
Pierre Billon, the Performance and Racing Range Coordinator for Rossignol, explains how dramatically the design process has evolved. Decades ago, ski design was painstakingly drawn out on graph paper. Today, the entire process is handled on computers using specialized, in-house software.
Crafting a Competition Ski
According to Billon, the complexity of a modern competition ski is far greater than that of an entry-level model. “A lot of the difference comes down to the materials we use and the ski’s geometry,” he says, noting that the team must operate within a very specific framework of constraints imposed by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
The real separation, however, is in the details that aren’t visible from the outside. “There is meticulous attention paid to the finishing of the base and the edges,” Billon continues. “It uses very specific materials. These are highly personalized constructions adapted directly to the athlete.”
Preparing for the Slopes
As Rossignol works to get its athletes onto podiums—”We are very proud to see our products on the podiums; it’s always a great pleasure to help our athletes go as fast as possible and win medals,” says Billon—the Tain Tournon club is busy planning its own excursions.
The club is offering leisure ski trips to flagship destinations like Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d’Isère, and Serre Chevalier, with weekend programs already available on its website. The season’s first official outing is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at Val Thorens, with registration open online. Finally, the club’s ski school is also preparing to launch, allowing kids to learn from instructors starting Wednesday, January 7, 2026