Val d’Isère is a ski resort with incomparable charm. Nestled at 1,850 meters in the heart of the Savoyard Alps, this mountain village and its 300 kilometers of slopes attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each winter.

But while many come just to pass through, some are deeply attached to the resort and are about to experience an intense start to the winter season.

Séverine has taken on a bold challenge: opening a 5-star hotel spanning 8,000 m². The construction work is massive, and she has just two months left to complete it:

“I’ve opened hotels before, and we’ve never had a single week to spare. We’ll all be working flat out until the very last moment!”

Christophe, Caroline, and their three children have been vacationing in Val d’Isère for as long as they can remember. They couldn’t imagine skiing anywhere else:

“We know everyone, the slopes are amazing. It’s paradise here!”

At 53, Patrick is a local through and through. A baker and pastry chef, he’s won competitions, opened five shops, and every winter, he has to hire around 60 new seasonal workers:

“Each year, three-quarters of the team is brand new. I never really know how it’s going to go. It’s super stressful!”

And then there’s Eddie, a ski patroller and mountain rescuer. At 30, he’s about to begin his fourth winter in Val d’Isère:

“I needed a job that keeps me moving—mission accomplished!”

Between slope safety work and emergency interventions, his season promises to be action-packed.