Tignes is no stranger to downhill mountain biking, hiking along alpine trails and strolling around the lake. For a few weeks now, a new silhouette has been creeping along the 4×4 paths: the all-terrain electric scooters of "Trot'Tignes", the project launched by Sébastien Roure.
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Having settled in the resort seven years ago, this mountain enthusiast from the Paris region first worked as a skiman, before Covid encouraged him to stay on all year round.
"The idea was born on 23 June last year. he says. "I wanted to offer an activity that would allow people to discover Tignes in a different way, off the beaten track and beyond the classic hiking and mountain biking routes.
A machine designed for alpine slopes
The "Trot'Tignes" bikes are nothing like urban scooters. Made in Brittany by a French manufacturer, they are designed to cope with stones, slopes and uneven paths.
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The frame is cut from a single piece of wood, with no welds to ensure robustness, and the battery, also French, offers a slow, safe charge. Equipped as downhill mountain bikes, they come with helmet, gloves and, more recently, knee and elbow pads for maximum safety.
Thanks to a municipal by-law, "Trot'Tignes" is one of the few allowed to use the resort's 4×4 trails, which are usually reserved for service vehicles, shepherds and owners. There are three routes, but the most popular starts from Val Claret, skirting the lake, climbing the Chemin du Tovière and venturing up to the Plateau du Marais, with occasional detours to Lac du Chevril and Grande Sassière.
Outings are made in small groups, supervised by two instructors, all based in Tignes, who are happy to share local anecdotes and secret viewpoints.
Between sport and indulgence
Packages vary from one to two hours, with the longest including a gourmet stop at altitude. "We put down the tablecloth and take out the charcuterie and cheese, in partnership with Lagrange in Val Claret". smiles Sébastien. It's a great way to combine effort, scenery and Savoyard gastronomy.
Prices range from €45 for an hour to €75 for a gourmet outing. The activity is open to people aged 14 and over, and is accessible to all: the oldest member of the group this summer is 80.
For its first season, "Trot'Tignes" will run from mid-June to the end of August, with the hope of extending the period to September and even to the All Saints' holiday, depending on the weather. "Winters are opening later than they used to; we could use the autumn to continue offering outings". says Sébastien.
In just a few weeks, the new activity has found its audience, attracting holidaymakers and locals alike. And proving that TignesBut the adventure can also be experienced on two wheels, on your feet, along the Alpine trails.
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