The Éclipse piste in Courchevel

With over 3 kilometers of descent covering around 950 meters of vertical drop and an average slope of 30%, Éclipse offers a course that is as technical as it is physically demanding.

Starting from Courchevel 1850 under the now-legendary Col de la Loze, you alternate between forested and open landscapes, shade and sunlight, a succession of slopes and jumps, finishing at Le Praz, not far from the Olympic Ski Jumps used during the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.

Outside of competition periods, the slope is open to the public, allowing skiers to follow in the tracks of local champion Alexis Pinturault (6 Crystal Globes, 3 Olympic medals, 2 World Championship titles). It’s a chance to discover the iconic sections of L’Éclipse and to appreciate the level of commitment required from top-level athletes.

In the same way that we give names to the different slopes to help skiers get around the ski area more easily, names are given to the different sections of the piste to help understand the challenges.

Each name is carefully chosen to represent a sensation, recall a memory or reference a link. Let us reveal the meaning behind each section name:

1. Le saut du Zénith

   The Zenith jump, this first jump on the slope is the highest on the course, like the sun at its zenith, and a nod to an eclipse – this section is in a luminous, open area.

2. Le mur du son

   The wall of sound, here we find the fastest section of the slope, where the ski picks up the most speed, with peaks up to 130km/h where the air displacement generated by the skier at high speed generates its own sound! The wall refers to the steepness of this section of the run.

3. Le S des Arolles

   The Arolles S, after passing through the wall of sound, the skier continues with the Arolles S, a technical turn section which references the magnificent ‘arolles’ pine which is emblematic of these high altitudes and sits alongside the slopes, hence the name also of the ‘Boulevard des Arolles’ track which leads to this section.

4. Le saut des Jockeys

   Jockeys Jump references the name of the former piste Jockeys, which was so-called originally after a tragic fatal accident of a professional jockey in the 1970s. Around 60% of the Eclipse run follows the footprint of the Jockeys piste.

5. Le trou noir

   The black hole, it is on this portion that the name of the track takes on its full meaning: you suddenly pass, after a fiendish break in the slope, to a sector of forest surrounded by 30-40-metre-high pine trees! In a fraction of a second, the skier enters a black hole. The jump only makes it more technical!

6. Le mur de la bux

   Wall of Bux, this is a reference to Buxbaumia, a rare and locally valued type of moss which is found near this slope, growing among the pines in damp and decomposing parts of the forest.

7. L'envol

   The take-off, this section references the Olympic ski jumps in Le Praz. They were used during the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville and each year they host the summer world ski jumping championships (the only stage in France).

8. Le mur des braves

   The wall of the brave, the name for this final part of the piste was chosen as you have to be absolutely sure of yourself to tackle this particularly steep and icy wall. A real challenge that requires total concentration until the very last metre. For this jump, the skier is holding their breath, keeping legs solid and has muscles filled with lactic acid. The bravest jump the furthest, finally finding themselves at the much-anticipated finish line.

After the Albertville Olympic Games and the 2023 World Championships, the Men’s World Cup will take place from March 13 to 15, 2026, on the legendary Eclipse piste, promising to be an unmissable event for all ski enthusiasts.

On the program:

• Three men’s races: Super-G and Downhill

• Exciting activities and surprises throughout the weekend, from Friday to Sunday

Come feel the adrenaline, cheer on the champions, and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Courchevel!
For all information and the full schedule, visit the official website.