Among the jagged peaks of the Vaud Alps, the summer landscape is taking on a new look. At the summit of the Grand Chamossaire, in the heart of the Villars-Gryon-Diablerets area, those in search of the thrill of a powerful sensation can now experience it at an altitude of 2,110 meters.
A V-shaped metal structure now dominates the ridge: it is the new giant swing created to give a 12-meter plunge into the void. Only a few seconds are needed to find yourself suspended above the valley, feeling as if you’re flying among the peaks.
Yet behind this adrenaline rush there is more than just the desire for fun: the real challenge is the mountain’s very survival. With snow increasingly scarce and unpredictable due to climate change, the attraction is born to give ski resorts a new summer life, untied from the ski slopes.
The Giant Swing in the Swiss Alps
Experiencing the giant swing is simple and accessible to anyone who reaches the summit. Admission is included for those who already hold a skipass or a lift-ticket for the area’s cableways, making it a fully integrated activity within the visit to the resort.
The structure can accommodate up to three people at once, each seated on a special chair with a handle and securely strapped in with a safety-belt system. Once ready, a cable-and-pulley mechanism activates, lifting the participants backward to an almost vertical incline, at ninety degrees relative to the platform below.
It is precisely at that moment, suspended head-down, that the tension peaks, before the sudden release launches the riders into the void for a spectacular flight above the Alpine panorama.
Experiencing the mountains all year round
The installation on Grand Chamossaire, in western Switzerland, is not merely a novelty for fans of extreme experiences; it stands as a symbol of a profound transformation underway in high-mountain tourism. With uncertainty surrounding seasonal snowfall and the increasingly evident effects of climate change, European ski resorts are beginning to redefine their priorities.
Although the highest elevations continue to attract solid numbers during the cold months, the need to look ahead has pushed resort operators to develop offerings designed to operate 365 days a year. The main objective is to make the existing infrastructure valuable even in the off-season, liberating the local economy from its dependence on snow cover.
Creating summer draws means guaranteeing continued employment, supporting the local commercial fabric, and proposing an accommodation model capable of meeting the needs of an increasingly dynamic and diverse audience. The swing precisely answers this need, offering a constant draw that adds value to the already existing lift systems.
To protect the terrain, furthermore, the structure has been deliberately placed in an already developed area served by cable cars, leaving the wilder parts of the mountain intact for those seeking contact with nature, hiking, or mountain-bike excursions.
