A curious map
Pictured is a plastic contraption, dating back to 1983, that a friend found when cleaning out her chalet. I loved it, and she kindly gave it to me. It’s the most curious map I’ve ever seen. Yes, it’s a map. The little yellow handle pulls out to display a map (shown below).
This funky little device lists each of the pistes on the back of the map, and curls up like a tape measure as soon as you let go of the yellow handle.
But what’s with the design? I’ll give you a hint. The plastic is made especially for taking onto the hill when you’re out skiing, and the yellow plastic handle is easy to grab with gloves on. The plastic helps with keeping the map dry. The hollow area is used to attach the map.
Have you figured it out yet? It’s meant to clamp onto your ski pole. This was no doubt a big hit with gadget-lovers who still use those little plastic pole connectors to keep their poles together when not in use (how utterly pointless!), I’ve tested it on my own ski pole and it works! Snap it on at the bottom and drag it up to the top, where it sits, waiting for someone to pull the yellow handle.
Meanwhile, a closer look at the map reveals a few interesting things about La Clusaz. Below is a zoomed in section of the map. If you know La Clusaz, you’ll notice that the Fernuy telecabine is missing altogether. Getting back to town from La Balme would have involved taking one of the green pistes pictured in at the bottom left of the map above. The runs at l’Etale have changed a lot, with only two of the drag lifts still existing there. The old telepherique (number 30) has been replaced with a telemix (chairlifts with a few telecabines thrown in for novelty), and the chairlift to the top (31) replaced with a faster model. And Croix Fry, the little peak at the right of the image below, has no lifts at all! This is the entire Manigod ski area of Croix Fry and Manigod, which is now extensive enough to support its own ski school branch.
The locals will no doubt shrug if they read this: they’ve seen the changes and probably had the blue plastic contraptions as piste maps on their poles at some point, but as a non-local, I find it fascinating to take a glimpse into the past from a gadget dating back to 1983. Do you? Or is it just me?
I'm a technical author, journalist and writer from Australia who has been living in Europe since 2000 and exploring the world from there. My passions are writing, snow sports and travel.
Now that’s a much better gadget than all this newfangled GPS iPhone app dammit-the-battery-died-in-the-cold rubbish. Simplicity, we like it.
Couldn’t agree more: less is indeed more sometimes!
I’m with you, you must keep this! It’s so cute. I think it’s a fantastic idea because it can’t fail. Pity you can’t still use it because it’s so out of date.
What wonderful design! Terrific functionality and cute form with the bright colors. It really isn’t dated (despite it’s – ahem – vintage status) … still as useful and charming today, if not moreso.
I want one! That’s so cool 🙂
Looking at that Piste map also desperately makes me want to come back to La Clusaz! Maybe next year we can afford it :/
I have been looking for something like this …They had a similar shade like one a few years ago in Aspen.
How can I buy this.
Hi Dianne, I don’t think La Clusaz have made them for some years. I’ve not seen anything like it around town so I don’t they’re available to buy anymore.
Hi,
when I was out skiing recently I thought of something like this product. Since many of my friends thought it was a good idea, I am thinking about bringing it back to today! Since I am an industrial design engineer, I know how to do it. I just need to be sure to not conflict with any patent. Can you see the date/year on the product? If it really is from 1983, or if there is any other proof of the age being ‘very old’, I am not violating someone’s rights and there is no reason to not rebuild this brilliant gadget from the past.
I would appreciate to hear back from you, thanks a lot!
kind regards,
Eric
Eric, I’m afraid there’s a patent on there. The text says: “Made in France Pat-Pending 1983” for a company called Bibu Diffusion in Annecy. I hope you find a way – these are such a lovely alternative to a folded piste map!
thanks a lot for the information! I got really busy the past months so I dropped my work on this for a while. I checked out the patent and you are right. Immediately found it with the company name. However…this is good news, since the patent got it’s 27th birthday this year! It has expired. That means the ‘invention’ cannot be done again, so it cannot be protected, but it can be used.
I will let you know if it works out!
Eric, please do let me know. I’d love to know if you get something off the ground. Good luck!