Funitel

He sat down with a brilliant French lift designer named Denis Creissels, and together they re-engineered the basic physics of cable transport.

And that collaboration gave birth to the Funitel.

This is arguably the single most important invention in modern ski lift history, and it was invented right here in Val Thorens.

The concept was deceptively simple, like all great engineering breakthroughs.

Exactly.

Because the two cables are spaced so far apart, side winds physically cannot twist or sway the cabin.

In 1990, they built the world's very first commercial Funitel, the Funitel de Péclet, taking skiers straight up towards the Péclet Glacier.

And the performance was unbelievable.