He says in his press release, "After 17h00 the ski slopes are extremely dangerous and it is forbidden to ski after this time - the risk is enormous and should never be underestimated.'

The potential danger lies less in the skiers own ability, but with the barely perceptible danger that emanates from the tension cable the piste machines use in their nightly operations on the slopes. This cable is used to anchor the large machines to anchor points on the slopes which are in varied positions depending on the conditions. The cable can reach up to 1 Km allowing the Piste grooming machines to work a large radius and steep terrain. It can sink below the snow unseen then suddenly pull taught, when the machine moves and create a deadly obstacle. "Depending on the force, it can split a man with a clean cut in half," says Armon Cantieni dramatic words.

Thankfully the two skiers involved in the accidents escaped relatively unscathed, one was ripped clean out of their ski bindings though. A narrow escape.

There are some occasions to ski in the evening, this must be checked with Gstaad Saanenland Tourism.