François “Michigan” Rulland, 1936-2010

The French ski resort of Avoriaz, France had its colorful legend and heroes, and François was one of them. Nicknamed “Michigan” after the U.S. made earth and snow moving front loader on wheels of the early sixties that he skillfully piloted during the resort's early days, he was the man who alternatively removed the snow, pulled up building materials up the long winding and snowy road between Morzine and Avoriaz, and carved many of the new resort's ski runs, most of them into sheer rock; always available to lend a hand and tremendously appreciated, he is a large piece of Avoriaz history that left us quite suddenly on June 5th.