It's a scoop

Avalanches like last week’s in Chamonix, France, could one day be prevented
if a bizarre invention by Friedolf Mutschler of Germany is shown to work.
Mutschler proposes covering ski slopes with overlapping curved bars, shaped like
giant ice-cream scoops, which would be anchored to the ground before the
snowfall (W0 98/55698). As the snow falls, its mass is divided into layers
created by the scoop-shaped bars. Protuberances help to anchor it. The idea is
to prevent large buildups which could then break free and start a bulk
slide.