Athletes teams
at Les Arcs
There are 10 of them, they are sports-people, they love the mountains, they travel all over them on skis, snowboards and mountain bikes…and they adore their resort! They are the 10 athletes of Team Les Arcs.
Close-up on these 10 ambassadors and their fascinating successes…
ENAK GAVAGGIO
Rancho
Freeride skiing in widest sense of the term
Age: 04/05/1976
Sponsors Les Arcs, Rossignol, Julbo, Groupe Terrésens, ESI, Pull-in
Successes:
7 medals at the X Games
5th at the Vancouver Olympics
4th & 5th at the World Freeride Championship
3-times World Skicross Championship medal winner
2-times 2007 and 2001 World Skicross Championship medal winner
Enak Gavaggio had a career in Ski Cross at the highest level followed by several years shooting Freeride photos and videos in the 4 corners of the world. For 3 seasons, he has been seen in the role of «Rancho» in the eponymous web series; skiing in all its forms no longer holds any secrets for the man with the most famous moustache in the world of skiing!
His best memory of les Arcs: my first day organised by les Arcs under the name of «First Track» with the piste patrols
His favourite riding spot in les Arcs: it can’t be seen on the piste map, so mum’s the word
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The Bulle Café in Arc 2000
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Apocalypse Snow, Sharing, Atmosphere
Visit his official Facebook page
Discover Enak Gavaggio's Webshow : Rancho Webshow !
MARIELLE BERGER-SABBATEL
Ski Cross
Age: 29/01/1990
Sponsors: Les Arcs, Alpina, Salomon
Successes:
- 3 World Cup podiums in 2017/2018 :
2nd World Cup Podium San Candido in 2017
2nd World Cup Podium Idre Fjall in 2018
2nd World Cup Podium Nakiska in 2018
- 2 World Cup podiums in 2016 :
2nd World Cup Montafon (Austria)
3rd World Cup San Candido (Italy)
- Olympian at the PYEONGCHANG Olympics in 2018 : Find more
- Olympian at the SOTCHI Olympics in 2014
«The objectives have been set and now everything has to be done to achieve them! » is Marielle’s motto for this season which has started in style for her with 2 World Cup medals brought home to her credit!
Her best memory of les Arcs: Ski sessions with the club when I was little and we were discovering the area
Her favourite riding spot in les Arcs: The Arolles piste
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The Chalets de l'Arc in Arc 2000
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Diversity - Grandeur – Fun
JULES BONNAIRE
Julo
Slopestyle skiing, Street & Backcountry
Age: 13/12/1991
Sponsors: Les Arcs, Movement, Picture, SFR, Roxa Boots
Successes:
Olympian at the Sotchi Olympics in 2014
1st in “Best team” Kumi Yama, 2014
2nd overall in the SFR Freestyle Tour, 2013
12th in the Final of the World Slopestyle Championships, 2013
11th in the Xgames Europe, 2012
Between filming and competitions, Jules travels the world in search of the best spots for training, filming and sharing his passion for Freestyle.
Your best memory of les Arcs: Shooting the Neophile episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IbJVUMOzVo
Your favourite riding spot: The snowpark
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The Petit Resto in Arc 1800
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: An endless playground!
ADRIEN COIRIER
Moustic
Freeride skiing
Age: 22/06/1981
Sponsors: Les Arcs, Julbo, Eider, Fischer, Caradiboï
Successes:
2nd - Freeride World Tour Chamonix 2011
3rd - Xtrem Verbier 2011
Winner US Free Skiing Tour 2006 and 2007
Humble, passionate and accessible, Adrien and his dog Jango know how to get us to travel with their atypical plans for expeditions across the world.
Your best memory of les Arcs: Every day that there is fresh snow with a ray of sunshine are unforgettable days in les Arcs!
Your favourite riding spot: The Grandes Pentes
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The Sanglier qui fume in Arc 1600!
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Trailblazer, Liberty, Wide open spaces
ROMAIN GROJEAN
Rom
Freeskiing
Age: 17/11/1986
Sponsors: Les Arcs, Movement, Rip Curl, Electric, Pull-in, XS Sories, Go Pro
Successes: 6th in the RedBull Linecatcher 2013
A rider 100% part of les Arcs, it’s due to the work he has put in that Romain has been able to create his own web series – Home From The Top – which he produces every season with ever more content!
Your best memory of les Arcs: I don’t have a particular one, just every time I’ve been able to ski the powder with my friends
His favourite riding spot: The Aiguille Rouge
A restaurant/bar you can recommend to us? : The Miam Corner in Arc 1800
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Grandeur, Liberty, Pleasure
VALÉRIAN DUCOURTIL
Valé
Snowboarding
Age: 05/08/1987
Sponsors: Les Arcs, VOLCOM, VANS, VonZipper, NIXON
Successes:
In the top 10 riders most publicized in France for 5 years
Member of Crew Alma Film since 2014
Top 5 Top Backcountry Riders from 2010 to 2016
4th - Junior World Championship in Halfpipe 2006
Adrenaline junky. High in the air or deep in the powder, is Valérian’s motto!
Your best memory of les Arcs: The John Doe Friendly Session!!! Awesome! To be done again and again!!
Your favourite riding spot: The legendary Clocheret Hip really is the «The Perfect Backcountry Spot»!
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The bar Chez BOUBOU for sure!!!! Best Genepi in town!!
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Good Vibes, Good Friends and the Best powder runs!!
MAXIME RIZZO
Age: 01/11/1993
Sponsors: Vola, Energiapura, Leki, Usine Opéra Club de Sports
Achievements:
2nd - European Cup in San Vigilio (Italy) 2016
4th victories in FIS 2016 races (2 in Isola 2000 and 2 in Valmeinier)
Now part of the European top 15 in slalom
7th world slalom 2016 hopeful
Born in the valley, facing the mountains, today Maxime is at his peak looking to go downhill as fast as possible!
His best memory of les Arcs: The French Alpine Skiing Championships in 2014 in les Arcs… when will the World Cup be back??
His favourite riding spot in les Arcs: The Malgovert Forest
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? The Bulle café, Arc 2000
3 words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Vast, Pleasure, Family
HUGO HOFF
Ski Freeride
Age : 15/05/1999
Sponsors : Volkl, Picture Organic Clothing, Julbo, Baume&Mercier, Les Arcs
Successes :
1 ex-aeco FJT 16/17
6 th FWQ 4**** New Zealand
Your best memory of Les Arcs : My first time on Aiguille Rouge
Your favourite riding spot : Aiguille Rouge
A restaurant/bar to recommend to us? Bulle Café or The bar Chez BOUBOU for sure!!!!
Words that define YOUR vision of les Arcs: Unlimited landscape beauty, and quality of the terrain
Son site : hugohoff.com
Vincent Pernin
VTT
Nickname: Little Deer
Date of birth: 05/06/1984
Sponsors : Les Arcs, Commençal, SR Suntour, Troy Lee Design, Production Privée, Crosscall, Onza, ODI, Sram
Vincent is a Freeride downhill mountain-biker, the most committed sport in mountain-biking. After 6 years of competition at the highest level of downhill (World Cup), Vincent turned towards Freeride and specialised in the making of web videos
Your opinion of the les Arcs Bike Park?
The les Arcs mountain bike area is very diverse. You can ride through Alpine pastures at 2000 m, in dense forest in le Malgovert or in more open forest in Peisey Vallandry. All types of riding are to be found here: technical, rolling, steep, very steep, less steep, accessible tracks, roots, stones, jumps, banked turns, man-made tracks as well as natural terrain. A good mix of what we like to do on mountain bikes.
To sum up, it’s a large area with lots of possibilities.
The funicular is of course a terrific asset and a major argument in favour of going to ride in les Arcs. This lift is extremely fast, about 5 mins for a vertical ascent of 800m and, of course, a drop of the same magnitude. The ratio between the time of the ascent (5 mins) and the time of the descent (between 20 and 30 mins) from les Arcs 1600 to Bourg Saint Maurice, is, I think, one of the best in the world for mountain bikes, particularly with such a great height difference. What’s more, this way up opens a large number of routes from the top of the funicular.
Your favourite spot in les Arcs?
I’d say the famous "La 8" trail > http://www.pinkbike.com/video/382028/
I also like the Cachette trail.
These 2 trails are fast and technical at the same time and a large part of them is through the forest.
Nicolas Secerov
Nickname: Chechen
Date of birth : 04/05/1990
Sponsors: Les Arcs, Commencal, Ozed Eyewear, Dakine, Arc Mountainbike, MFCP Kustom
Achievements:
A little competing in bicross / slopestyle to lay my foundations after which I preferred filming the sport to competing.
Three years ago, I launched my web series project, “Le Petit Single dans la Montagne” with the aim of introducing the largest number of people to the sport of downhill mountain biking, our playing field, bringing a slightly more “offbeat” view to the subject!
Your opinion of the les Arcs Bike Park?
A playing field that’s as huge as it’s varied, just like the skiing in winter! Lots of trails / connections for all abilities and preferences. It’s really easy to move between the various sectors and enjoy the diversity that our area has to offer.
As far as endurance, the most « natural » of mountain biking activities, is concerned there is an incalculable number of runs in les Arcs, which means you’re amazed every time you come! But as in winter with the off-piste, it’s best to ask the guides and get information from local mountain bike schools.
The spot you’re most partial to in les Arcs?
The Arc 1800 / Barmont / Peisey-Vallandry sector. There are lots of great runs to do there!
Your best memory of les Arcs
My summer seasons working at Arc Mountainbike in general... Nothing but good memories!
3 words which encapsulate YOUR vision of les Arcs: BEST SPOT EVER !
Not forgetting our local hopefuls:
> Antoine GAILLARD, aged 19, in the Canoe Slalom.
> Joey BERÇON, aged 18, in the Kayak Slalom.
