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THEY WROTE THE LEGEND

05/02/2020

Their stories and sporting feats past and present have made them skiing legends. we are taking you to meet Louis Lachenal, Guy Périllat, Edgar Grospiron and Tessa Worley. Four eras, four stories, four legends, all in one place.

EDGAR GROSPIRON - A MOGUL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

The first Olympic mogul skiing champion in 1992, he also has one of the finest track records in French winter sports. However, for the last few years, Edgar Grospiron has put his professional athletic experience into businesses and supporting young French sporting hopefuls. Now 50 years old, he reveals what drives him today.

His childhood dream: Becoming the world’s best skier.
His track record: He has won all the world’s biggest competitions.
His biggest win: His medal in the mogul skiing event at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics in France. He also won the World Championships three times, the World Cup four times overall, and has 28 victories in different World Cup events.
His farewell: « The mogul of the moguls », as he was known at the time, ended his career after winning the La Clusaz World Championships in 1995.
His career change: He now gives conferences to companies, recounting his athletic career and what happened behind the scenes of each victory to inspire employees.
His motto: « Whatever you do, do it well », as his parents used to tell him.
His performance: He still has it. He defines it as « A personal journey that consists of getting the most results with the least effort. Difficulty is replaced by pleasure, and performance improves with time. »
His support for young people: Since 2017, Edgar Grospiron has supported the young hopefuls in French sports through his association, En Piste, helping them to reach professional status
His sponsorship: Edgar Grospiron is one of the La Clusaz ambassadors. He sponsors the new Business Club La Clusaz and his contribution will include taking CEOs on skiing trips.
His life in annecy and La Clusaz : « I’m so lucky to live between the lake and the mountains. Annecy is a fantastic playground throughout the year, with countless sporting opportunities. In La Clusaz, you will often see me skiing with my family, electric mountain-biking on the snowy slopes, or at Au Coeur du Village at the end of the day. I just love the alpine atmosphere there. »
What drives him today: His family first and foremost, and the sports he practices on a regular basis. He has become an electric bike enthusiast and also enjoys surfing, kitesurfing and fencing.
His next challenge: « Travelling 310 miles in one day on an electric mountain bike.» You might even bump into him during your stay!

GUY PERILLAT - THE LEGEND OF THE SIXTIES

He was one of the stars of the golden age of skiing during the 1960s. Originally from La Clusaz, Guy Périllat retired in Chamonix where he still lives today, and is now devoted to his second passion, golf.

His village: La Clusaz, where he was born in 1940.
His beginnings: This highly talented downhill skier was scouted at just 13. But his career really took off in 1958 at the World Championships in Austria.
His track record: At just 20 years old, he won the bronze medal for downhill skiing at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics. But his finest feat was on the Lauberhorn Mountain in Wengen in 1961, when he won every downhill event. He also won two World Championships in 1960 and 1966.
His Olympic Games: As well as his 1960 bronze medal, he won the downhill silver medal in Grenoble in 1968, beating Jean-Claude Killy by eight tenths of a second.
Did you know: In 1961, at the peak of his career, he recorded an album, although it was never a big success..
His legion of honour: Personally awarded by Charles de Gaulle in 1966. Guy Périllat was one of the first professional athletes to receive this title.
The end of his career: His sporting career ended in1969.
His career change: As an accomplished mountaineer, he wanted to become a guide after his competitive career. But after a serious accident, he decided against the idea.
His life in Chamonix: After 30 years of skiing and ten years directing a sports shop, he retired in Chamonix, his wife’s native village.
His second passion: Golf. A sport at which he excels, with the same determination he showed as a skier.

LOUIS LACHENAL - FROM LE BICLOPE TO ANNAPURNA

An iconic mountaineer from the post-war period, an extraordinary climber, and a member of the prestigious Compagnie des Guides in Chamonix, Louis Lachenal was also a close friend of another alpine legend, Lionel Terray.

His origins: Born in Annecy in 1921.
His greatest feat: The triumph of his first 26,000-foot ascent, Annapurna in the Himalayas, on 3 June 1950 with Maurice Herzog, still remembered by French people today. He came back down with frozen hands and feet, supported by the rest of the team in terrible conditions. Louis Lachenal had part of his feet amputated, but that didn’t stop him going back to sports such as skiing and driving.
His beginnings: On the rocky wall named Le Biclope by local climbers, on the banks of Lake Annecy and visible from the Impérial Palace.
His professions: Mountain guide, mountaineering instructor, ski instructor, trainer for the French ski teams, conference speaker.
His ascents: As a passionate climber, Louis Lachenal scaled a large number of extremely difficult routes in record time for his era. One such accomplishment was the Eperon des Droites, Les Grandes Jorasses and the Eiger, all with extraordinary daring.
His memories: Carnets du vertige, a successful compilation of his notes put together by Gérard Herzog and published after his accidental death in the Vallée Blanche in 1955.

TESSA WORLEY - THE CHAMPION SKIER FROM LE GRAND BO

Double giant slalom world champion, Tessa Worley also has 13 World Cup victories to her name. At just 30 years old, this young woman is one of the international skiing elite.

Her origins: Born in Annemasse (Haute-Savoie) in 1989 to an Australian father and a French mother.
Her specialities: The giant slalom and the super-G.
Her rank: Sergeant in the 27th Battalion of the French Mountain Infantry.
Her skiing debut: In Le Grand-Bornand and in New Zealand, where her family have a second home.
Her club: Le Grand-Bornand. « It’s a unique resort for both athletes and families, with a great atmosphere. Everyone is a skiing enthusiast and we share incredible moments together. »

Her objectives for 2020: « Getting back on top form, healing my knee, and being the very best I can be. »

Her proudest moment: Winning the Globe de Cristal Award in 2017.

Her motto: « I never lose; either I win or I learn. »

Her greatest qualities: Determination and willpower.

Her dream: « I’m living it. Skiing professionally and being one of the world’s best. »

Her childhood dream: « Skiing as often and for as long as possible. And my competitive character made me want to be the best. »

Her career change: « I’m not looking that far into the future as I’m totally devoted to my skiing for now. But later I would like to do something creative and pass on my experience. »