“Between the well-stocked shelves of the family shop, Julie Arnaud works with precision, adjusting a pair of technical trousers here and replacing a freshly sold goggle there. Also a ski instructor, she has only just returned from her lesson and hasn’t even had time for a cup of hot tea. But her open, generous face bears witness to the fact that she doesn’t mind the pace.
“Between the well-stocked shelves of the family shop, Julie Arnaud works with precision, adjusting a pair of technical trousers here and replacing a freshly sold goggle there. Also a ski instructor, she has only just returned from her lesson and hasn’t even had time for a cup of hot tea. But her open, generous face bears witness to the fact that she doesn’t mind the pace.
“A milestone to hand over, a twist of the leg on an elegant half-turn, and Aurélien Mathieu is ready to hurtle down the slope. The mountain man is a ski patrolman, and for the last three years he has been orchestrating all the teams who work behind the scenes to prepare and make the resort safe. On his skis, as he was on that early January morning, or in his life, which is firmly rooted in Villard de Lans, Aurélien follows his own path.
“There are children who dream of becoming footballers, spacemen, aeroplane pilots or veterinary surgeons. And there are others like Richard Chabert, who very quickly knew that he would become a snow groomer driver in his Villardière stronghold. A solid, warm handshake expresses the strong character of this man on the ground. You’re immediately on board, and as the slope rises, you’re transported back in time to the career of an unrivalled groomer.
“Juliette Ducordeau was born in the white setting of Bois Barbu and found not only a taste for competition but also a vocation on the Nordic circuits. For this lover of the great outdoors, cross-country skiing outings with friends quickly became a revelation. A deep commitment to effort and unfailing self-sacrifice to cross the finishing line”.
Here, as elsewhere, journeys only make sense when they cross paths with others.
