The Pierra Menta has been an annual ski mountaineering competition since 1985 in Arêches-Beaufort in the Savoie region. Along with the Patrouille des Glaciers and the Trofeo Mezzalama, it is part of “La Grand Course” series. In duos, athletes have to ascend cumulative altitudes of around 10,000 metres then ski downhill.
As a photographer, I think it was one of my aspirations to participate in this event. I remember a spectacular television image of a line of skiers climbing a sharp ridge high in the mountains with their skis on their backs and the background illuminated by the emblematic Pierra Menta (peak). The scene was amazing and inspired me to be part of it. At the time, this seemed unattainable… A few years later, I was miraculously taking off in a helicopter to cover this event…
