Snowboarding in Val Thorens, Gaël is here to help you enjoy a sensational winter!
Published on 21/02/2025 - Written by Marie
With its snowpark, off-piste itineraries to the summits of the Alps and access to the largest ski area in the world, Val Thorens is a veritable paradise for snowboarders and those curious enough to try their hand.
We'd like to introduce you to one of our instructors, Gaël, who accompanies beginners and enthusiasts of all ages on their snowboards every season.
Discover snowboarding in the 3 Vallées
Although Gaël is originally from the south of France, he grew up in Lyon, where he took advantage of the proximity of many ski resorts, including Les Menuires, to discover the joys of skiing on the slopes.
A few years later, this experience would lead to a decisive meeting in his career, that of Denis Bondier, a passionate nature-lover from the Jura who wore many hats.
A few years later, this experience would lead to a decisive meeting in his career, that of Denis Bondier, a passionate nature-lover from the Jura who wore many hats.
Manager of a sports shop in the Belleville valley, Esf instructor and high mountain guide, it was he who passed on Gaël's passion for the alpine environment and snowboarding, through itineraries that our snow instructor still uses today.
It all clicked, not only because of the sensations of off-piste skiing and snowboarding, but also because of the mountain spirit and the spirit of mutual support in the resorts. After more than 20 years as a ski and snowboard instructor, it's a vocation and enthusiasm that still drives him today.
It all clicked, not only because of the sensations of off-piste skiing and snowboarding, but also because of the mountain spirit and the spirit of mutual support in the resorts. After more than 20 years as a ski and snowboard instructor, it's a vocation and enthusiasm that still drives him today.
Explore Val Thorens with our instructors!Snowboarding, a sport that has continued to evolve over the years
The golden age of snowboarding is generally considered to have been between the 1990s and the early 2000s, but the discipline seems to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity among winter sports fans in recent years. Gaël, who has seen the discipline evolve since its beginnings, has noticed this trend.
From his first parallel slalom competitions to his role as an esf instructor, Gaël has been particularly impressed by the progress made in terms of equipment. The height of half-pipes in competitions, board performance, the comfort of snowboard boots, etc., while the sport has largely been reinvented, the Val Thorens instructor nevertheless deplores the fact that the national scene and sponsors are still too limited for the discipline.
He has been spared some of this frustration during his competitions, thanks to the various equipment brands (Apo, etc.) that were ready to join the boom years of snowboarding, but which are now more cautious in their investments.
From his first parallel slalom competitions to his role as an esf instructor, Gaël has been particularly impressed by the progress made in terms of equipment. The height of half-pipes in competitions, board performance, the comfort of snowboard boots, etc., while the sport has largely been reinvented, the Val Thorens instructor nevertheless deplores the fact that the national scene and sponsors are still too limited for the discipline.
He has been spared some of this frustration during his competitions, thanks to the various equipment brands (Apo, etc.) that were ready to join the boom years of snowboarding, but which are now more cautious in their investments.
Having coached a number of youngsters at the Snowboard Club in the Vallée des Belleville between 2010 and 2012, Gaël regrets that certain talents, particularly in boardercross, have reached a glass ceiling in France due to the lack of high-level national competitions for these disciplines.
So while skiing is undoubtedly still the winter sport of choice in France, Gaël, like every other enthusiast, is hoping for a better stage for young snowboarding talent and, why not, that his resort can develop even further the structures and infrastructures dedicated to this discipline, offering even more possibilities within the domain.
So while skiing is undoubtedly still the winter sport of choice in France, Gaël, like every other enthusiast, is hoping for a better stage for young snowboarding talent and, why not, that his resort can develop even further the structures and infrastructures dedicated to this discipline, offering even more possibilities within the domain.
The pleasure of sharing your passion for snowboarding
But every season, it's with the same pleasure that Gaël returns to his snowboard to guide young and old under the colours of esf Val Thorens.
His greatest source of pride? Seeing the children develop over the years and progress in this sport, which can quickly become multi-disciplinary between the basics on the slopes and the sensations of off-piste, with that unique impression of floating on the snow like surfing on water.
It's moments like these that really get Gaël going: "From an instructor’s point of view, it’s fantastic to teach something and see people really getting into it. It also inspires you to take your teaching to the next level".
It's moments like these that really get Gaël going: "From an instructor’s point of view, it’s fantastic to teach something and see people really getting into it. It also inspires you to take your teaching to the next level".
Whether it's the feeling you get on your first day in the powder, the sense of freedom inherent in snowboarding or the many advantages the resort has to offer, with its unique alpine scenery and cosmopolitan atmosphere, there's no doubt that Gaël will be on hand to help you get started with snowboarding, as well as giving you the best rides of your life this winter!
Take a private snowboard lesson!