For several years now Wed’ze has been developping a true freeski range, tested adn approved by many of us passionates. With the will to go on developping this range according to new dsciplines and trends, the manufacturing brand has found first hand technical partnerships : profesionnal riders. Marie Martinod for half pipe skiing, Alexia Le Droumaguet for freestyle snowboarding, or Antoine Blanchi for Half Pipe and All Mountain skiing, for example, are some of the riders that bring their insight to enhance the quality of the products thanks to their experience on snow, their wishes, their background. So we met Antoine for him to tell us about him, his ski, his partnership with Wed’ze and his just arrived knee wound.
Photo credit: Wed’ze/Tristan Shu
Hello Antoine, could you introduce yourself for us ?
Hi, I am Antoine Blanchi, freestyle skier from Le Grand-Bornand, in Les Alpes, France. I am 22 years old and have spent the last 20 years on skis. I used to be an alpine skier, until the age of 17. I spent two years running the FISE competitions, but the very competitive atmosphere that reigned there wasn’t for me, it made me lose my pleasure at skiing. I turned to freestyle skiing because I was attracted to that the discipline and because it seemed to me that it was more about finding your own way to ski than about being the best. I entered the freestyle section of the Ski Club of La Clusaz and I found in freestyle skiing exactly what I was looking for in skiing : good sensations, freedom.
Is that why you decided to make a living out of your sport ?
Well, it’s a way of living, for sure, but I wouldn’t say I make a living out of it. But this is my passion, and it allows me to travel all year round and do everyday something that I love. It makes me free to ski the way I want and live my sport the way I see it.
Photo credit: Wed’ze/Tristan Shu
And so, how is you partnership with Wed’ze going ?
Well, it’s pretty nice. This partnership started around November 2012. The brand wanted to back up young riders and benefit from their experience to develop its image and its products. The goal is to really work together with the Wed’ze team to develop the products, and give them some images. We do a little bit of promotion for the products, we shoot videos or photos, but the most interesting part happens away from the public, in the Design centre meeting rooms or in Magland’s workshop.
What I really appreciate is the fact that we can give our input and we are realy associated to the developing process. With the machines in Magland, we can create prototypes and test them right away, which is really a big advantage in terms of product development. This partnership is really about exchanging, and as a rider you really feel listened to when you give your input to improve the product and you feel you can actually bring your personal touch to the evolution of the products. I am quite proud to be able to say : this ski, I took part in developing it and if it’s that good today, it’s a little bit thanks to me. This also broadens your horizon and allows to develop other talents.
Photo credit: Wed’ze/Tristan Shu
Can you tell us about last season ?
Well, my past season was not so good. We had had very good results with nico Bijasson the season before with the two top ranks of the general ranking of the SFR Freeskiing Tour that earned us 2 wild cards for the European X-Games in Tignes. We had planned for a good season but our coaching failed and our results immediatly dropped. Without a good lead, I was not able to pursue muy season of competitions so I decided to let go and just enjoy skiing for the rest of the season. I spent some time in New-Zealand over the summer as well. All of this helped me regroup and start with a fresh spirit for this coming season.
You were preparing for this coming season when you wounded your knee, during a training session in the Half Pipe in Tignes last Tuesday, the 12th of November. You are to get a surgery this Wednesday, 20th of November. How do you feel ?
Yeah, bad luck happened : tear of the patellar tendon. These are the risks when you are an athlete, and you always keep that in a corner of your mind. So when it happens, you try to be wise about it. It’s really hard for me to see yet another season wasted, but for now I am focusing on the surgery and what’s coming next. I have a good surgical team taking car of me here, and my family is there too, so i am not really worried about this. And the recovery protocol for that kind of injury is well known : rest, physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation in a sports rehabilitation centre, and most of all a great deal of patience. I will get to it with a free mind knowing that I will not be able to get on skis before 4 months, and that it will take me 6 to 8 months to get back to a competitive level.
We will have a thought for you and wait to see you back on your skis. What can we wish for you ?
A good recovery, and that the French freeskiers light up the stars at the Olympic Games in Sochi…