Yannick Boissenot, in search of snow and steepness

Mountain lover, photographer and cameraman, skier and much more, you are a person with many qualities, how would you describe yourself in three words? 

Patient, discreet and passionate!

How did your life in the mountains begin? Was it a natural beginning or something you decided to do after years? 

I was born in a ski resort and started skiing at the age of 3. I started climbing when I was 6. I lived in an area of “small” mountains (Les Arcs) and I discovered Chamonix very late, in 2010. Since I saw these majestic mountains, I made the decision to live here.

During these years, you have travelled all over the place, what place has remained in your heart and why? 

It is not easy to choose… Japan for its magnificent powder, Greenland for climbing, Pakistan for mountaineering and Peru for steep skiing. But if I had to choose one route, it would be the south-east face of Artesonraju (6025m) in Peru. Without a doubt it is the perfect line when it comes to skiing!

The mountains are a gift, in recent times with new facilities and lifts they have become increasingly accessible, what do you think?

I think it’s hard to say that they are bad because I use these facilities constantly every year. I think it’s a facet, or at least a characteristic of the world today, an integral part of society and its consumption. We always want more. I think it could change though, last year was a good example: every ski resort was closed and we had to start our day from the valley, it was a longer experience, with more ascent and less descent, but the pleasure was the same and often more satisfaction than usual!

Do you have any particular hobbies? 

I love looking for crystals, I could spend hours and hours in the mountains to find some particular stone! I am like a child looking for a treasure. I always miss the last train or cable car down to the valley and end up walking home late at night.

We have also seen you on a paraglider, how do you feel about combining different sports? 

I started paragliding last year, so I’m still a beginner, but my goal is to combine skiing and paragliding during the coming winter. I would like to be able to fly during the approach section or when you can’t finish a line, in case there is a clif at the end or little snow, fly downstream.

Sleeping in a tent in the cold on a mountain is a special experience, very cold, how would you describe it? How do you cope with the cold even in the most difficult moments?

I use my Salewa sleeping bag so I never get cold, one tip I can give when it is really cold, like the winter in Pakistan, is to put boiling water in a plastic bottle and keep it in the sleeping bag, it works for 4/5 hours, enough to recover the temperature.

You are supported in your adventures by many brands, including Salewa, do you have any favourite products?

The Sella Powertex Responsive jacket for skiing, Alpinewool Fedaia for crystal stone quests, and the Sarner Laine Full Zip for my 2 year old on cold days!

Skis and their construction are also a key part of good skiing, what do you think of Blackcrows? 

I really like the spirit of Blackcrows: a kind of mix between rockn’roll and a lot of precision in trying to create a better and better ski! The Atris and Navis skis are the best skis in my opinion!

Do you have any future projects you can tell us about? 

A secret project, in the Himalayas, at more than 8000m but nothing for sure yet… Hard to plan expeditions nowadays.