This black slope in the La Balme sector, ungroomed but secure, pays homage to this freeride icon, who regularly unleashes social networks, particularly since his legendary jump across the Aiguille Percée de Tignes.
The La Clusaz resort honors another of its champions: Candide Thovex, living legend of freeride skiing, has just named a black slope in his name. The “Candide Thovex”, an ungroomed but secure black slope in the La Balme sector, is located between the Crintiaux piste and the chairlift line which goes up to the Col de Balme.
«I learned to ski at Balme, and Balme taught me everything, confides Candide Thovex, 43, in a press release. This mountain shaped my skiing. I am honored to see part of Balme bear my name, and I thank the La Clusaz resort for this recognition.”
Skip the ad
The Haute-Savoie resort regularly provides champions in French skiing: Guy Périllat (giant), Edgar Grospiron (moguls), the late Régine Cavagnoud (Super G), Vincent Vittoz (cross-country skiing) have passed through the sports club. They all have a track named after them in the resort.
Mythical jump
Candide Thovex, whose father Raymond is an instructor at the ESF, won all the X Games disciplines when he was younger, and now regularly unleashes passions on YouTube or Instagram with videos of his major exploits. One of the best known is certainly his legendary jump across the Aiguille Percée in Tignes in December 2023. Feat reissued in 2024, with a “dub back”.
In France, several stations honor their legends with the name of a track. Among the must-sees are Oreiller-Killy in Val d’Isère; the Léo Lacroix trail in Les Menuires; the Emile Allais in Megève; the Jean Vuarnet in Avoriaz; the Goitschel in Val Thorens; the Annie Famose at the Grand Tourmalet; the Luc Alphand in Serre Chevalier or the François Bonlieu in La Flégère. Also note that a first Paralympic champion, Arthur Bauchet, was also entitled to a track in his name in Serre Chevalier.
On video – In 2016, Candide Thovex’s feat at Eagle Peak, in the United States
