At only two years old, Alexis Pinturault began skiing on the slopes of Courchevel, where his parents owned Hotel Annapurna. He became world junior ski champion in 2009, then in 2012 won his first World Cup in Moscow (the first of 34). An explosive and dynamic competitor, he holds titles across all main alpine skiing disciplines, his professional achievements too numerous to enumerate. The Frenchman has represented his nation at seven World Championships and three Winter Olympics, and in 2014 became an ambassador for the luxury Swiss watch brand Richard Mille. When he isn’t training, he enjoys horse riding, mountain biking and diving. He has explored a great deal of the world and, here, reveals his favourite spots for skiing and Scuba diving.
One of the best places I’ve been scuba diving is Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia, where the whole of Japan’s Imperial Fleet was sunk during the Second World War. Under the water, there is wreckage all around: guns, railguns, tanks, trucks, engines, planes, torpedoes and, of course, the boats which were full of all these things. It’s all really well preserved, especially the deeper you go, where there is less light and oxygen. When wrecks are closer to the surface, there is more current, so they get more damaged. But deep down it’s crazy: you can dive among it all and go inside well-preserved engine rooms. You have to go with a guide unless your level of diving is really high. The site is full of history and emotion because so many people died there. You see some skulls around, including a famous one that has become fixed to a boat.
As for skiing, I really enjoy Vail and Beaver Creek, which are side-by-side in Colorado. The snow is always really nice because it’s very cold and dry there. It’s usually -20 degrees, more or less, and not very icy, making it perfect for skiing. The snow there is maybe the best in the world for the sport. Both Vail and Beaver Creek are good places to stay. At Beaver Creek, the village is growing and they’ve made a nice centre. If you’re staying a little longer, then Vail is a better choice.
Nicholas Ross is a traveller, writer and lover of literature
