Patrick Vallençant


Patrick Vallençant was a French alpinist/skier and pioneer in ski mountaineering.
He was a pioneer in ski mountaineering and leader of the French school of ski mountaineers. His motto was: "si tu tombes, tu meurs", translated as "you fall, you die". In addition to numerous first descents, he was responsible for the creation of the "Pedal-Jump Turn" and co-founded the Degré 7 ski apparel company.
He died on March 28, 1989, in a non-skiing related climbing accident as a result of a broken carabiner, while abseiling from the top of La Beaume Rouge, in France.

Skiing

Vallençant became known for a number of first descents on skis within the French Alps that had previously been considered too steep to ski. To achieve this he developed a ski technique known as the "Pedal-Jump Turn". His feats required him to first climb the mountain in order to make the descent on skis, at the time it was uncommon to use helicopters to reach the top. His climbing and skiing partner for many of these first descents was Anselme Baud. In achieving this he took up the mantel of Sylvain Saudan and was a contemporary of other French extreme skiers, such as Jean-Marc Boivin and Bruno Gouvy.
YearLocationDescentComments
1971North face of the Grande Casse and the couloir des Italians1st descent
1971North Face of the Tour Ronde1st descent
1972North face of the Courteswith Marie-Jo
1973French AlpsCouloir en Y on the Aiguille d'Argentièrewith Marie-Jo
1973French AlpsCouturier couloir at l’Aiguille Verte2nd descent, with Anselme Baud
1973French AlpsCouloir Whymper on the Aiguille Verte2nd descent, with Anselme Baud
1977French AlpsArête de Peuterey1st descent, with Anselme Baud, filmed
1978PeruSouth-west side of Huascaran South
1979PeruSouth-east side of Artesonraju
1979PeruFirst ascents/descents in the White Cordillera
1979PeruWest Side of Yerupaja Slopes of over 65 Degrees skied
1985PeruMt Huascaranwith Jean Marc Boivin, filmed

Pedal-Jump Turn

To cope with skiing the steep terrain, Vallençant developed a new turning technique, known as the "Pedal-Jump Turn". The technique involved pushing off from the uphill ski, away from the slope and completing a portion of turn's rotation while in the air and then landing back on the downhill ski. With the advent of parabolic skis, using the uphill ski to initiate a turn is now a common technique for carved turns and racing. The key difference is in carving or racing the skier is traveling much faster, the terrain is not as steep and there is no need for such a dramatic thrust off the slope. The "Pedal-Jump Turn" was originally developed on traditional racing skis.

Professional

Patrick Vallençant founded the Stages Vallençant in Chamonix to teach extreme skiing & co-founded the "Degré 7" ski apparel company in 1983 with Iingrid Buchner, a stylist. He sold his share in Degré 7 in 1988.