Written by Simon Ruel, Altitude Sports writer.
Translation: Reilly Doucet

Marie-Hélène Choquette Zaurrini, Brand Marketing Director at Altitude Sports, met the people of Rossignol in France to discover what makes the brand so iconic and what projects are in the works. She did a little skiing too.

“The components need to be positioned to the nearest tenth of a millimeter,” explained Alexandre Rabatel, coordinator at the legendary Rossignol workshop, where the brand's racing skis are handcrafted. As we walked slowly through the machines, the smell of wood and glue drifted through the air. Each specialist worked busily at their post, one manipulating a series of small presses, others refining the camber of a board. I asked one of the artisans how you get the perfect curve.

Their answer: “You spend your whole life doing it…”

Day 1: Tradition meets modernity
I arrived at the Rossignol headquarters ready for a few days of soaking up the spirit of the brand, spending some time on skis, and meeting local mountain enthusiasts. The magic happens in St-Jean-de-Moirans, near Grenoble, where the tradition of ski making now goes back over 100 years.

There, each edge, made of 100% recycled steel, is cut by hand. The skis are assembled and molded with extreme care, then subjected to a breakage test in a cold room kept at -30 degrees Celsius. They’re destined for World Cup athletes, whose input on the design process is fundamental.

Rossignol’s relationship with its skiers is not unlike that of a musician and their luthier. The athletes are in constant communication with the brand, and their needs guide how the skis are crafted for the highest level of performance. It quickly became clear to me why Rossignol creates some of the best skis in the world, combining rich tradition with modern, cutting-edge design.

Day 2: Spring slopes
I woke up the next morning feeling under the weather. Congested and jetlagged, I was dozing off in the snow groomer as it carried us to the top of the closed mountain, opened just for us. But the conditions were so perfect that I quickly forgot about my cold. The highlight of my day was the SKPR 3L ski set, made with a SympaTex shell, and an incredible, 100%-recyclable waterproof/breathable membrane.

I was joined by Hugo Laugier, a freeskier, and Ludovic Guillot-Diat, a snowboarder, both Rossignol athletes who spent all day challenging each other. The evident bond between the two athletes was a clear reflection of the family spirit that reigns throughout the extended Rossignol community. It was actually a family friend of theirs, the resort manager, who happily pulled the guys and I up the mountain on his skidoo.

We were later joined by Grégory Delamare, Rossignol’s Brand Director, who talked bibs, shells, lightweightness and minimalism. As I listened in on those mountainside conversations, I understood, more than ever, the integral role of innovation in the brand’s traditions.

Day 3: Carving my path
On the third day, it was time to make my mark in the snow - specifically the flakes that cover the Aiguille du Midi, the highest summit at Les Arcs, a ski resort in the heart of the French Alps. The sun shined brightly in the cloudless mid-April sky. I borrowed Rallybird 92 all-mountain skis, which I was immediately looking forward to testing in the day’s dream conditions.

I was guided by none other than the unmistakable Enak Gavaggio. With his eternal Salvador Dali mustache, you wouldn’t necessarily associate his slightly punk image with Rossignol right off the bat, but his attachment to the brand is deep. It has supported him since his very beginnings, after all. Beneath the surface of his iconic appearance, the seven-time X-Games medalist has a great respect for tradition. On that beautiful morning, he brought croissants to the summit for the patrollers, whom he makes a point of thanking at every opportunity for their behind-the-scenes work on the mountain.

But onto those first tracks. The snow groomer was the first to go down the mountain, and it left an immaculate corduroy texture in its path. The first descent was reserved just for me; the first stab into a birthday cake; a plunge into the icy water of a deserted lake. My Rallybird 92 skis bit with grace and provided an excellent edge grip. They were super stable, and I gained more confidence with each turn I carved. Struck with speed, light, and wind as I descended, a single tear slipped down my cheek.

Day 4: From summit to terrace
Lunchtime came and the shining sun made it warm enough to eat outside, surrounded by mountains. The food was simple but sublime.

Magali made a joke that I couldn’t quite hear - my head was completely lost in the Alps. The other guests laughed along: Greg, Hugo, Enak... Everyone had gathered to share a final moment before my departure. Magali is Magali Vague, a textile engineer who oversees the entire clothing division at Rossignol. I had met her earlier to talk about the brand's design philosophy, and she impressed me immediately. Super chic, she sported an outfit from the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac collection, which suited her perfectly. She also gave off very cool, almost ski bum energy, adding a bit of charming mystery to her sophistication.

I told her about how much more flattering the clothing I was wearing seemed, compared to the ski apparel I’m used to.

“Oh, absolutely,” she responded. “At Ross, if the clothes don’t make the wearer feel special, if there isn’t that element of French style, then there’s no way those pieces are ending up in the collection. We adapt to trends as needed, but we never lose our essence.”

She had definitely mastered the Rossignol essence.

Elegance and performance remain the DNA of Rossignol garments, but respect for the environment is also an important pillar in their manufacturing process. As a signatory of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, Rossignol does not use animal fur. In addition, the down and leather it uses must be by-products of the agri-food industry. The brand even favours synthetic down, at over 60%. Committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030, the company is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. By 2025, it expects to have reduced its waste production by 40%.

On the ski side of things, Rossignol’s new Essential collection of all-mountain skis is made of 60% recycled materials, but will be more than 75% recyclable. A conventional ski is typically only 10% recyclable, so this is a huge leap. Best of all, the Essential line will be manufactured in Sallanches, in the heart of the Alps.

Rossignol proves that it’s easy to be sure of the future when you’re so sure of yourself. The iconic institution has their eye on what’s next, and I for one have spent the summer with my eye on this winter.