Clément Infante is a UIAGM mountain guide in the beautiful region of Provence – Alpes – Côte D’Azur / Orcières in France focused on ski touring, freetouring and freeride, with whom we have been working for several seasons. He is a big kid at heart and at the same time an absolute professional, he cares about the safety of his clients, as well as their good feeling from riding and trips. In the mountains of the Champsaur area, he knows every square meter.
What does a typical working day of a mountain guide look like in France during the winter season?
It all depends on whether I’m on a longer ski trip or if I’m on a day trip, but the day will always be based on the same direction: Where to do the best skiing? I will therefore orient my itinerary for the day to do the best skiing possible so that my clients have stars in their eyes at the end of each day.
What is your favorite activity with clients and what is the most difficult part of your job?
My favorite activity with clients is freetouring. Spot a face where the snow will be the best possible, climb there, and descend it in a big curve freeride style.
I also really enjoy traveling to the heart of the Alps with my skis from mountain hut to mountain hut.
The biggest difficulty in my job is finding the right safety-risk ratio with the current conditions. I have to closely monitor snowfall, wind, and temperatures of each mountain range that I will explore one or two weeks in advance.
Where did you spend the most time this season and where did you like it the most? What new did you experience?
I spent a lot of time at home in the Champsaur and my favorite place is Prapic with its multitude of slope choices. My favorite is the north face of the “PAIN DE SUCRE”, 600 meters of linear descent between 35 and 40 degrees.
This season I discovered Norway. what a discovery! I literally fell in love with this place, the surroundings of Narvik (Lofoten). I was able to ski with my client the most beautiful lines, such as incredible corridors with more than 1000 meters of vertical drop going all the way to the sea. Next year I’ll go back twice!
What was your study like? Do you have other interests besides mountains?
The high mountain guide diploma is very hard to obtain. It’s a lot of sacrifice, a lot of training, and rigor to ensure maximum safety for customers later. We understand this putting pressure on trainers much later when we practice the profession.
I also have a doctorate in pharmacy, and to date, I only carry out replacements. The link that I find between these two professions, however distant they may be, is human contact. I really like nature, sport and above all life!
What about the snow in the French Alps, you probably also feel the climate change. How it looks in the southern region in recent years?
Climate change plays a vital role in the health of our mountains, it is obvious. We see it both in winter and in summer.
In the south of the Alps, snow is still present but at much higher altitudes than before. Cold waves over long periods are rare and snow precipitation tends to rise towards 2000m altitude. So you have to go higher to ride. This is why I love freetouring.
What do you do in the summer?
In the summer, I do guide a lot of mountaineering and climbing. But above all, I take time to climb personally and go mountain biking. Climbing is my second passion. I’m also the father of a little guy who I would like to spend more time with! It’s also the season for aperitifs and friends.
You have quite a nice range of skis from us. Which skis do you use most often and why? Do you choose your skis according to the snow conditions or according to your current mood?
My favorite ski for guiding is the LOTOR Fullcarbon. A true war machine in different mountain terrain, it will ensure me the right choice for all snow conditions. Then I adapt to the conditions and especially to the clients with whom I will share my day. If there are powder conditions I will choose my PERUN or my ALPHA (if I am with good skiers). If I am on a longer ski trip I will choose FROST for its lightness and versatility. If I am alone or with friends in heavy conditions the choice will quickly be made: PERUN or ALPHA.
Did you know that the French use the longest skis in relation to their average height? Is it a different skiing technique or something else?
I won’t be able to answer this question. The French may not have known how to evolve over time and stayd with long skis 🙂 I prefer also long skis! 🙂
Viktor could not resist adding to this answer: Firstly, because the French come from their own school of skiing, French and not Austrian like the rest of the world, secondly because they are very good athletes and especially extreme athletes, and the French excel in all extreme sports and know how to ski exceptionally well and in French resorts, there skiing level is many times higher than in Austria. And at the same time, you know that if you want to ski at a really high level and really enjoy skiing, you need long skis, because long skis are the basis. Every good skier should have skis at least the height of his figure
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In the 2022/2023 season, we worked on several new models of skis and, in addition to them, we also had the opportunity to create a custom series of FROST skis for the beautiful 50th anniversary of the Avalanche Prevention Center - Mountain Rescue Service. We are very proud of this collaboration, you may have already [...]
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Do you also take waxing the base more like a relax than a duty? In the evening, before the next day full of riding and adventure, you pay attention to your skis. When you take good care of them, they will reward you with every turn… Thanks for the video, Ondřej Šimko (cinematography) and Honza …
Clément Infante: season of a mountain guide in France
What does a typical working day of a mountain guide look like in France during the winter season?
It all depends on whether I’m on a longer ski trip or if I’m on a day trip, but the day will always be based on the same direction: Where to do the best skiing? I will therefore orient my itinerary for the day to do the best skiing possible so that my clients have stars in their eyes at the end of each day.
What is your favorite activity with clients and what is the most difficult part of your job?
My favorite activity with clients is freetouring. Spot a face where the snow will be the best possible, climb there, and descend it in a big curve freeride style.
I also really enjoy traveling to the heart of the Alps with my skis from mountain hut to mountain hut.
The biggest difficulty in my job is finding the right safety-risk ratio with the current conditions. I have to closely monitor snowfall, wind, and temperatures of each mountain range that I will explore one or two weeks in advance.
Where did you spend the most time this season and where did you like it the most? What new did you experience?
I spent a lot of time at home in the Champsaur and my favorite place is Prapic with its multitude of slope choices. My favorite is the north face of the “PAIN DE SUCRE”, 600 meters of linear descent between 35 and 40 degrees.
This season I discovered Norway. what a discovery! I literally fell in love with this place, the surroundings of Narvik (Lofoten). I was able to ski with my client the most beautiful lines, such as incredible corridors with more than 1000 meters of vertical drop going all the way to the sea. Next year I’ll go back twice!
What was your study like? Do you have other interests besides mountains?
The high mountain guide diploma is very hard to obtain. It’s a lot of sacrifice, a lot of training, and rigor to ensure maximum safety for customers later. We understand this putting pressure on trainers much later when we practice the profession.
I also have a doctorate in pharmacy, and to date, I only carry out replacements. The link that I find between these two professions, however distant they may be, is human contact. I really like nature, sport and above all life!
What about the snow in the French Alps, you probably also feel the climate change. How it looks in the southern region in recent years?
Climate change plays a vital role in the health of our mountains, it is obvious. We see it both in winter and in summer.
In the south of the Alps, snow is still present but at much higher altitudes than before. Cold waves over long periods are rare and snow precipitation tends to rise towards 2000m altitude. So you have to go higher to ride. This is why I love freetouring.
What do you do in the summer?
In the summer, I do guide a lot of mountaineering and climbing. But above all, I take time to climb personally and go mountain biking. Climbing is my second passion. I’m also the father of a little guy who I would like to spend more time with!
It’s also the season for aperitifs and friends.
You have quite a nice range of skis from us. Which skis do you use most often and why? Do you choose your skis according to the snow conditions or according to your current mood?
My favorite ski for guiding is the LOTOR Fullcarbon. A true war machine in different mountain terrain, it will ensure me the right choice for all snow conditions. Then I adapt to the conditions and especially to the clients with whom I will share my day. If there are powder conditions I will choose my PERUN or my ALPHA (if I am with good skiers).
If I am on a longer ski trip I will choose FROST for its lightness and versatility. If I am alone or with friends in heavy conditions the choice will quickly be made: PERUN or ALPHA.
Did you know that the French use the longest skis in relation to their average height? Is it a different skiing technique or something else?
I won’t be able to answer this question. The French may not have known how to evolve over time and stayd with long skis 🙂 I prefer also long skis! 🙂
Viktor could not resist adding to this answer: Firstly, because the French come from their own school of skiing, French and not Austrian like the rest of the world, secondly because they are very good athletes and especially extreme athletes, and the French excel in all extreme sports and know how to ski exceptionally well and in French resorts, there skiing level is many times higher than in Austria. And at the same time, you know that if you want to ski at a really high level and really enjoy skiing, you need long skis, because long skis are the basis. Every good skier should have skis at least the height of his figure
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Ski waxing is more a relax than a duty
Do you also take waxing the base more like a relax than a duty? In the evening, before the next day full of riding and adventure, you pay attention to your skis. When you take good care of them, they will reward you with every turn… Thanks for the video, Ondřej Šimko (cinematography) and Honza …