Candide Thovex’s reputation as one of the greatest skiers ever is indisputable. He’s won X Games golds, skied on the Freeride World Tour (and won it in 2010), and has continually given us edits so good they’re difficult to fathom.
He does strange things on skis. Backflips in wave pools, for instance. Huge jumps off kickers a snowcat is about to demolish. Hell, sometimes he’s not even skiing on snow.
The world is changing, though, and short is sweet. His latest YouTube offering is just 27 seconds long, but it’s mind-blowing, to say the least. A single line in Tignes, France with an enormous double backflip in terrain that most people would not dare attempt a double backflip in. They’d just be trying to simply ride it with grace.
One of the most impressive parts of Thovex’s career is how long it has been. He’s 41 now, no spring chicken, and it’s likely the years of abuse he has put his body through in the name fun are taking a toll. Still, though, despite the creaky joints and inevitable nagging injuries, he’s not just still at it — he’s still killing it.
