Christian Frison-Roche is an iconic figure in French skiing. Born in Beaufort, in the heart of the Alps, he transformed a sporting career cut short by heart surgery into an exceptional career at Salomon. For more than 40 years, he has accompanied and supported the greatest skiing champions, actively participating in the development of innovative equipment and the emergence of new disciplines such as ski cross, which he helped introduce to the Olympic Games.
Now mayor of Beaufort, Christian Frison-Roche continues to work daily to preserve and promote his region, driven by a deep conviction that tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously. Discover the fascinating journey of a man who, through a life marked by challenges, achievements, and passions, embodies the spirit of the French mountains.
Christian Frison-Roche, can you tell us about your background?
Christian Frison-Roche: I was born in Beaufort, as I like to say, by the fireplace, 70 years ago now. I come from a large family and am the sixth of eleven children. My father worked for the department, more specifically in the former Bridges and Roads Department, while my mother was entirely devoted to raising her eleven children. After completing my primary and secondary education in Beaufort, I continued my studies at the technical high school in Ugine, where I obtained my technical baccalaureate.
My professional career began with a brief stint in Paris at an engineering firm. However, having always been passionate about skiing, I quickly devoted myself to the sport, particularly cross-country skiing, where I achieved some interesting results. At the age of 18, during my military service, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur, which required me to undergo open-heart surgery at the age of 19. Despite this ordeal, I quickly resumed intense professional activity by joining the ski patrol in La Plagne.
Georges Salomon (left), Christian Frison-Roche, and Pirmin Zurbriggen (Switzerland) in Val d’Isère in 1986
In 1977, a major opportunity came my way: I joined Salomon as a technician in the design office, actively participating in the creation of the brand’s first alpine ski boots. A year later, I became a competition technician. My career progressed rapidly: in 1984, I took charge of the alpine competition sector, then in 1986, I supervised the Alpine, Nordic and Free competitions. From 2000 to 2006, I also coordinated sports marketing, during which time I worked actively to have skicross recognized as an Olympic discipline by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
Among my significant achievements at Salomon was also the launch of Cross Adventure, a key event in the development of outdoor sports. In 2006, I returned to my first passions by becoming Director of International Alpine Competition. During my career, I had the privilege of working with renowned athletes and experiencing memorable moments such as Marc Girardelli’s first victory in ski boots in 1983, the historic victories of Bjorn Daehlie and Vegard Ulvang at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, Jean-Luc Crétier’s Olympic gold medal in Nagano in 1998, and the medals won by Alexis Pinturault, Steve Missilier, and Sandro Viletta at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
At the same time, I have represented the ski industry within international sports institutions such as the FIS and the WFSGI, also serving as treasurer of the Association of Competitive Ski Equipment Suppliers (SRS). Since 2014, I have been president of Pool Français, the official supplier to the French Alpine and Nordic teams.
In 2003, I obtained a postgraduate degree in sustainable development in mountain areas after validation of my professional experience.
In addition to my duties at Salomon, I am actively involved in international sports bodies, notably the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski Federation, representing the ski industry on the equipment committee.
Finally, after a rich and intense career in the ski industry, I became involved in local politics and was elected mayor of Beaufort in 2020. My current term of office is a continuation of my commitment to the harmonious, balanced, and sustainable development of our community, preserving its authenticity while promoting its attractiveness and dynamism for future generations.
Christian Frison-Roche, what are your passions?
Christian Frison-Roche: My passions largely reflect the life I have led and are deeply rooted in my origins. Initially, Nordic skiing played a big part in my life, starting in my youth.
In addition to skiing, I must mention hunting, although my view of this activity is very personal and far from the usual clichés. For me, hunting has never been synonymous with the imperative search for a trophy or a simple act of hunting. I could sit on a rock for hours, observing nature, meditating, and recharging my batteries in silence. Hunting was above all a way to reconnect with my family, to bond with my brothers and nephews in a natural setting. Today, I continue to hunt occasionally, mainly to maintain this family tradition and spend quality time with my loved ones.
In addition, I have developed a real passion for DIY. Throughout my career, I have mainly worked in an intellectual capacity, between meetings, business trips around the world, and managing complex projects in the ski industry. So being able to work with my hands, particularly on renovations or maintenance of my cottages in Beaufort, has become an essential source of personal balance. It allows me to unwind and bring my ideas to life, seeing the immediate results of my physical labor. It’s an important part of my personal balance, allowing me to take a step back, detach myself from professional pressures, and reconnect with simple, tangible things.
Finally, I could add that I have always had a particular passion for my native region, Beaufort, and for the Beaufortain in general.
What motivates you? Why do you get up in the morning?
Christian Frison-Roche: What motivates me deeply every morning is above all my commitment and responsibility to the municipality of Beaufort. As mayor, I am aware of the expectations of the residents, and my daily goal is to improve their quality of life while protecting the exceptional environment in which we are fortunate to live. The task is not always easy; it involves many difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions. But it is precisely in this complexity that I draw part of my motivation: the conviction that I am doing what is right and necessary for our region and its residents.
Another key source of motivation for me is seeing the projects I start through to completion. I don’t like leaving things unfinished. Every morning, it is this desire to achieve that drives me forward, to overcome difficulties and to constantly seek the compromises necessary to bring municipal and inter-municipal projects to fruition.
I am also motivated by the direct relationship with residents, the opportunity to listen to them, understand their concerns, and respond to them in a concrete way. It is a form of moral duty that is close to my heart, a way of giving back what this region has given me since I was born.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction?
Christian Frison-Roche: My greatest satisfaction is having lived the life I have lived. Having had heart surgery at the age of 19, when just a few years earlier I had been a cross-country skier, I was able to cross over to the other side at the age of only 22 by joining Salomon. What I couldn’t achieve myself as an athlete, I experienced fully by helping many skiers become the great champions they are today. Some of them have become very close friends, almost like family members. For example, Marc Girardelli became my son’s godfather. He spent a lot of time at my home in Beaufort, learning French and working alongside me in the office. We were only eight years apart in age, yet he was like a brother to me.
Beyond sporting successes, I was very proud to have witnessed Salomon’s spectacular evolution from a family business run by François Salomon to a recognized international group in the sector. Among my fondest memories are my first Olympic Games in Lake Placid in 1980, the remarkable victories of Franck Picard, Carole Merle, and Florence Masnada, and the historic double wins at the World Championships in Marioka in 1993 and Vail in 2015. Being able to contribute to these great successes and all these human and professional experiences has been a real life lesson.
Being able to contribute to the success of these athletes and experience all these human and professional experiences has been a real life lesson. That’s really what I consider to be the greatest satisfaction of my career.
Christian Frison-Roche, do you have any regrets today?
Christian Frison-Roche: Honestly, I don’t really have any regrets. I’ve been very lucky in my life, especially considering where I come from, from a family of eleven children. I’ve been able to achieve a lot professionally and personally, and today I have a beautiful family with three children. I’ve lived my life to the fullest, traveled all over the world, met extraordinary people, and accompanied exceptional champions. So no, I don’t have any particular regrets; on the contrary, I’m very grateful for everything I’ve been able to experience and accomplish.
If you had a list of three wishes for the mountains, what would they be?
Christian Frison-Roche: First of all, my first wish would be for the mountains to remain as they are today. It is essential to preserve their authenticity and protect this exceptional natural heritage without giving in to delusions of grandeur. I think it is perfectly possible to reconcile modernization with the preservation of our territory.
Secondly, my second wish concerns the balance between traditional activities such as pastoralism and agriculture, particularly the production of Beaufort cheese, and tourism, which sustains our region in both winter and summer. It is essential to maintain these two economic drivers, without ever sacrificing one for the benefit of the other.
Finally, my third wish would be to succeed in keeping our young people here in the Beaufortain. This means offering them prospects for the future, preserving local employment, and continuing to develop the necessary infrastructure while respecting our environment. Seeing so many young people taking over family farms or investing in manual trades here is a real opportunity that must be preserved at all costs.
How do you see the future?
Christian Frison-Roche: I haven’t made a final decision about the future yet. At the end of my term as mayor in 2026, I will be 71 years old, and I have always said that if I am not re-elected, or if I don’t want to continue, I will take my backpack and travel around the world again to visit my friends in various places: in Japan, the United States, South America, all the places where I have made friends during my career. I have traveled a lot for work, but often I have only seen airports, hotels, and ski slopes. Today, I would really like to enjoy it differently.
But on the other hand, the 2030 Olympic Games are coming up. Given my experience in organizing major international sporting events, that could be of interest to me. However, I am aware of the level of commitment, stress, and responsibility that this entails.
So, to be honest, I haven’t yet decided what I’ll do after the mayor’s office. Maybe I’ll travel quietly to see my friends around the world, or possibly get involved in preparing for the Olympic Games, if the opportunity arises. But nothing is set in stone yet.
