Skimoutaineering: Célia Perillat-Pessey is the latest addition to the LaSpo family

Celia Perillat-Pessey was born in La Clusaz, with skis on her feet. She joined the Club des Sports in La Clusaz at the age of ten, first in the alpine skiing section and then, at the age of eighteen, in the ski mountaineering group. Soon, she turned her Sunday trips to the mountains with her family into veritable workouts, because of her love for the mountains, skiing, and the desire to push herself ever further.

Today, Celia is twenty-six years old and a professional athlete: she has been a member of the French skimo team for eight years and travels around Europe, competing on the major international circuits. In the winter of 2023, she was ranked high in some international competitions, obtaining a place on the podium in all disciplines, a bronze medal at the World Championships, and fighting until the very last race for a World Cup victory. This season she achieved her best results at international level, with three silver medals in the European Championships (individual, relay and combined). In the WE World Cup, she won a place on the WE podium, confirming her skills and versatility. She also achieved some excellent results in the French championships, earning gold in the relay and three silver medals (individual, VR, sprint). Today, she lies second in the general ranking for the World Cup and is determined to fight until the end to win first place.

From this year, Celia becomes part of the LaSpo family, and we went to meet her, to get to know her better!

Celia, tell us about yourself, without using the word ‘ski mountaineering’.

I am a very active person: when I am not practising sport, I still feel the need to be doing something with my hands (cooking, sewing, drawing...) or with my head (reading, doing crosswords, writing...). I don't like being indoors, so I spend most of my time outdoors, enjoying nature, the sun and the beautiful place I call home. I also have very strong ties with my family and friends: whenever possible, I go back to my country and try to see them all. As for my training, I have a license, a ski instructor diploma and one for alpine rescue.

How did you discover ski mountaineering?

I have always skied with my father and family, ever since I was a child. It was hard work, but we had fun and enjoyed the descents. My brother started ski-racing when I was eighteen: when I saw him doing well in that discipline and noticed that I no longer shone in alpine skiing, I asked him to take me with him one evening and, after this outing, I told him that the following season I wanted to dedicate myself to ski mountaineering. So, he found me a coach (Benjamin Chamoux), and, from that summer, I began training.

Can you tell us a bit about your athletic career?

I soon joined the French junior team. I was never the top athlete, but I always got the results I needed to stay on the team. I really liked the atmosphere, and it motivated me to keep going and not give up. My first season as a senior was the turning point. I felt I had what it takes so I focussed on skiing and dropped out of school. Today, I am a professional sportswoman and I love the life. Several aspects of my life (the army, my mentality, and the environment where I live) combined to let me be my best self.

What is the essence of ski mountaineering? What does it mean to you and why do you love it so much?

Ski mountaineering means freedom. Just put on your skis and go wherever you like: gullies, wonderful slopes, fascinating peaks. Yes, the climb is hard, but you are rewarded by the beauty of nature and the descents. I love this sport: it is complete, it allows me to test myself during the climb, to fully immerse myself in nature, to enjoy a wonderful 360° view when I am at the top and to have fun during the descent. It is a tough sport, which requires excellent physical fitness and a tenacious mind.

What discipline do you love most in ski mountaineering?

I love all the disciplines and, even today, it is difficult for me to pick one. They are all complementary and each has its own charm. The sprint calls for strength of mind, the VR is purely physical, the individual and the relay involve a bit of both. Team races mean sharing and experience. I compete in all disciplines; I always have fun and I hope to continue like this!

How do you get ready for a race and how do you prepare for it mentally?

The goal is to arrive as fresh as possible at the start of the race, so I have to be organized, make quick choices, rest and be in the best possible condition. Mentally, you have to build serenity and self-confidence, to arrive at the starting line in "killer mode". There is no room for self-doubt. All this mental preparation fascinates me, and I still have a lot of work to do in this regard.

How does it feel to be a professional ski mountaineer and what does it mean to you?

I enjoy it very much: my childhood dream was to become a ski champion like Regine Cavagnoud (a skier from my country) and today my dreams have come true. I'm proud of myself, I believed I could do it; I'm living the dream and I plan to enjoy it to the fullest.

Thanks to climate change, it snows less and less now, and it is increasingly difficult to find snow off-piste... Are you worried about the future of ski mountaineering and the planet? What would you like to say about that?

I am deeply concerned by what is happening to the planet, I have a strong love of nature and I am committed to preserving it. I see the environment changing, season after season, and although, as a professional athlete, I don't speak as an authority,  I believe  ski mountaineering is one of the sports with the least impact. I try to make small, daily gestures to limit my impact on the environment, and I hope that the planet still has positive surprises in store.

Where do you prefer to ski? And where would you like to go?

In La Clusaz, of course, in the Aravis Mountain range: there is always somewhere to ski and have fun, regardless of the conditions. There are many places where I would like to ski... Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, go back to Norway, the North Pole with the pulka; these are all special places and different from my home... But considering the current situation, maybe it's better to continue enjoying the beautiful mountains we have here, locally!

What makes all that effort worthwhile?

It is often said that sport is a like a school of life... And that's just what it is! Through sport, we learn a lot about ourselves, our body, our abilities, our mind...What drives me to give my all in ski mountaineering is the desire to reach my full potential.

Are you happy to be part of the La Sportiva family and what are the values you share with the Val di Fiemme brand?

La Sportiva is one of the most iconic brands in ski mountaineering; so, being part of the team is a source of great pride for me. We have in common the ‘family’ spirit that epitomises the company, the passion, the desire to have fun, the wish to further develop the brand in the ski mountaineering field.

Which are your three favourite La Sportiva products?

Stratos VI, Cyklon cross GTX, Technique pants.

What has ski mountaineering taught you over the years?

It has taught me, and continues to teach me, many things... About my physical abilities, my mind, my character, my values, my sense of priorities, and what it takes for me to feel fulfilled.

What would you like to be if you weren't a ski mountaineer?

It's hard to answer, I think I have the best life and the best job ;)