Douds Charlet Interview, February 2007
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Interview by Fanny Redziniak | Clique ici pour version Francais


... continued from previous page

Tell me...What do you think of when you're snowboarding?
I think I have the freedom to do what I want. Nobody can say anything to me, I take the line I want and...what else to say? I take a lot of pleasure from it.

..And when you're climbing? (By the way, Douds is a notorious climber too)
When you're hanging on a wall or cliff, you have an objective, a clear goal that you have to commit to until the end. I just keep that in mind.

You're a child of Chamonix, and now you live in Argentiere. Have you ever thought of leaving Chamonix?
Yeah I do sometimes think of it...

Where is your favourite spot to ride in the Chamonix valley, always Le Tour?!
No, I like all the spots. I change where I ride depending on the conditions.

Who do you ride with?
I ride with Alex Doumergue and Lucas Benacchio, the Bouchkail team.

The photos with this interview are taken by Arthur Ghillini, do you ride together a lot?
Yes, we shoot all the time in Chamonix. He's also a good friend since childhood!

What is the scene like in Chamonix these days?
There's still lots of snowboarders, the snowpark is a little better now, and there's more and more extreme freeriders.

..And at night, where's the best place to party?
Anywhere, but especially Le Choucas. Soul Food is also a great place to party, and the owners are cool.

So you're into your ragga?!
Yes, Jamaican reggae, reggae in general, hiphop...

Where would you go if you left Chamonix? To the Pyrenees or Central Massif?
No man! Not Central Massif or even the Pyrenees. If I left Chamonix, it would be to go somewhere like the Himilayas or somewhere where there are cliffs and the sea, where I could climb.

You got married on January 20th last year. So you have success in love, future professional success (fingers crossed!), success in friendship too. What don't you have?
Yeah, I have it all! Oh no, I would like more budget from my sponsors, then I could do what I have always wanted all the time.

..And what's that?
I'd like to ride in Alaska, do a heli drop.


720 in Doud's back garden, Le Tour | Photo: Arthur Ghillini

Would you call yourself a pro snowboarder?
I would call myself an experienced snowboarder.

You're sponsored by some big brands...Salomon, Globe, Analog, Yourpark, Bouchkail. What do they bring you?
Actually, I want more budget to be able to travel more...

Do they ask you what you want?
Nah, they don't pay attention to what you want. They never call you. They spin you boards, that's it. They profit from you.

Can we write that, what you just said?
Yes, that's the truth.

You're a talented rider, very technical on your board, and yet you don't do many contests, why?
When I ride, I ride for myself and myself only. Even if it's for my sponsors, it's for me first. I would like to do more contests, but I don't have time. I will do more in the future, but not this year I'm afraid.

What would be your worst nightmare?
That my wife decides it was a mistake and leaves me! That would be my worst nightmare.

...And your wildest dream?
To be able to do huge farts under the duvet and my wife says nothing! Ha ha..
No, it would be to climb a mountain, to ride down a couloir, then another couloir straight after, and when I arrive at the bottom, my wife awaits me in a luxury hotel in a G-string in a jacuzzi with a big salad bowl of weed...

No, we can't write that!
Why not, it's a dream right?

Okay let's end this here. Big up's, thanks?
Big up Bouchkail, Chamonix, all the young freeriders, all the people that help me to ride, all my friends, and thanks to my wife who deals with typing and organising all my interviews.
Douds

Douds Charlet interview // Page 1 // Page 2

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