A very special character, passionate to the core, hyper-active, Denis has been flying for over 35 years, and is now 47. Publicized for his performances in the early 2000s, when he was the youngest professional paraglider pilot, a article in L'Humanité characterized him as a "funny bird" or a clumsy albatross on land, with a Pierrot lunaire face.
I don't know if I was a bird in another life [...] but I've always wanted to fly. As a child, I made parachutes for my Playmobils and, at 10, I inflated my first sails before launching out on my own at 12. I couldn't help it, it was an obsession!
Although paragliding is his original discipline, he's an exceptionally versatile pilot, mastering parachuting, base jumping, hang-gliding, mini-sailing, hot-air ballooning, helicopter, glider and even the airliner, for which he recently graduated.
I quickly realized that the relationship with time and space is different when you're flying. Every moment is precious. When paragliding, a second can seem like a very long time. With a plane, distances are reflected on a planetary scale.
If you're looking for Denis, you'll find him either in a cockpit, or in the harness of his paraglider at the top of La Grande Rochette, where he offers both classic paragliding and aerobatics (which he prefers!).
Having started paragliding at a very young age, I naturally wanted to explore all its dimensions, especially freestyle and freeride. At the time, it didn't exist and was even inconceivable in both technical and mental terms, although it did exist in other disciplines. A few friends and I got together to create aerobatics. We had to fight to change mentalities. Today, I like to help people who are unfamiliar with the sport discover it. Aerobatics is for all thrill-seekers.
Denis isn't originally from La Plagne, but he's nonetheless very attached to the area, which he sees from a more... aerial point of view!
I settled in La Plagne because I immediately felt at home here, particularly in terms of the human side of things, where I've always been welcomed and accepted. The spirit of the resort suits me perfectly: it's sporty, innovative, always striving for excellence, and that's a philosophy I love. [...] There are also the environmental, topographical and aerological aspects that are unique here, very special. In paragliding, I take off from the summit of Grande Rochette, a place offering one of the most beautiful 360° views in the Alps. You can fly either from the Tarentaise or the Vanoise side, and this offers very different flying perspectives. As for aerobatics, we fly over the Olympic bobsleigh run, which is unique in France. So the two activities that generate the most adrenaline in La Plagne take place in the same place!
Proudest achievements:
- First paraglider to cross the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar
- With numerous videos to his credit, he won a Golden Icarus for "surfing" on a hang glider.
- Creation of "Parapente Poursuite", the world's first paragliding board game
