Xavier de le Rue

First and foremost Xavier De Le Rue is a mountain lover and this is at the core of all he does. In his heart he is a freerider - and spends his time in the powder whenever conditions allow. His love and skills for both powder and big mountain riding have achieved wide recognition, and Xavier continues receiving major awards from the snowboarding scene year after year.

Biography

Being incredibly successful in competition - winning multiple snowboard cross world championship titles and X-Games gold medals - cannot be ignored. Three years in succession Xavier was the snowboard freeride world champion, and was twice awarded 'best line' of the freeride world tour (snowboard and ski). This snowboarding racer and freestyler background combined with his love for the mountain give him the feeling and technical abilities he needs to ride the natural terrain to the full - whether pillow, minigulf, cliff drop or tight couloirs.

With snowboarding true recognition comes through filming freeride action. Xavier was eager to also invest time and energy in this side of the sport, and has received deserved success and respect for his movie and film parts. Xavier has been involved in a highly anticipated freeride film 'Deeper' where the riders access their 'playground' using only human power. During the 2009 season Xavier focused on big and steep faces in the Chamonix area, and was on expedition to the Antarctic filming for a documentary "Lives of the Artists" (by Relentless) - it left a deep impression "it was the trip of a lifetime, everyday we rode peaks and landscapes I would never have even expected to see".

Based in Verbier, Switzerland during the winter when not on the road for filming or competition, Xavier returns home to the Pyrenees for the summer months. It’s important for him to spend time with his family, and enjoy climbing, surfing and mountain biking. Xavier's specialty is to 'charge', to be fast and furious while riding the big mountains - but it is his love of the mountains that drives him.

Quick Facts

Birthdate: July 1st 1979

Home: Saint Lary, French Pyrenees

Favourite destination: Antarctica

Favourite Mountain: Mont Blanc region

Favourite Book: 'Let my people go surfing' by Yvon Chouinard

Favourite Films: Nikita by Luc Besson

Favourite Food: Japanese, Italian (in Italy)

Greatest Fear: To lose faith in the future

How I Relax: The only way is to sit down on my couch after a sick day outdoors

Philosophy: Life is about experiencing things à find your own way, keep searching, never give up à you'll find happiness

What inspires you? Nature - it's vital to my mental sanity

Words to live by: better try and crash than think you could do it and not give it a shot

Career Highlights

• World Champion Freeride World Tour - 2010, 2009 and 2008
• Best Line (Ski and Snowboard) of the Freeride World Tour - 2009 and 2008
• Swatch OÆNeill Big Mountain Pro - Overall Winner in 2009, 2nd in 2008, Winner in 2007
• Freeride World Tour Verbier Extreme (CH) - Winner in 2009 and 2007
• Winner of the Freeride World Tour in Tignes (FR), 2009 and 2008
• Freeride World Tour in Sochi (RUS) - 2nd 2009 and 2nd 2008
• Freeride World Tour in Squaw Valley (USA) - 3rd in 2009
• SBX FIS Vice World Champion in 2009
• Oxbow Back to the Powder in Tignes (FR) - Winner in 2008
• Boarder-X World Championship - Winner in 2007
• X Games Boarder-X - Winner in 2005
• Gravity Games Boarder-X - Winner in 2005
• Mt Baker legendary banked slalom û Winner 2002

Awards

• 2010 & 2012 Stand out performance of the year at TransWorld Snowboarding rider's pool
• 2010 Snowboarder mag Big Mountain Rider of the Year
• 2011 Voted Best Big Mountain Rider at the Tahoe Festival and the Saint Lary Freeride Festival
• 2009 Snowboarder Magazine Big Mountain of The Year
• Awarded for Standout part of the year at Transworld Rider Poll Award 2010
• Cold Smoke Award 2010: nominated for Best Line
• St Lary Freeride Film Festival 2010: Lives of the Artist awarded Best Shooting and Jury Special Prize