Pierre Vaultier riding a pumptrack on a lake
Title: Pierre Vaultier Takes Snowboarding to New Heights: Conquering a Frozen Pumptrack on Lake Tignes
Meta Description: Olympic snowboard cross champion Pierre Vaultier defies gravity and icy terrain in an unforgettable Red Bull project—riding a custom pumptrack built on a frozen lake.
Introduction
Imagine the crisp air of the French Alps, a frozen lake beneath your feet, and the thrill of carving through a serpentine track of snow and ice. This became reality for Pierre Vaultier, the legendary French snowboard cross athlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist, when he took on the daredevil challenge of riding a pumptrack on Lake Tignes. In a jaw-dropping collaboration with Red Bull, Vaultier showcased his technical mastery in one of winter sports’ most innovative moments.
What is a Pumptrack?
For the uninitiated, a pumptrack is a looped circuit of rollers and berms (banked turns) designed to test a rider’s rhythm, balance, and momentum control. Unlike traditional tracks, riders “pump” their bodies to generate speed without pedaling or pushing—making it a perfect crossover discipline for snowboarders.
The Event: Snowboarding Meets Engineering Brilliance
In 2018, Red Bull produced Ice Cross, a groundbreaking project that blended extreme sports with surreal scenery. Engineers constructed a massive 420-meter-long pumptrack atop Lake Tignes, a glacial lake at 2,100 meters elevation in the Alps. The track featured steep berms, rhythmic rollers, and sharp drops—all carved from snow and reinforced with ice to withstand high-speed runs.
Why Pierre Vaultier?
Vaultier wasn’t chosen at random. Known for his explosive power and precision in snowboard cross (SBX)—a sport that combines racing, jumps, and tight turns—he possessed the ideal skill set for the icy pumptrack. His ability to “read” terrain, maintain momentum, and adapt to unpredictable surfaces made him the perfect candidate.
Behind the Scenes: A Test of Skill & Nerve
Riding a pumptrack on a frozen lake presented unique challenges:
- Temperature Extremes: Sub-zero conditions hardened the snow into an unforgiving surface.
- Altitude: Thin air at 2,100 meters tested endurance.
- Technical Terrain: The track’s steep berms required flawless weight distribution and split-second timing.
Vaultier, alongside Austrian snowboarder Markus Schairer, completed multiple laps, showcasing how SBX skills translate to new environments. Their runs blended freestyle fluidity with race-level intensity, turning the lake into a canvas for snowboard artistry.
Athlete’s Perspective: Vaultier on the Ice Cross Experience
In interviews, Vaultier described the project as “unlike anything I’ve done before.”
“The pumptrack forces you to sync every movement—your knees, your hips, your eyes. On the lake, with the mountains reflecting in the ice, it felt like flying through a dream.”
The project also highlighted training crossover potential. Pumptracks are increasingly used by snowboarders to hone balance and efficiency during the off-season.
Visual Spectacle: Why This Stunt Went Viral
The imagery alone captivated audiences worldwide:
- A stark white lake contrasted against Vaultier’s vibrant snowboard gear.
- Drone footage captured sweeping views of the Alps as Vaultier weaved through icy turns.
- Slow-motion shots emphasized the athleticism behind each pump and carve.
Red Bull’s high-production video (watch here) not only showcased athletic prowess but also the surreal beauty of alpine winter.
Legacy & Inspiration
The Lake Tignes pumptrack project pushed boundaries in winter sports storytelling. It demonstrated:
- Innovation: How snowboarding can evolve beyond traditional slopes and parks.
- Accessibility: Pumptracks offer low-cost, high-reward training for riders of all levels.
- Adventure: Embracing unconventional locations to reimagine what’s possible.
For Pierre Vaultier, this stunt reinforced his reputation as a pioneer—proving that Olympic champions thrive when pushed beyond their comfort zones.
Conclusion
Pierre Vaultier’s icy pumptrack triumph on Lake Tignes remains a landmark moment in snowboarding history. It blended raw athleticism, engineering creativity, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps into one unforgettable ride. As winter sports continue to innovate, athletes like Vaultier remind us that the limits of possibility are only as narrow as our imagination.
Ready to watch the action? Check out Red Bull’s Ice Cross video here and follow Pierre Vaultier’s journey on Instagram @pierrevaultier.
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