Matthias Giraud also known as "Super Frenchie" ( born on September 24, 1983) is a professional skier and B.A.S.E. jumper. He was born in
Évreux
Évreux () is a commune in and the capital of the department of Eure, in the French region of Normandy.
Geography
The city is on the Iton river.
Climate
History
In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named ...
, France and grew up skiing at St Gervais-les-Bains/
Megeve, France. His first highly publicized accomplishment was the first ski B.A.S.E. jump off Mississippi Head on
Mount Hood
Mount Hood is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It was formed by a subduction zone on the Pacific coast and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located about east-southeast of Portl ...
, Oregon. Matthias Giraud started as a competitive ski racer, but moved on to freeskiing and later on big mountain skiing. Matthias Giraud is known for combining
BASE jumping with
skiing
Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ...
and completed several first descents and ski BASE jumps across the globe including the first ski BASE jump off the
Matterhorn
The (, ; it, Cervino, ; french: Cervin, ; rm, Matterhorn) is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of th ...
in Switzerland. He is also known for escaping an avalanche off
Aiguille Croche
The Aiguille Croche () is a mountain in the Beaufortain Massif in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France. In 2009, Matthias Giraud was the first person to descent and ski BASE jumping, BASE jump off its cliff face.
Mountains of the Graian Alps
Mountai ...
in Megeve, France while performing a ski BASE jump with his friend Stefan Laude. Matthias Giraud currently lives in
Bend,
Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...
.
Career accomplishments
* 2011:
First person to ski BASE jump off the
Matterhorn
The (, ; it, Cervino, ; french: Cervin, ; rm, Matterhorn) is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of th ...
, Switzerland - First Wingsuit flight from the State of Washington, USA to the State of Oregon, USA
* 2010:
Ski BASE jump off the
Eiger
The Eiger () is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, just north of the main watershed and border with Valais. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that exte ...
West wall into the North face, Switzerland;
First ski BASE jump off Ingram Peak, Telluride, Colorado, USA
* 2009:
First Descent and ski BASE jump off Aiguille Croche,
Megeve, France;
First person to ski BASE jump off Ajax Peak,
Telluride, Colorado, USA
* 2008:
CNN Headline News - Video segment Voted “Best of Year”;
First person to ski BASE jump off
Mount Hood
Mount Hood is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It was formed by a subduction zone on the Pacific coast and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located about east-southeast of Portl ...
, Oregon, USA;
First descent and ski BASE jump off Engineer Mountain South Face, Colorado, USA;
First BASE jump while wearing a 360 camera with Miles Daisher.
* 2007:
Cover of SKI magazine;
7th Stihl Colorado Freeride Series (
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,004 at the 2020 United States Census. Aspen is in a remote area of the Rocky Mo ...
, USA);
Semi-finalist US Extreme Freeskiing Championships (
Crested Butte
Crested Butte is a prominent mountain summit in the Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The peak is in Gunnison National Forest, northeast by east ( bearing 59°) of the Town of Crested Butte in Gunnison County, Col ...
, Colorado, USA);
Forerunner US Freeskiing Open (Telluride, USA)
Publications and media coverage
* ''CNN Headline News''
* ''ABC - Good Morning America''
* National Geographic TV
* Weather Channel
* Fox News
* ABC News
* NBC News
* ''Ski Magazine''
* ''Skiing Magazine''
* ''The Ski Journal''
* ''Backcountry Magazine''
* ''Skydiving Magazine''
* ''Ski Canada''
* ''Ski & Board'' (UK)
* Skipass.com
* SBC Skier
* ESPN Freesking
* WIDSIX TV
References
''CNN Headline News'' - Best of the Year''Good Morning America'' 2008Smith Optics The Lounge
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giraud, Matthias
1983 births
Living people
American male alpine skiers
French male skiers