On 5 April, Serre Chevalier is set to experience a special moment, where sport, humanity and the mountains meet. On the Chantemerle stadium, the Hautes-Alpes resort will host the handi-valide race, an event like no other, where able-bodied and disabled people will meet at the same starting line for a giant slalom under the banner of sharing.
Organised by the association Sport et Handicap en Briançonnais, and sponsored by Arthur Bauchet - triple gold medallist at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games - this race embodies a strong message: on the snow, everyone has their place, whatever their condition.
Sitting, standing, with a guide or on your own: it doesn't matter how you do it, it's the spirit that counts. It's the spirit of inclusive, accessible, joyful skiing.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced skier, on this day, performance gives way to complicity, and victory to pure emotion. Each disabled pair shares a descent, a moment of slippery equality that leaves memories that last far longer than a simple podium finish.
A strong commitment from Serre Chevalier
On the slopes, the smiles of the volunteers, the enthusiasm of the families and the kindness of the instructors create an atmosphere that we'd like to see more of in the resorts. It's a whole ecosystem that comes together to make this race a suspended moment, where limits are erased, and so is disability.
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Renowned for its exemplary welcome for disabled skiers, Serre Chevalier is reinforcing its pioneering status.
For several seasons now, it has been stepping up its efforts to promote accessibility, with adapted equipment, specialised instructors and facilities designed for everyone. With the disabled race, we're taking things a step further by making skiing and snowboarding a tool for building social links and restoring confidence.
An inclusive party on and off the slopes
Because this race is also a way of restoring the confidence of young people in wheelchairs discovering the slopes for the first time, or of children with amputations who, for a day, feel on an equal footing with their peers. Behind every run, there's a story. Behind every turn, an intimate victory.
And because the festivities don't stop at the finish line, the Place du Téléphérique de Chantemerle will be hosting events, association stands, a live concert, and even an introduction to sit-skiing, so that everyone can immerse themselves in this sport. Whether you're a spectator or a participant, there's everything you need to enjoy a day that's special, human and festive.
See you on 5 April in Serre Chevalier for a race where the heart beats faster than the clock. A race where the real podium is that of shared emotion.