Don’t Crack Under Pressure

Thierry Donard has completed another round-the-world journey with his camera, bringing us right into awe-inspiring natural settings where men and women carry out incredible feats. From the most beautiful snowy alpine faces to the peaks towering above the Norwegian fjords, from the waves of Fakarava to proximity-fly above the glaciers to the heart of Swiss Alps…

Skiers, snowboarders, wingsuit pilots, surfers all have one thing in common: the desire to reach the goals they set for themselves, sometimes at the price of waiting months for various weather conditions to converge, and all this in a time when nature is becoming more and more chaotic.

They all know they should make the most of Mother Nature’s excesses like the abundant and abnormal spring snowfalls that transform 1000m high faces into a freerider’s dream.

The Nuit de la Glisse athletes have to confront the dangers of such excess if they are to seize their chance. The pressure is on, fully aware of the danger, their line must be perfect at the fateful moment and that the slightest error of judgment has the gravest of consequences.

It’s in these moments that an athlete’s mental strength is tested. Will they be able to deal with the pressure and use it as an ally or will they crumble?

These are the themes in Thierry Donard’s 2015 film.