He grew up on skis, probably sleeps with his boots on and changes his ski goggles like other people change their lucky socks. Meet Léo Anguenot, a La Clusaz guy born and bred, top-level skier and lover of all types of skiing, even on water.
Hello Léo, please introduce yourself as if you were making your first TV appearance.
My name is Léo Anguenot, I’m 26 years old and I’m from La Clusaz. I’m a downhill skier in the French national team. And in another life, I was also in the French water-skiing team. Yes, I’m a guy who skis even when it’s wet.
Water-skiing, then. But you settled on the snow?
Since 2018, I’ve chosen to devote myself 100% to downhill skiing. Two top-level, parallel careers was becoming a bit too much sport, shall we say.
So, is this your place?
Yes, at my parents’ home in La Clusaz. It’s my cocoon. I’ve always lived here, although when I was 17-18, I started travelling a lot for competitions. But I always came back here in between times. I spent the lockdown here, and to be honest, I wasn’t unhappy about that.
What does La Clusaz mean to you?
It’s my home. I’m super-chauvinistic when it comes to selling the resort. We’re like one big family here. Everyone knows everyone else. There’s the mountains; they’re alive all year round. In short, that’s what I like.
What’s your skiing CV like?
I started at the Pre-Club at the age of 8, then at the Club des Sports from the age of 11. I wasn’t an ultra-precocious prodigy, but at 18, things started to take off. French champion in U18 slalom and giant slalom, then runner-up in the junior category. 5th at the World Juniors. In 2019, my first World Cup start in Adelboden; I wasn’t ready, but I had to go. Since then, I’ve gained experience in the European Cup, with podiums and victories… and now, I’ve had two full seasons in the World Cup. Best result: 2nd in Alta Badia, Italy. And today, I’m 15th in the world at giant slalom.
Was going professional a foregone conclusion then?
Yes, a bit. My parents both raced in the European Cup and my mother even made a World Cup start.
Skiing was at the dinner table, in the living room, in my dreams… I was completely into it. I used to pinch gate poles from the club to do solo slaloms when I got bored. In short, it was a done deal.
We saw you on cross-country skis at the Boarder Line… Is that serious?
Yes, and it wasn’t the only time! Every winter, I do it two or three times. I like to have a go at everything. Ski touring, cycling, tennis, hiking… If it gets sweaty, then that’s my thing.
So, is water-skiing still on your radar?
It’s my other passion. I love it as much as downhill skiing. My father passed both of them on to me. I stopped competing in water-skiing, but I do it every summer. It clears my head. And it helped me deal with the stress of competition. Like a double therapy.
Were your first moves on snow or water?
On snow, with my grandma who was a children’s instructor. A real family story. I think if you were to take a blood sample from us, you’d find melted snow.
Do you have a favourite spot in La Clusaz?
The Massif de l’Étale. It’s less crowded in winter, great fun in summer. I love it. Good memories of training there too.
If you hadn’t become a professional skier, what would you have been?
Another type of sportsman, definitely. I’m hardwired for sport. And I’m also part of the national police ski team. We’re ambassadors. Maybe I’ll stay in it after my career. But for the moment, I’m concentrating on the pistes.
Are you superstitious about skiing? Nadal-style rituals or more discreet?
I have my little quirks, yes. My goggles with the pink lenses which I keep on when it’s foggy or sunny; I see them as my magic filter. And I slap my thighs a certain number of times before setting off. It’s a mixture of concentration and superstition. My mental performance coach and I have been working on this for four years. It’s become a powerful tool.
Tell us about that famous podium-finish in Alta Badia.
It was crazy. I was firing on all cylinders: good legs, good skis, good feeling. I was aiming for a top-10 finish. And I finished second. I was ninth after the first run and gave it my all on the second. And when the others were falling behind me one by one and I climbed up the leaderboard… it was an emotional rollercoaster. What’s more, it was snowing. And when it snows, I’m a human dynamo.
Is there a ‘before and after’ to this podium-finish?
Yes. Mentally first: it validates what you’re doing. And it makes you want to go back. But beware of the trap: after that medal, I put pressure on myself, wanting to relive it straight away. And I lost the technical thread a bit. Now I know: don’t chase after medals, just ski well.
What are your goals? Have you got a to-do list stuck on the fridge?
The Olympics, of course. 2026, or even 2030, in France no less. Otherwise, I’ll be aiming for a medal and a crystal globe… But always step by step. A race is a complete reset.
How far have you got with the Olympics? Have you been shortlisted?
Yes, I’m in Group A of the French team, so I’m in their good books. But there are only four places per discipline. So, we’re going to have to be good right from the start of the season. We had a pre-Olympic course with all the winter sports athletes. We’re starting to feel the pressure mount… But it’s a great source of motivation.
What has been your best moment on skis? (Ritual question, a bit corny, but there we go.)
My podium-finish at Alta Badia, without a doubt. It was just before Christmas 2024, so a great big present. It was snowing, I was like a big kid, and I was next to Marco Odermatt on the podium. The guy probably didn’t know who I was… But he was cool. It was a perfect day, with the Dolomites in the background. I’ll remember it for years to come.
