The mountains are a land of adventure where enthusiasts seek to surpass themselves, whether in skiing, mountaineering or simply hiking. It's in this universe that sportsmen and women confront their limits and discover sensations that will mark a turning point in their lives.
A quest for meaning and personal exploration
For many, conquering a mountain is synonymous with victory over oneself and surpassing one's own abilities.. Indeed, it allows us to confront our humanity in the face of the elements and to push back our physical limits while developing our self-confidence. The mountains also fascinate us with their raw beauty, inviting us to respect and admire our natural environment.
Mountain challenges: developing confidence and mental strength
In all mountain sports, the main challenge is to develop that famous "self-confidence" that enables you to tame the mountain world. Professional mountain guides are there to help you develop your skills and overcome your fears.
Surpassing oneself in the mountains contributes not only to a better understanding of oneself, but also of the world around us. By embarking on this type of adventure, we also develop our interpersonal skills and team spirit, thus strengthening group cohesion and promoting exchange and sharing.
Mountain sports: a vehicle for solidarity
Experiences in the mountains also help us to deal more calmly with the challenges that life imposes on us on a daily basis, and to develop a sense of solidarity with those who accomplish these feats alongside us. We realize that alone, the goal is difficult to reach, but that by uniting and relying on each other, it becomes realistic and pleasant to live with.
Sportsmen and women conquering the summits and themselves
Various sporting achievements in the mountains bear witness to this desire to surpass oneself and reach new goals:
- Isabelle Boyer, who won two medals at the French firefighters' ski championships in Font-Romeu.
- Participants in the Raid des Alizés, a race in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Pelée.
- Literary and playful works about mountains: Le Grand Récit des Montagnes by Blandine Pluchet or the K3 board game.
Learn to surpass yourself and take part in mountain adventures
Learning different mountain sports allows you to live this intense experience of surpassing yourself while being supervised by competent and attentive professionals. A few tips for beginners wishing to embark on this quest:
- Training: taking part in adapted courses and internships
- Avoid comparing yourself to others, as each individual is unique and evolves differently.
- Patience, mental training and perseverance
- Recognize your physical and emotional limits, without forgetting that "the impossible does not exist".
Inspirations to take you further
It's important to remain inspired and motivated by remarkable success stories that demonstrate that the mountains can be witnesses and actors in real human adventures marked by resilience, courage and willpower.
Tanguy Chaminadehawaii Surf ambassador and former member of the French snowboard cross team, embodies this spirit of adventure and self-improvement. We had the opportunity to chat with him, to discover the secrets that guided him to the snowy heights and the challenges that forged his path.
Hawaii Surf: How would you define the concept of "surpassing oneself" in the mountains, especially in the context of snowboarding?
Tanguy: For me, "surpassing oneself" in the mountains represents mental mastery and our ability to maintain our capacities during the effort, whatever the terrain.
Above all, we mustn't let ourselves be destabilized by the things we can face. The aim is always to stay focused on what we're doing and how mountain conditions are evolving.
Hawaii Surf: How has your experience with the French national team influenced your vision of surpassing yourself?
Tanguy: It has enabled me to discover and push back my limits. We're constantly pushing ourselves to achieve our sporting goals, and that means constantly pushing ourselves physically and mentally for several years.
Hawaii Surf: Can you share a memorable experience where you had to push yourself physically or mentally?
Tanguy: Generally speaking, when we set out on a mountain expedition, we push ourselves both physically and mentally, because conditions are often never as expected. With the risk of avalanche, you need to be very vigilant and have the ability to visually analyze the faces you're about to ride.
For example, I set off with a friend to do the north face of the Aiguille Pourrie in Chamonix. To do this, we had to splitboard to the top of the face, knowing that there was a fairly high avalanche risk. On the way down, my friend dropped first and triggered an avalanche right in the middle of the face. Fortunately, he managed to get to one side and escape the avalanche. In this case, you have to be very concentrated and sure of yourself not to make a mistake and get swept away. At the same time, I was a spectator and that put extra pressure on me, knowing that the conditions were really dangerous. But I had to get off, so I rode with the idea in mind that I had no right to make a mistake and that I shouldn't let fear get the better of me.
Hawaii Surf: How do you approach mental preparation before venturing into the mountains?
Tanguy: I don't have any particular ritual, but the aim is to reassure myself by putting myself in a positive frame of mind. I think about how lucky I am to be able to pursue my passion, and I only think about positive things. It's important not to be dominated by fear or to be in a negative frame of mind.
Hawaii Surf: How do you assess and manage risk on your expeditions?
Tanguy: The first thing to do: check the weather forecast to find out what kind of conditions we'll be facing. Wind, snow cover, avalanche risk and visibility are the main factors to analyze before setting off on an expedition.
Then, on the big day, we carry out a snowpack analysis to determine the stability of the snow and deduce any risks. We also regularly call on ski patrols to provide information on risks and current conditions.
Read all our safety tips on our blog : Safety in the mountains: tips and precautions for a worry-free holiday
Hawaii Surf: What precautions do you take to ensure your safety?
Tanguy: For each expedition, I equip myself with a avalanche transceiver, shovel, probean airbag. Then, depending on what you're planning to do, you may want to consider crampons, ice axes and a harness. The aim is to be well-equipped to cope with any conditions.
Hawaii Surf: What are the most rewarding moments you've had snowboarding in the mountains?
Tanguy: It's getting to the top of a face and getting to the bottom of a face. It's the accomplishment of an effort when you reach the top of a face, and the feeling of sliding downhill. Being in the mountains is always impressive, because you're so small compared to the environment you're in. It's always a great feeling to be in contact with nature and to be able to climb up and down these gigantic mountains.
After each ride I feel a sense of happiness, serenity and peace with myself. It's one of the best sensations that sport can give us.
Hawaii Surf: Do you have any future projects or challenges you'd like to tackle?
Tanguy: Yes, I'd like to continue to build on my mountain experience so that I can do new things and push my limits even further. Expeditions to higher altitudes in countries renowned for freeriding and mountaineering.
I'm planning to make my second short snowboard film this season. The aim is to show it at snowboard film festivals and get more funding for my future projects.
Hawaii Surf: How has snowboarding in the mountains shaped your life and your vision of surpassing yourself?
Tanguy: For me, all high-level sporting activities bring about a change in your life. Constantly pushing yourself develops your senses and your physical and mental capacities. This is accentuated in natural environments such as the mountains, where risk is always present and the environment is constantly evolving. The thrills and adrenalin that this sport gives me are like a drug to me. Sport gives me stability in my life and allows me to escape and think of nothing. It's like a cure for life.
Hawaii Surf: How to strike a balance between boldness and prudence?
Tanguy: Staying focused and aware of the risks in the mountains. You must always keep your feet on the ground and never let yourself get carried away by too intense a feeling or emotion. The key is to maintain concentration and emotional sobriety during the effort. However, once the expedition is over and the risks are out of the way, everyone lives life in their own way. 
