The following article was originally printed in the October 2024 Issue of Slush. To get more articles and subscribe click here.

Marion Haerty’s trophy shelf is starting to get crowded – five Freeride World Tour titles and a Natural Selection win will do that. Our paths first crossed at Baldface Lodge, where I had the pleasure of playing chauffeur, driving her from Nelson to Spokane. The whole ride was a deep dive into the quirks of America, the nuances of France, her wild tales of flying planes and conquering summits. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Marion’s more than just a force in the mountains – she’s a trailblazer, doing her own thing while still putting in a solid effort to bridge the gap with the American snowboard industry. 

After she dominated at Revelstoke, Marion cracked a joke about finally earning some ink in SLUSH. It was one of those "it’s about time" moments, and honestly, I knew I had to deliver. Because if anyone deserves it, it’s her – riding big lines, forging connections, and constantly pushing her limits in ways only Marion can.

Will you compete in the freeride event at the Olympics?

I will probably retire from competition in 2030, but I really want to stay involved with my country to help the next generation and keep the good spirit in this sport alive.

You’re also into paragliding—do you ever use it to scope out spots for snowboarding?

My dream was to move from mountain to mountain by paragliding, but the commitment is big. The risk of injury is high, and you have to dedicate so much time to understand an invisible element—the air. But I still love to fly without the goal of covering distance. Playing with thermics (a natural phenomenon with the sun and humidity that lifts you into the sky) is amazing, but just hiking up a mountain and flying down with my wing is the best feeling ever. We call it Hike & Fly.

How has your competitive mindset shifted since joining NST, which has a stronger freestyle focus than the Freeride World Tour?

I was getting bored of doing the same things after six years on the FWT, and when I heard about the possibility of stages in Alaska or Canada, in wild environments on the NST, I was really excited to try something new. I wanted to combine my freestyle background with what I'd learned in Chamonix about freeriding. I won’t lie—Jackson Hole as the first duel was not easy. I didn’t feel fully comfortable expressing myself on the big mountain, but I gave it my best, tried some tricks, and loved it!

You once mentioned that one of the challenges of entering the NST was improving your English. What’s been harder—riding competitively or keeping up with American snowboard slang?

It was really haaaaard! Both were challenging—riding competitively and keeping up with American snowboard slang. Gaining respect from the core freestyle world with my freeride background was tough, plus I had to learn all the competition rules and keep up with Travis Rice's jokes, haha. Add in the jetlag and the stress of making a bad run, but I was lucky to have an amazing crew of snowboard women looking out for me.

What’s the best freeride location in France?

You can have a great time in La Grave. It’s a place in the south of France, completely wild. There’s just one lift that goes super high, and the slope isn’t maintained by machines—it’s all powder after a big storm. The dream!

You’re an avid cyclist. Do you see biking as good training for snowboarding, or is it more of a separate passion for you?

I like to practice different sports in the summer and take a break from snowboarding for a few months to keep my motivation fresh. Biking is a great way to spend time with friends, build strength in my legs without too much impact on my knees, and travel with a low carbon footprint to visit beautiful places in France.

You also fly small planes. What motivated you to get into that?

I was really curious about small planes and wanted to understand how they worked. But it’s complicated to use them to access mountains in Europe because of global warming. Still, I’m happy to have learned more about the world of pilots.

What’s been the biggest cultural shock traveling in the States compared to France?

The biggest cultural shock for me is probably how dependent people are on machines. In France, we’re lucky to live in a small country with hundreds of resorts, making it easy to access the mountains. In a big country like the U.S., with wild mountains, you don’t have the option of getting around without helicopters or snowmobiles. And obviously, the food! The culture around food is so different when you come from a country where meals are made with love every day, haha.

Who do you look to for inspiration when it comes to freeriding?

Xavier De Le Rue and Jeremy Jones have been my biggest inspirations in the freeride world, but also all the women in the backcountry on the NST! The generation of Full Moon, with Leanne Pelosi, opened my eyes when I was younger. They showed me how you can ride without being involved in a federation or World Cup circuit. It’s a huge honor to compete alongside them, and it means a lot to me.

What are your goals heading into the next season?

I definitely want to improve my style and tricks, but I also want to find balance. I want to be happy just to be in front of these beautiful mountains, to spend time with this amazing crew of riders, and to appreciate the people behind the competitions without putting too much pressure on myself.

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