Jérôme Caroli on Carving His Path Between Cycling, Freeriding, and Mountaineering
Film by Jérôme Caroli and Nicolas Falquet
Freeriding meets Biking: Jérôme Caroli’s Bold Adventure
Jérôme Caroli talks about his new film Combine – a project that pushes and blurs the limits between alpine skiing and biking.
Having grown up in the Val de Bagnes and now based in Verbier, Jérôme Caroli quickly turned his surroundings into a playground. On skis and a bike from a young age, it was only a matter of time before he joined the international competition circuit, including the UCI World Cup. For fourteen years, he gave his all to downhill mountain biking, using skiing as a way to disconnect and recharge during the off-season. Yet something was missing… Curious, creative, and highly ambitious, Jérôme made a bold decision in fall 2022: to step back from competition and focus on his new film, 'Combine'.
Written by Anna Unternährer
P: Jay Crunch
Jérôme, you’ve just gone through a major professional transition: moving from competition to freeride. How did that happen?
After fourteen years of competing, I needed a change. Things weren’t always going the way I had hoped. I achieved some goals, others not… and frustration started to build. I needed new goals, some distance from the World Cup scene, and I felt the need to express myself more freely – not just on a bike, but also on skis. By the end of 2022, I took a leap and decided to do things my own way. That said, I don’t rule out getting back into competition one day
Photo: Kifcat
Photo: Sven Martin
Photo: Dom Daher
Video: Louis Para
"After fourteen years of competing, I needed a change. Things weren’t always going the way I had hoped."
Video: Filmsmith
This change also marks the start of your project Combine, where you’re riding alpine-style on a bike and skiing steep slopes with big turns at high speed. How did this concept come about?
I grew up in Val de Bagnes, surrounded by peaks over 4,000 meters, which have always inspired me. I wanted to start a project that would let me express myself at home, both on skis and on a bike. The idea was to create a beautiful film with friends, bringing both sports together and highlighting their similarities. For me, these two disciplines complement each other perfectly.
Photo: Soren Rickards
"One day, I wondered if a line in the high mountains that works on skis could also work on a bike."
Photo: Soren Rickards
But things didn’t go exactly as planned… You got injured in January 2023. How did that affect the project?
Yes, an open double fracture of my leg, right when I was starting the project. It was a big blow that triggered lots of doubts and questions… We had to postpone everything for a year for rehab. Fortunately, I had partners like El Tony who believed in me and understood that this was part of the game. Thanks to them, I could continue in this direction.
"Coming back after an injury, in better shape, and being able to express myself the way I wanted from the start made the achievement even more rewarding."
Your playgrounds range from 3600 m (bike) to over 4000 m (ski). What are the biggest challenges when filming at this altitude? The skiing part is really tricky because of the conditions it requires. We focus on large ice slopes that aren’t skiable most of the year. There’s only a short window (usually between April and July) when the weather allows the snow to stick to the ice so we can ski it. But it’s not just about getting down the mountain – we want to carve big turns, on steep slopes, at high speed. We need a very specific snow quality to express ourselves the way we want while minimizing risks. Everything must line up perfectly. You have to be super patient for fifteen seconds of footage… but when it works, it’s just incredible.
That sounds extreme. Had you ever skied like this before the project?
No, never. Since biking had always been my priority, I couldn’t really spend winters the way I wanted because I had to train and compete. It wasn’t until April 2024 that I really got into it. Skiing on ice slopes is almost more mountaineering than freeride. But that combination is exactly what attracts me. I still have so much to learn, and it’s incredibly motivating. I’m lucky to have Jérémie by my side, he’s an exceptional skier and guide. I’ve improved enormously thanks to him.
And what about the bike part?
That’s simpler conditions-wise since there’s no snow. But the alpine terrain isn’t easy either. We look for areas with fine rock, so it’s aesthetically pleasing and fun to ride. It takes a lot of scouting to find the right spots.
"Skiing on ice slopes is almost more mountaineering than freeride.
But that combination is exactly what attracts me."
Photo: Tom Dahler
Photo: Tom Daher
Photo: Jancsi Hadik
Photo: Tom Daher
Photo: Soren Rickards
Photo: Tom Dahler
You must have a very fit film crew (laughs). How do you manage safety?
Yes, I have a dream team. Without them, nothing would be possible. Safety is the top priority. We always work with mountain guides during shoots. Once on site, after a debrief with the team about the conditions, we all decide together whether to go for it or not.
Photo: Jancsi Hadik
Photo: Soren Rickards
How do you know when it’s time to go or when to pull back?
I don’t consider myself reckless. I ask myself a lot of questions before giving the green light. If the conditions or my gut feeling aren’t right, I don’t go, and I wait for the next window. Yes, it’s frustrating when the whole team is ready and sponsors are involved, but I want to keep doing this for a long time, so I prefer to be patient and mindful. You have to know when to say no and adapt to the conditions to minimize risks as much as possible.
Combine has just been released. What message do you want to convey with this film?
Inspiration! When I was a kid, the film La Liste by Jérémie Heitz and Sam Anthamatten truly got me dreaming. I’ve always been drawn to that kind of skiing: steep, fast, with big turns. Back then, I never thought it was possible. Today, sharing part of this project with Jérémie himself, and with Nico Falquet as producer, is a dream come true. If Combineevokes that kind of emotion in others, we’ve succeeded.
Photo: Thomas Crauwels
Photo: Soren Rickards
Any final words for those who want to carve their own path?
Trust your intuition and be patient. Taking a different path is risky (in my case, I didn’t know if my partners would follow or if could still make a living from my passion), but if it feels right, go for it. Even if things don’t go as planned, at least there will be no regrets, and you’ll have followed your dream to the end.
"Trust your intuition and be patient!"
Photo: Dom Daher
Downdays Ski-Stories V6
Read the story "Finding his line" in the current Downdays Ski-Stories V6
