Thierry Cardon, 1947 – 2011

Thierry taught skiing at the Avoriaz ski school in France, during the winter of 69/70. A certified ski instructor and mountain guide, he went on to pursue a career as a helicopter ski guide with Canadian Mountain Holidays and had become a legend in that very exclusive industry. I learned last night that he just passed away this January 11, in his home in Invermere, British Columbia. Diagnosed with a severe form of cancer one month ago, he had recently refused any further treatment, waiting with his wife Sylvie for, as he put it, “leaving for the biggest journey in his entire life.”

Even though I have only worked by his sides for one season, I have found memories of him and some of his closer friends were shocked in learning the news: Says Anselme Baud: “I knew him for such a long time from Avoriaz, then during two month spent together in South America where he shared his musical passion for guitar and charango; we're going to miss him a lot...” Another Canadian friend of his and like Anselme, a former Avoriaz ski instructor, Patrick Wahle remembers: “I've always felt a deep frienship for Thierry. We've done some mountaineering together and had done Chamonix-Zermatt in exceptional deep snow conditions; so sad to see him gone.”

Good journey wherever your guiding skills will now take you Thierry; for the moment we'll all miss you.