Capbreton, France
There are many amazing French mountain athletes with the last name De Le Rue, but there is only one Victor. The De Le Rue siblings have a long history of Olympic medals, Freeride World Tour championships, and so on, but the youngest of them all, Victor, has earned the right to stand out from the family. While the rest of his family was competing, Victor spent his hours in the terrain park–eventually, he would branch out, entering the competition world but also venturing into the backcountry.
Victor’s main style of boarding is Freeriding, where his well-rounded skills and background come to shine in the form of fearless sends down staggering lines–while effortlessly adding in tricks along the way. He was named Freerider of the Year in 2022 for a good reason. Most days, you’ll find Victor scaling the French Pyrenees, snowboard on his back, or with a climbing rope next to his favourite belay partner, his wife.
What goes through your head when you first wake up in the morning?
Where is my ginger and lemon drink ?
Where is your favourite place for riding?
I love riding Alaskan spines and the gnar of Chamonix.
How do you up your game year after year?
I love setting goals for the next season after each season, this way I do every thing I can to get in good shape and set up for that upcoming season and project.
If you could do anything better, what would it be?
Get a stronger core to be better on my board.
Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to?
I have plenty of people inspiring me starting obviously from my brothers and my sister, then I get inspired a bit by many other people, Halldor Helgason, Jones, Jimmy, Honnold etc.
What part of you, or what you do, reflects a spirit of restlessness?
I love sleeping in trees.
What sound or noise do you love?
Voice of my son in the morning, noise of my board turning in deep pow.
I am happiest when I am.
Sleeping in my hammock.
I am happiest when I am preparing a meal with ______________.
My mom. Even though she rarely lets me help her, as she says, it slows her down.
What are the 3 most essential things you need for your category?
Snow, fitness, and stoke.
If you could bring anybody in the world with you to do what you love (dead or alive), who would it be?
I love adventures with my wife and kid in the nature for multiple days.
What does YETI mean to you?
YETI means a good solid products that you will keep for life and that will cary its own history and memory of adventures.
What does it mean to be built for the wild?
It brings me a feeling of freedom, I love being in the wild, that's what I prefer in life.
How would you explain what YETI is to someone who didn’t know?
Strong products with a cool design and high efficiency.
What is the YETI that you cannot do without?
The Rambler® 14 oz Mug, Lowlands® Blanket and the Camino® 35 Carryall Tote Bag.