Red Bull athlete Clément Noël (France), 28, is one of the world’s most respected slalom skiers and the most decorated French slalom racer in history. Known for his precision, calm mentality, and technical mastery, Noël opens up about mindset, preparation, injury management, his passion for golf and gastronomy, and the importance of staying grounded as competition intensifies.
Preparation and Training
The Red Bulletin: How are you feeling as the big event in Italy approaches this February?
Clément Noël: Good. The preparation phase went well. We’re still a long way from the Italian event. Even though the ski season hasn’t started yet, we’ve worked well beforehand. I’m confident. In any case, I’m happy with how I feel now. Summer preparation is always a bit special. We don’t have the same points of reference as we will in winter. Training is training, racing is racing. Physically, I feel good, I don’t have any injuries. We’ve done a lot of physical preparation too, now all that’s left is to move forward, into the season, and see what happens…
The Red Bulletin: Regarding your preparation phases, every year you do a training camp in Ushuaia at the beginning of September. How does it go over there?
Clément Noël: We go there for almost the whole month of September, between three weeks and a month, depending on the year. We are more to go there each year. It’s very important to go train in the southern hemisphere to get back into winter conditions. The main block of preparation is about twenty days of skiing.
The Red Bulletin: Kévin Page, head of the French men’s technical team, says you turned in a very good performance at this camp. Is that also how you feel?
Clément Noël: I had a good camp; I skied pretty well. I adapted well to all the conditions. For me, it’s those conditions that I need to experience in Ushuaia. There are tough conditions with marked terrain, holes, etc. I’m better when it’s icy and smooth. I’ve made good progress in that area, so I think it’s useful.
Injury and Resilience
The Red Bulletin: Last December, you fell and got injured in Val-d’Isère. How did you handle that moment?
Clément Noël: It was a minor injury, nothing serious or dramatic. I didn’t have to think much about it. I had to get back on my feet quickly because it wasn’t a big injury and would allow me to continue the season. The recovery period wasn’t defined. The problem was the pain… I gritted my teeth, focused, took care of myself, adapted to the sensations, and tried to listen to my body. I was away from skiing for barely a week. Then I got back to it: it was painful at first, I wore straps. It wasn’t easy, especially during training. In races, I managed the pain pretty well. Those are moments when you don’t need to think much. I was in action, telling myself: “I have to get back to it and keep going.”
Mental Strength and Support Systems
The Red Bulletin: For a few years now, there’s been a lot of talk about mental health in sports. Do you work with a sports psychologist?
Clément Noël: Yeah, I have a psychologist I’ve been working with since last year, and it’s going well. I didn’t necessarily feel the need before, but now I do. It helps me put the right things in place to be in a good headspace when the time comes, and to perform well when I need to. These extra supports, this mental support, are just as important as being physically ready. In fact, being mentally prepared might even be more important for performing. Over the course of a career, there are times when you need it more than others. I think everyone can improve by getting support.
Life Beyond Skiing
The Red Bulletin: Life outside of skiing: what does a truly successful day off look like for Clément Noël?
Clément Noël: It depends. If I’m tired and need to rest, it’s a day when I do nothing, watch sports on TV, play poker on my computer. If I still have some energy, I might go play golf, have a nice meal out, maybe have a beer the night before. That’s the ideal!
The Red Bulletin: What other sports do you watch?
Clément Noël: A bit of everything, but mainly golf. I watch cycling, tennis, a bit of soccer, and winter sports. I also like athletics when there are big competitions.
The Red Bulletin: You’re also passionate about golf. Who is your favorite golfer?
Clément Noël: I really like Rory McIlroy, I think he’s one of the greatest golfers right now.
The Red Bulletin: What do you like about him? His playing style?
Clément Noël: Yes, he has a super elegant, clean swing. It’s beautiful, nothing is out of place. It almost looks easy. I like that kind of athlete: their sport seems easy, but usually, it’s the hardest thing to do. I like athletes with great technique, like Roger Federer, even though I prefer Nadal to Federer. (Laughs)
Technique, Style, and the Pursuit of Elegance
The Red Bulletin: You talk about elegance and precision. Are there any parallels between your sport and golf?
Clément Noël: They are very different sports, but you can always find similarities. Being classy, having a smooth and elegant way of skiing, I think it looks nicer, but it’s not the most important thing. People tend to say it’s not about “how” but “how much.” And in all sports, it’s the same: it’s the time that counts, and the style, well, it doesn’t matter that much. But it’s still nice to have a good style. And often, those who have good technique also have good speed.
Mentorship and the Next Generation
The Red Bulletin: A few words about Flavio Vitale, who is eight years younger than you. What kind of relationship do you have with him?
Clément Noël: He’s very good, very mature for his age. I have a good relationship with Flavio, we get along well, he has a good mindset, he’s very motivated. We have things in common that I find funny, but there are also quite a few differences between us. For example, we don’t have the same personality at all. It makes me laugh to see him grow up. I wasn’t like him. I find him very professional, he knows what he wants, he knows where he’s going. For an athlete, that’s a great quality.
The Red Bulletin: What were you like at his age?
Clément Noël: Like him, I was quite mature at a young age, but unlike him, I was much more relaxed. He’s very committed to his project, very professional. He’s even more professional than I am right now, even though I’m eight years older and have more experience. I have a way of doing things where I try to do things very well, very conscientiously, but also in a way that I do as little as possible.
The Red Bulletin: What do you mean?
Clément Noël: In the sense that I must do the job really well, but I also must manage my time so I can think about things other than skiing and do things other than skiing.
The Red Bulletin: Isn’t that Flavio’s approach that you perceive?
Clément Noël: Flavio is a bit different: he’s really focused on his career, he does a lot of things and as a result, it gives him a slightly different mindset from mine. But on the other hand, he has a lot of motivation, a lot of professionalism, and a lot of talent. He’s still young and hasn’t had any major results yet, but there’s a good chance that will come very soon. Flavio is one of the hard workers. There’s no secret. Those who succeed often belong to the category of people who work hard.
Travel, Culture, and Gastronomy
The Red Bulletin: Apart from skiing and golf, I saw that you also enjoy traveling. Are we talking about traveling for the sake of traveling or traveling for skiing?
Clément Noël: We travel a lot with sports and discover quite a few places, but we don’t have much time to visit. From time to time, when we go to the United States, we take a few days to go to San Francisco, for example, and when I went to Japan a few years ago, I took a little tour afterwards, so it’s always cool to be able to discover countries and cultures. When I go on vacation, I sometimes go a bit far to clear my head after a long season. I always want to go somewhere different.
The Red Bulletin: And you’re passionate about gastronomy. Where does that come from?
Clément Noël: I don’t know, we’re a family that loves to eat. Not necessarily in gourmet restaurants but simply to enjoy a convivial moment at a restaurant. It’s part of my culture. I was raised that way. My grandfather and my parents have this habit of meeting at a restaurant at least once a week. Like me, my brother is passionate about gastronomy and wine because my grandfather was a wine merchant. We love it in the family and, as I’ve started earning a better living, I’ve also wanted to discover new restaurants, new flavors, and so to go to gourmet restaurants. I try one from time to time. I love it, and wine too. These are endless passions. You’re always discovering new things.
The Red Bulletin: Your latest culinary favorite?
Clément Noël: The last fine dining restaurant I went to is a place I’ve been to several times; it’s Maison Aribert in Saint-Martin-d’Uriage. It has two Michelin stars. It’s a beautiful restaurant. The chef is committed, he does everything himself, he has a vegetable garden, he’s “extreme” in his positions but he does it very well.
The Red Bulletin: Any other recommendations?
Clément Noël: Plenty! For example, in Tignes, I’m friends with Clément Bouvier who runs Ursus and Le Panoramic; that one is one of my favorites, it’s located at 3,000 meters altitude. Up there, they only do flame-grilled or barbecued meats. I’m also thinking of Emmanuel Renaut’s restaurant in Megève, it’s magnificent. Or the Auberge du Père Bise by Jean Sulpice, on the shores of Lake Annecy. There are so many places worth visiting…
Looking Ahead
The Red Bulletin: Finally, what are your future goals in skiing?
Clément Noël: To try to perform well in the World Cup, to strive to be as consistent as possible. You can’t put everything on a goal that only comes around once every four years. It only lasts two times fifty seconds, so if you bet everything on that, you risk a big disappointment if it goes badly. So I’m preparing for the season and I hope to be in good shape and perform well. The overall goal is to be happy and healthy—and on skis, to be as fast as possible.
Key Facts
Athlete: Clément Noël (France, 28) – Red Bull athlete
Discipline: Slalom
Career Highlights: Multiple World Cup victories and international podiums
Training Focus: Southern Hemisphere winter conditions; technical refinement;
physical & mental preparation
Support System: Red Bull APC (Athlete Performance Center)
Passions: Golf, gastronomy, travel
Interview Source: The Red Bulletin Magazine
Why It Matters
Clément Noël demonstrates that elite performance is built not only on physical ability but also on mental clarity, life balance, cultural passion, and sustained curiosity. His commitment to precision, in skiing, thinking, and living, offers a powerful model for long-term excellence in alpine sport.
About Clément Noël
Clément Noël is a French slalom specialist and Red Bull athlete regarded as one of the greatest slalom skiers of his generation. Known for his speed, technique, and calm mindset, he continues to lead France’s presence on the World Cup circuit while embracing passions beyond the slopes.
Learn More About Clément Noël HERE
Keywords
Clément Noël, Red Bull athlete, slalom skiing, alpine skiing, World Cup, mental performance, skiing mindset, gastronomic culture, golf, travel, Red Bull APC
