Freeride in Méribel with the directors of Fréquences: Méribel profiles

December 05, 2024

Ski freeride à Méribel - Jérémy Prevost

An exclusive interview with freerider Jérémy Prévost and video director Antoine Laurent.

Antoine Laurent and Jérémy Prévost, who are both from Méribel, share a passion for skiing.

Antoine has been working as a videographer for the Méribel Tourist Office for the last three years, and is the author of a number of artistic projects, including the Welc[H]ome web series, produced in collaboration with Jérémy Prévost. His longtime colleague Jérémy has been a professional freeskier since 2011 and Méribel ambassador.

Together, they have created a short film that embodies the idea of the intoxication of skiing and snowboarding, both by day and night.

See behind the scenes of this award-winning film. 

A short film by Jérémy Prevost and Antoine Laurent

Freeride skiing in the spotlight

2024_BLOG_HIVER_MERIBEL_FREERIDE
Winner of a prize at the High Five Festival, this 8-minute short brilliantly captures the thrills of winter through its striking images.

What sets this short apart from the others?

Antoine: We leave a lot of room for skiing: there’s no voice-over, no descriptions. There are just images and music. The story is told through rhythm and aesthetics, through transitions and loops.

 

There are no words, just music. How does the latter enhance the world of the short film?

Antoine: Images provoke sensations, but music creates emotions. Finding the right music took time: Jérémy and I have different tastes. It was a great challenge!

Jérémy: We had to strike a balance between my rock music character and Antoine’s world, which is more into French rap. It’s important to remain authentic in what you do and not invent a role for yourself to conform to new trends. However, Antoine’s artistic vision has brought a musical diversity that enhances the skiing.

 

What message did you want to get across in your film?  

Antoine: Make ski films! Whatever your budget, get out there, film and create memories. Every rider can express their vision of this art, of this sport. That’s why I started, that’s why I’m still doing it. I want to share this culture, which is just waiting to be experienced, magnified and amplified.

Jérémy: I want to offer people some escapism by showing skiing in all its purity. It’s a sport that disconnects you from everyday life, whatever your level or type of skiing. On the chairlifts, people are always grinning! It gets you out of your routine. It’s about the pure pleasure of skiing.

The cinematographer and the freerider

Behind the scenes of a film shot outdoors

Antoine Laurent et Jérémy Prévost
Relationships between videographers and performers are not always easy: artistic and sporting visions can diverge. Here’s a look at the experience of the creators of Fréquences.

How do you work together on film shoots?

Jérémy: Outdoor shooting requires precision and adapting to the risks and conditions. This can be stressful, so we’ve got to know each other and learned how to work together. It’s a real team effort!

Antoine: Trust is essential. The skier has to be sure that the cameraman isn’t going to crash into him. Jérémy and I get on really well. After three years, we’ve developed a real bond.  We know how to anticipate each other’s movements and that’s a real pleasure.

Jérémy: The aim is to get around safely while having fun. You have to learn together and adapt your shooting techniques to the terrain. Antoine filmed from a distance, using a drone, in couloirs and on steep slopes. For Fréquences, the idea was to ski together to get more immersive images, as if the viewer were part of the action.

 

Skiing is your shared passion. How would you describe the feeling?  

Antoine: On skis, you become a superman. Your skis are an extension of your body. Their technical ability, ingenuity and flexibility allow you to reach speeds and heights that give you indescribable sensations. It’s exhilarating.

Jérémy: It’s a direct connection with the natural element, a unique freedom. You live each moment to the full.

 

Antoine, how would you describe Jérémy’s skiing?  

Antoine: It’s a refined, pure and academic style, with no flourishes. His choices of lines are impressive and always surprising!

 

Jérémy, what advice would you give to someone wanting to get into freeriding?  

Jérémy: You need to train and spend time with professionals like instructors or guides. Take lessons and go on training courses. 

An exceptional ski area

Méribel on the stage

Antoine and Jérémy feel entirely at home in the Méribel ski area. With Fréquences, they intend to reveal all the resort’s riches.

 

Where did you shoot the Fréquences footage?

Jérémy: Solely in Méribel. The aim was to show the little-known potential for off-piste skiing here. The area offers incredible diversity: from gentle descents to challenging itineraries, from skiing in the forest to more alpine terrain close to the glaciers. It has a unique richness.

 

Which spots would you recommend?

Jérémy: That depends on the weather, the snow conditions and the risks. But if I had to choose, I’d say Tougnète or Roc de Tougne.

Antoine: An off-piste run from the top of the Roc de Tougnes chairlift, on the left of the Bartavelle black run. The snow here often remains good here, and it’s below the chairlift, so it’s reasonably safe.

 

Tell us about a favourite moment during filming in Méribel

Antoine: The Sunset raclette! Thanks to the piste patrol services, we were allowed to ski at night. Waiting for nightfall after the last lift at around 5pm, we waited with a thermos and a raclette, while admiring the sunset. It was a unique moment.

Jérémy: We were lucky enough to shoot under a full moon, where the whiteness of the snow and the clear moonlight created a magical atmosphere. Skiing at night gives you a heightened feeling of freedom.

 

Where do you go after skiing?

Antoine: We often end up on the Ours piste, heading towards Mottaret, and stop off at the Downtown Bar for a beer and a debrief of the day.

Jérémy: All the bars in Méribel are worth a visit! You can eat a pizza at Le Rastro, have a drink at Le Rond Point… It all depends on your mood and where you’ve been skiing. Méribel offers a wide variety of après-ski activities.

 

  • Antoine Laurent, réalisateur de Fréquences - Méribel
  • Coucher de soleil -montagnes de Méribel
  • 2024_BLOG_HIVER_FREERIDE_NUIT_MERIBEl

For Antoine and Jérémy, Fréquences is more than just a short film: it’s an ode to their passion for skiing and the diversity of Méribel’s ski area. It’s an invitation to experience winter to the full, with freedom, creativity and unique sensations.

The short film Fréquences will be available on YouTube in early December 2024.

We hope it inspires you to come and experience winter in the heart of the 3 Valleys.

 

See you soon on the slopes! 👋🏾

 

 BUY YOUR SKI LIFT PASSES

 

 

 

Credits:

Interview conducted by Ophélie Zayonnet.

Photos by Sylvain Aymoz.