Seb Varlet
Hometown: Thonon-les-Bains, France | Active: 2007-present | Known for: Jasna FWQ 4* runner-up, Verbier FWQ 4* podium, Freeriding Zinal: Beyond The Tracks | Disciplines: freeride, big mountain skiing
Fresh snow covered the Alta Chutes at The Remarkables on 6 September 2015, leaving a steep, exposed face above Queenstown for the Freeski Open New Zealand big-mountain final. Sébastien Varlet dropped into the new snow and moved quickly through the upper terrain before taking a large air from the rock feature near the bottom of his line. Around him, the men's field approached the face with technical drops, rotations and direct fall-line skiing. The day put Varlet's freeride skiing into a judged natural venue after several years divided between instruction, travel and skiing around Les Gets.
Bellevaux and Moutier: alpine foundations
Varlet started skiing at five in Bellevaux. At fifteen he entered the ski-study programme at Moutier high school, and a 2007 FIS start placed him in the French National Championships ski-cross field at Avoriaz. By seventeen he had qualified as a ski instructor and joined the ESF in Les Gets. In 2013, after completing his BTS and ski qualification, he travelled to New Zealand for a winter of teaching. His Les Gets ambassador profile later traced the same route from alpine skiing toward freeride terrain in the Portes du Soleil.
The Remarkables 2015: a New Zealand win
The Freeski Open New Zealand final at The Remarkables was a three-star Freeride World Qualifier. Varlet won the men's ski category ahead of Sam Lee and Hank Bilous. Lee used a technical waterfall drop on his run, while Bilous linked two 360s with another air. The judging incorporated line choice, air and style, fluidity, control and technique, turning Varlet's New Zealand season into a documented freeride result rather than only an instructing trip.
Ubac Images 2015: Treasure Iceland
Later in 2015, Varlet appeared in Treasure Iceland, a freerando web-series episode made during a ten-day ski trip in Iceland. Pierre Colonge, Julien Colonge and Varlet combined riding and camera work, with Ubac Images directing the project and Julien Colonge editing it. The film paired ski touring with lines above the coast and was selected for the High Five Festival 2015. The Treasure Iceland project page credits Varlet directly for both riding and filming.
Jasna to Verbier: four-star qualifier progression
Varlet reached second place at the four-star Jasna qualifier in 2017/18 on Mount Chopok, where the competition face mixed freeride gullies and rocky terrain across roughly 400 vertical metres. An injury kept him out of the following season. In 2019/20 he returned with fourth at Kicking Horse, ninth at La Rosière and thirteenth at Montafon before the season was shortened by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The 2020/21 campaign stayed in Switzerland: Varlet placed nineteenth at Nendaz and later reached third at Silvaplana, finishing eleventh overall in the four-star qualifier standings. In 2021/22 he added sixth at La Rosière, eleventh at Nendaz and fifteenth at Jasna. At the 2022 Verbier Freeride Qualifier on 22–23 February, he finished third behind Benjamin James Richards and Fynn Powell, with Simon Perraudin fourth.
Mont Zinal 2024: beyond resort access
Varlet returned to film work in Freeriding Zinal: Beyond The Tracks, directed by Lucas Costes and Alexis Vernis. The documentary follows Varlet and Jonas Monnin above Zinal, where they climb on foot from the ski area in heavy alpine ski boots before descending on downhill-oriented skis and bindings. NDG Cinema SA produced the project, with István Mátéffy handling cinematography. The Swiss Films catalogue entry records its world premiere in November 2024.
The world premiere of Freeriding Zinal: Beyond The Tracks took place in November 2024. NDG Cinema SA holds world rights and festival distribution for the ten-minute documentary, with Varlet and Jonas Monnin as the two freeriders climbing and skiing above Zinal.
Main competition results
- 2021/22 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Verbier — Freeride skiing — 3rd
- 2021/22 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, La Rosière — Freeride skiing — 6th
- 2021/22 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Nendaz — Freeride skiing — 11th
- 2021/22 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Jasna — Freeride skiing — 15th
- 2020/21 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Silvaplana — Freeride skiing — 3rd
- 2020/21 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Nendaz — Freeride skiing — 19th
- 2019/20 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Kicking Horse — Freeride skiing — 4th
- 2019/20 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, La Rosière — Freeride skiing — 9th
- 2019/20 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Montafon — Freeride skiing — 13th
- 2017/18 — Freeride World Qualifier 4*, Jasna — Freeride skiing — 2nd
Selection of his strongest results. Not a complete competition record.
Selected filmography
- 2024 — Freeriding Zinal: Beyond The Tracks — NDG Cinema SA — Full segment
- 2015 — Treasure Iceland — Ubac Images — Cinematographer, skier
Selection of his main film projects. Not a complete filmography.
