Hugo Hoff: A Tribute From Les Arcs

4th June 2020

Last modified on May 14th, 2021

The death of the young extreme skier Hugo Hoff in a fall on Mont Blanc shocked the world of skiing. Here, the 21-year-old’s club and the French resort of Les Arcs pay tribute.

We reported on the young skier’s death in News in Brief on Tuesday 2nd June.

Below we reproduce in full the tribute sent to us by Les Arcs.

THE LOSS OF SKIER HUGO HOFF – A TRIBUTE FROM LES ARCS

The death of young skier Hugo Hoff last Sunday 31 May has shocked the ski world.

He was a rising freeride star and a member of the ‘Team Les Arcs’.

His club ‘Les Arcs Freeski Academy’ together with everyone in Les Arcs are all in shock and send out their deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

After spending all his youth at the Serre Chevalier Ski Club, Hugo Hoff had chosen at 16 to join the club ‘Les Arcs Freeski Academy’ to pursue his dream of becoming a freeride champion.

A dream he almost touched with his fingers.

With very good results on the Freeride World Qualifier circuit the last two winters and first place in 2017 in the Freeride Junior Tour (Europe /Oceania), he was mooted to soon be part of the 22 elite skiers on the Freeride World Tour.

His passion for extreme sports, often so demanding, sometimes unfair, has decided otherwise.

Hugo was killed last Sunday May 31 on the slopes of the Gervasutti couloir, in the Mont Blanc range.

With his huge smile, slice of shyness and a love of adventure, Hugo will be sorely missed.

This is how Xavier Troubat and Laurent Niol, his coaches from the Freeski Academy described him:

“With Ugo Troubat, his riding accomplice, he skied steep slopes and off-piste at Les Arcs, their favourite playground.

“He had become the idol of the little kids of the club, a role model and a source of motivation. He will leave behind a memory which permanent, fluid, soft and harmonious.”

This week The Freeski Academy will bring together young people from the club for an intimate tribute.

A video of the most beautiful images of Hugo filmed during his training is being prepared and a more formal ceremony will be held later when hearts are lighter.

Words from Hugo Hoff

“The secret of winning is versatility: knowing how to charge like Reine Barkered, put down tricks like Loïc Collomb-Patton, have great technique like Jérémie Heitz. And if in addition you add a touch of style like Candide (Thovex), you won everything!”