Émile Allais

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Émile Allais (born in February 25, 1912 in Megève) is a former French and Arpitan Alpine skiier who realised at hat-trick of victories in the 1937 championships in Chamonix. He is considered as the very first well-known French Alpine skiier.

1 Biography
2 Results
- 2.1 Winter Olympics
- 2.2 Alpine Skiing World Championships
3 External links

[edit] Biography

He won Bronze medals in downhill and slalom at the Garmisch winter olympics held in 1936, the first to feature downhill skiing disciplines. In 1937 he was world champion at Chamonix. He created the École Française de Ski which taught innovative French methods characterised by parallel turns and which is still now the biggest Ski school in the world in terms of numbers ski teachers. It is present in every single French ski resort and even abroad.

After a spell in North and South America (Squaw Valley and Portillo) Allais held the post of technical director at Courchevel from 1954 to 1964 where he introduced many ideas from the USA regarding slope preparation and piste security. He later worked as a technical consultant for other resorts, notably La Plagne and Flaine. One of the Saulire couloirs at Courchevel is named after Allais.

In December 2005, 93 year old Allais made the trip to the French Senate in Paris where he was honoured along with a number of other ski instructors. His whole life has been all about skiing. He learned his skiing early. He raced all over Europe then coached the French Olympic skiing team for seven years. He fought World War II on skis. He even courted his wife at a ski meet.

[edit] Results

[edit] Winter Olympics

1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) :
- Medalist in Slalom.
- Medalist in Combined.

[edit] Alpine Skiing World Championships

1935 Alpine Skiing World Championships in Mürren (Switzerland) :
- Medalist in Downhill.
- Medalist in Combined.
1937 Alpine Skiing World Championships in Chamonix (France) :
- Medalist in Downhill.
- Medalist in Slalom.
- Medalist in Combined.
1938 Alpine Skiing World Championships in Engelberg (Switzerland) :
- Medalist in Combined.
- Medalist in Slalom.
- Medalist in Downhill.