Berengere Moroc, the definition of the love of snow

Berengere Moroc began skiing at the age of 2½, then snowboarding at 9 which became her true passion. She began competing in 1993, then quickly joined the French National Team and became French National Champion.

She began freeriding in 2006 and participated in the Mammoth Quest, a Freeride Tour Qualifier which got her a ticket for the Tour. At this point, she realized that this is what she wanted to do with her life and that she truly had what it takes. Her performance continuously improving, in 2008, she finished 2nd in the Freeride World Ranking after having won in Tignes, taking 2nd in Verbier and 3rd in Mammoth.

Last year, her fantastic season ended at the North Face Masters in Mt. Alyeska, Alaska where she had been invited to compete. She hesitated to take the very difficult run, but did and unfortunately crashed during the competition. Her life then changed…

With a crushed face and arm, internal organ damage and a spinal injury, her survival is a miracle. She spent a total of 6 months in the hospital and now continues physical therapy every day.

For most this would seem unbearable, but she has overcome this major obstacle a stronger and more positive person. For her, everything happens for a reason and “you cannot change your path, you just have to keep you eyes fixed on the future”.

When Nicolas Hale-Woods spoke with her about the possibility of judging in Sochi, this became her reason to get up every morning and work hard in therapy.

“I have worked 8 months for this moment. When I put my skis on (I still cannot snowboard because of my back), and took the ski lift, I just looked around me thinking this is a great place to ride. I know I cannot do it now, but that is ok with me because I know I’ll be back. Then, when I headed down the first slope, tears of joy came streaming.”

Berengere is someone that even if you have never met her before, her smile is contagious. She is an integral part of the freeride family and hopes to back as a competitor as early as next year.