In the twists and turns of the building, while the men’s technical group of Clément Noël, Steven Amiez, Victor Muffat-Jeandet, Léo Anguenot and Paco Rassat is in physical preparation, other athletes are taken care of by the reathletization unit. A now obligatory transition, which has proven its worth, between rehabilitation and the return to competition.
Bernat-Salles, Salomé and Mecca at the helm
With the National Ski and Snowboard Center (CNSS), created in 2016, the advantage is to have everything centralized in Albertville. Lucas Bernat-Salles, 32 years old, ski instructor in Tignes, masseur-physiotherapist-physical trainer and nephew of Philippe, the former Rugby player of the XV of France, is hard at work in the company of Sam Alphand, affected in the shoulder.
With Lucas, specialist in Winback Tecartherapy (elimination of pain, freedom of movement), we find Rémi Salomé, former World Cup physical trainer, who brings the performance-on-field aspect. He knows what an athlete is 100%, at the level of his best values, therefore capable of getting back on skis.
The third thief is none other than Régis Mecca (physiotherapist-osteopath). He has, among other things, trained in the use of NeuroTracker (cognitive training, recreation of circuits to regain full motor skills). With all these skills grouped under the same roof, the results are there.
Alexis Pinturault, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January during the super-G in Wengen, decided to work with Régis Mecca in particular to refine his comeback. A sign then that the Savoyard could have relied on the means made available by his main partner, the winged bull.
Mollié: “This protocol is not dedicated to an average athlete”
Jean-Pierre Mollié, director of the National Ski and Snowboard Center, explains: “We ensure that the support improves over time and is more efficient so that the athletes are quickly ready. We are clearly in a high-level mode, this protocol is not necessary, nor dedicated to an average amateur athlete. »
The athletes who pass through this cell are under the responsibility of the French team doctor Stéphane Bulle, who oversees and manages everything.
At the dawn of 2025, the evolution is spectacular, as is the lasting aspect of this “service”. And we owe this to the precursors, notably Olivier Pédron, who was already in action in 2012. “It is a perfect transition between the return to everyday life and the resumption of the habits of a high-level athlete. level, with constraints and the obligation to be very fit to return to your job, underlines Bernat-Salles, also a trainer at Insep. This is a key period. »
“We have all the disciplines, it’s very interesting because the objectives and targets of Nordic skiers are not the same as an alpine skier,” summarizes Mollié. You have to adapt, look for new techniques. Lucas went to watch rugby in Marcoussis. It allows you to raise the bar by confronting other disciplines. For example, concussion, well known to rugby players, is becoming common among us, among freestyle specialists and downhillers. Rugby has brought a lot. »
This obligatory step which, ultimately, all skiers wish to avoid, has clearly improved the monitoring of injured people. It is, inevitably, doomed to continue. With expertise to, again, bring to fruition.
The young skier from Les Saisies Pablo Banfi saw his budding career come to an abrupt end, in 2023, following post-concussion syndrome. Victim of three concussions in five years, the Savoyard downhiller suffered from headaches, memory loss and dizziness. “Now that we have progressed, he would be better supported,” underlines Jean-Pierre Mollié. In the fall, Banfi released a documentary “Pablo, invisible wound”, with the assistance of Clément Simon and Baptiste Martin.
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