[Life in Pics ] St Martin de Belleville

Sometimes you plan for your life to go in one direction, and it ends up taking you in another.

Didier Collomb, one of the leading ski instructors at the Les Menuires & St Martin de Belleville ESF ski school in Les 3 Vallées, first wanted to be a ski racer.

At the age of four, he joined the local ski club in the village he grew up in at the foot of the Chartreuse Mountains in the Savoie region of France.

His passion for racing took him to the Belleville valley 25 years ago, originally skiing in Val Thorens while training as a slalom racer, and he has since ended up living in the St Martin de Belleville area for the last 20 years.

The racing career didn’t take off, but living in the area gave Didier the opportunity to become a ski instructor. He joined the Mountain Guides of the Belleville valley and over the last 20 years has seen St Martin transform into an international ski resort, yet still remain a traditional Savoyard village with the local people proud of their agricultural heritage.

“I know almost everyone and I love the simple and friendly atmosphere. People here are real and humble, but it is always fun to meet new people at the Pourquoi Pas Bar,” says Didier, adding, “Saint Martin is the best place to live in the 3 Vallées all year round, the connection with the 3 Vallées is fast and very comfortable, and on top of that the local Mountain restaurants are just the best value around!”