SAMAYA X VALENTIN PALARDY
DISCOVERING MOUNTAIN BASE JUMPING
There are mountain enthusiasts who push the limits of adventure. Valentin Palardy is one of them. A seasoned mountaineer and peerless base jumper, he launches from Alpine peaks with a unique approach: climbing technical routes before taking to the air. With Samaya, he finds the perfect balance between lightness and performance to fully experience this unique combination of ascent and jump.
"Low slider" base jumping: an art of verticality
Unlike wingsuit enthusiasts, who use suits that allow for long glides, Valentin practices "low slider" base jumping. "My jump is short, my canopy opens quickly, and what interests me is finding the right balance between a beautiful ascent and a beautiful jump," he explains. In this discipline, the essence is to capture the moment: taking the time to explore every corner of the summit, appreciating the chosen route, before launching into a few seconds of weightlessness.
Unlike wingsuit enthusiasts, who use suits that allow for long glides, Valentin practices "low slider" base jumping. "My jump is short, my canopy opens quickly, and what interests me is finding the right balance between a beautiful ascent and a beautiful jump," he explains. In this discipline, the essence is to capture the moment: taking the time to explore every corner of the summit, appreciating the chosen route, before launching into a few seconds of weightlessness.
Equipment designed to be forgotten
"For me, the perfect pack is one you don't feel." When Valentin approaches a technical summit, the demands of his gear become crucial. The backpack must be light enough not to hinder the ascent, compact enough to fit under a parachute, and sturdy enough to withstand the often rough walls of high-mountain mountaineering. That is where the Samaya ALPINE35 comes in. "I use this pack for everything: from mountaineering to easy climbing. It handles wear and tear really well, and I can throw everything in, whether it's the canopy or climbing gear, thanks to its large zipper." For Valentin, the Samaya ALPINE35 has become like a second skin, in perfect harmony with the needs of base jumping.
"For me, the perfect pack is one you don't feel." When Valentin approaches a technical summit, the demands of his gear become crucial. The backpack must be light enough not to hinder the ascent, compact enough to fit under a parachute, and sturdy enough to withstand the often rough walls of high-mountain mountaineering. That is where the Samaya ALPINE35 comes in. "I use this pack for everything: from mountaineering to easy climbing. It handles wear and tear really well, and I can throw everything in, whether it's the canopy or climbing gear, thanks to its large zipper." For Valentin, the Samaya ALPINE35 has become like a second skin, in perfect harmony with the needs of base jumping.
Iconic summits as a playground
For Valentin, the Alps are an inexhaustible source of projects. Recently, he completed the traverse of the Grandes Jorasses from the Torino hut, before rappelling a few meters down the north face to launch into the void. Mont Blanc is also one of his playgrounds, which he approaches via the Trois Monts, before descending on the Italian side to launch from the Freney Pillar at 4,500 meters, the highest exit point in the Alps. "These projects are more than just a jump; they are a whole expedition. Taking the time for the ascent, feeling the rock face, observing the slightest changes in the mountain... that is what adventure is."
For Valentin, the Alps are an inexhaustible source of projects. Recently, he completed the traverse of the Grandes Jorasses from the Torino hut, before rappelling a few meters down the north face to launch into the void. Mont Blanc is also one of his playgrounds, which he approaches via the Trois Monts, before descending on the Italian side to launch from the Freney Pillar at 4,500 meters, the highest exit point in the Alps. "These projects are more than just a jump; they are a whole expedition. Taking the time for the ascent, feeling the rock face, observing the slightest changes in the mountain... that is what adventure is."
Finding the alignment of the stars
Mountain base jumping requires infinite precision. The weather, the conditions of the rock face, wind speed: every detail counts. "There are summits where jumping just isn't possible. Sometimes, you arrive at the top and the conditions aren't right. In those moments, we head back down to find another starting point to fly." For Valentin, this is not a failure, but part of learning from the mountain. Each project is a lesson in humility, and each jump is the culmination of meticulous preparation and an understanding of the terrain.
Mountain base jumping requires infinite precision. The weather, the conditions of the rock face, wind speed: every detail counts. "There are summits where jumping just isn't possible. Sometimes, you arrive at the top and the conditions aren't right. In those moments, we head back down to find another starting point to fly." For Valentin, this is not a failure, but part of learning from the mountain. Each project is a lesson in humility, and each jump is the culmination of meticulous preparation and an understanding of the terrain.
The quest for distant expeditions
Valentin doesn't stop at the Alps. His dream is to explore the peaks of the Andes or the Himalayas, where the altitude poses even greater challenges. But for him, these ambitions are realized at the right time, when all the stars align. "Mountain base jumping isn't a quest for speed; it's the art of taking your time. Observing the vertical lines, feeling the moment when the mountain is ready to let you go... it's an intimate adventure, a unique connection with the environment."
Valentin doesn't stop at the Alps. His dream is to explore the peaks of the Andes or the Himalayas, where the altitude poses even greater challenges. But for him, these ambitions are realized at the right time, when all the stars align. "Mountain base jumping isn't a quest for speed; it's the art of taking your time. Observing the vertical lines, feeling the moment when the mountain is ready to let you go... it's an intimate adventure, a unique connection with the environment."
With Samaya by his side, Valentin Palardy reinvents base jumping, not as a simple descent but as a true exploration of the mountain, an invitation to slow down, listen, and blend into the vastness.
