Throwback Thursday: Candide Thovex’s Brutal Crash on Big Bertha

But back in 2007, this back-breaking crash at his own Invitational event at La Balme in La Clusaz almost knocked Candide out of the game permanently. At first the doctors thought he’d never ski again – but Candide returned seemingly stronger than ever, continuing to push the sport in new directions—just with not as many huge park jumps anymore!

The Candide Invitational was one of freeskiing’s premiere independent events, one of many that have since fallen by the wayside. The new freeski yearbook from Downdays — Ski Stories, Volume 5 — includes a special section dedicated to the independent events that are currently shaping the scene. Order your copy today!