Leonor Aublin: Communications Manager at the Folie Douce

Meet the woman responsible for communications at the Folie Douce in Val Thorens, Leonor Aublin:

Tell us a little about your background and what brought you to Val Thorens?

I had been living in Paris for 14 years, that’s where I went to high school, college, had my first jobs and built my first company that I had for three years. The company called Urbn-Buzz was about promoting French hip-hop culture (graffiti, dance, slam/rap, DJing) in France and abroad. But surviving in the cultural/artistic field is extremely challenging and I felt I needed more experience working “for” someone to be successful with a company of my own. That’s when a friend of mine put me in contact with the owner of Malaysia and partner of Folie Douce in VT, they needed a communication manager and after what I’d done with Urbn-Buzz, I felt like “Easyyyyyy!”

And more importantly what made you stay?

Even though the few first months were extremely tough, what beats waking up to see the snowy mountain tops of the immense Alps? We do live “on the top of the world”! And what can make you forget any daily frustration better than grabbing your snowboard on your lunch break to hit Europe’s best ski slopes? It’s now been 5 years and honestly I congratulate myself every morning when I open my curtains to this amazing craft of nature.

By the way, thank you so much for answering our questions in English, where did you grow up and how is your English so good?

The USA….and Hong Kong

So from your years at La Folie Douce tell us…the good?

The amazing artists, the crowd and the location.

…the bad?

The amazing artists (who went out all night), the crowd (out of control) and the location (blizzard!)

…and the ugly?

The amazing artists (who are going straight to Malaysia after their gig), the crowd (who is going straight to Malaysia after the gig) and the location (blizzard!)

I know that you work incredibly hard behind the scenes to bring about the fantastic Folie events, what are some of the things you have to deal with that no one sees?

Definitely anything that involves logistics for the venue: whether it is getting things or people there. We aren’t allowed to use any motorized vehicles during the slopes’ opening hours, you can’t even imagine how many times I have to repeat this to any person that can be involved directly or indirectly in the events. So when for example you get all your props delivered 1 hour before the event and the supplier says “ha! See I told you it would be delivered on time!” You know that you’ll need all your energy to miraculously get the boxes up, unpacked and installed in 30 min, so you can’t even bother to get angry.

You certainly don’t do events by halves, I recall that some end of season events have included pro riders and wingsuit jumps, what was your favourite Folie bash?

With no hesitation the Circus in 2012, and last year the James Bond one, and it all ends up to one factor: the SUN … oh I should have actually included that in the above answer, when you work for months on an event and then everything falls apart because you have 100KM/H wind and snow, it’s a bit frustrating (you want to hang yourself, truly.)

You are obviously not just in Val Thorens to work so how much time do you get out on the slopes?

Hmm I like to say “Every day for my lunch break” But that wouldn’t be true. It’s really not regular, it depends on the weather, the work, but let’s say at least 2-3 times a week.

Are you piste or park?

Piste!

What is your favourite piste? Anywhere you would particularly recommend?

Pluviometre, Boismint … But obviously we all keep the nice off piste secret!

Once work is out where do you like to hang out in Val Thorens, any particular good bars/restaurants that are worth checking out?

The Steak Club and Malaysia! SNESKO!!

There is a lot of development always taking place in Val Thorens, how much has it changed since you have been there and would you say it is for the better?

Ha! Yeah I have been there five years and there have been five huge hotels (5* + the Club Med) and the building in which I now live. Well, honestly at least the (inevitable) constructions are respectful of any aesthetic architecture and materials you would want to see in the mountains – wood, stone, not too high – compared to what was built in the 60/70s … we all know what that looks like.

Summer is nearly done, what are your plans for next season?

Continue developing my company l’Atelier du Branding. Hopefully the website will be finished end of November! I help companies, like Folie Douce develop their promotion via objets, textile, events & web.

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Good luck for the Winter Leonor and thanks!