The world’s first ski BASE jump from the North Face of the Aiguille du Plan in Chamonix, France, was officially completed on May 26, 2026.
Professional skier and BASE jumper Matthias Giraud, also known as “Super Frenchie,” completed the jump, which consisted of a 600m descent and a 50+ degree pitch ski BASE jump off the 55m sérac at the bottom of the face. Such a feat requires expert ski-BASE skills and top-level ski mountaineering ability.
Alongside mountain guide Alex Perinet and cinematographer Stefan Laude, Giraud left the refuge at 5:30 a.m. on May 26th and summited the Aiguille du Plan by 9 a.m. Giraud carried roughly 45 pounds of gear, including ice screws, crampons, an ice axe, rope, a parachute, and more.
Stefan Laude
At 10:30 a.m., Giraud dropped into the line, which had a layer of firm snow on top and softer snow beneath, providing him with a good grip on his skis. He completed two 60m rappels through the crux of the line before descending a final, icy, steep passage as rock, snow, and ice fell around him. After four final turns on skis, Giraud put his pilot chute in his hand and straight-lined towards the edge of the sérac.
Giraud completed the BASE jump, which ended up being about 30m vertically with 25m of angled ice below. Tap or click to watch below.
Watch: Matthias Giraud, First Ski BASE Descent of the Aiguille du Plan North Face
The first ski descent of the North Face of the Aiguille du Plan was completed in 1977 by Jean-Marc Boivin and L. Giacomini.
Chamonix-based ski alpinist Aurel Lardy gave the idea of a ski BASE jump to Giraud.
Just two weeks prior to Giraud’s jump, another respected Chamonix ski alpinist, Milo Cravero, was killed in an avalanche on the same line.
Rémi Portier
Ski BASE is notoriously one of the most dangerous disciplines of either sport. It was featured in the 1976 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, when Rick Sylvester performed a jump from Mount Asgard as a stunt double for Roger Moore.
Shane McConkey was another early pioneer of ski-BASE and completed jumps from spots like Lover’s Leap, La Clusaz, and the Eiger North Face. McConkey tragically died during a ski BASE jump on the Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites in 2009.
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