About us
Manufacturer of carbon sports equipment since 2006, we specialize primarily in ski touring boots. Motivated by a desire to create ever more extraordinary products, we attach great importance to our ecological impact, being first and foremost users of the surrounding natural environment.
Our way
The EURL Gignoux is located in the heart of the Belledonne massif, in Saint Martin d’Uriage, Isère. Just 15 minutes away, you can put on your skis and test the latest prototypes in the field.
Our products are entirely handmade in our workshops, with some machined or injected parts sourced from local suppliers. This proximity is essential for the company, who wishes to limit its ecological impact and places great importance on the responsiveness and quality of its relationships with suppliers.
Our story
I made my first fiberglass ski boots in 2001. The following year, I started using lighter, stiffer carbon fibers. I never imagined I’d one day be making them.
my job…
2006-2007 :
2006 is the year Pierre Gignoux himself founded the Gignoux company. The aim was to create lightweight boots for ski mountaineering competitions. And so, in 2007, the first XP 500 boot was born.
2007-2015 :
From 2007 to 2015, Gignoux continued to develop and improve its racing shoes, culminating in 2015 with the release of the Race 400. A high-performance shoe designed for runners, for running. The Race 400 will be THE Gignoux racing shoe for years to come, with its 500g weight for a size 26.
2015 :
In 2015, Gignoux introduces a brand-new, more versatile shoe, the Black. A boot designed for both competitive and mountain use. Two of the Black’s major assets are its high gaiter and integral liner, enabling you to ski in all types of snow while keeping your feet dry. What’s more, its ratchet and buckle provides comfort and precision on the descent.
2015-2019 :
In the space of 4 years, Gignoux has further developed its shoe range, upgrading the classic Race 400 into a new model, the Race pro. The Races pro incorporate all the qualities of the Race 400, with the addition of a tensioning system that allows the instep to be adjusted both downhill and uphill, to save even more time and aim for the podiums of the biggest races.
2019 marks Gignoux’s desire to no longer apply its know-how exclusively to ski touring. Indeed, 2019 sees the release of the Skate pro, a cross-country ski boot designed for all competitions. It incorporates all the expertise of Gignoux’s hand-crafted Carbon for unrivalled lightness and technicality.
2019-2022 :
Since the company was founded, competition has always been at the heart of its products. In 2020, the launch of the Mountain is an exception to the rule. The Mountain is a boot with a totally different approach to other models. While keeping lightness at the heart of the product, it allows you to ski wider skis, and is geared towards the pleasure of downhill skiing, while retaining the comfort on the ascent for which Gignoux is renowned. Its tightening and gaiter systems, covering the entire boot, ensure even greater comfort than the Black model. It’s designed for the ski tourer who doesn’t want to compromise on descents or ascents.
In 2022, Gignoux’s Mountain model won the innovation prize at the French Outdoor Awards 2022 organized by Outdoor Sport Valley.
Key figures
Years of existance
Passionate employee
Lower part manufactured
Weight in grammes for the lower part of the Race 400
The Team
Pierre Gignoux
Pierre is a born inventor, and it’s in ski-mountaineering that he proves most inventive. With a PhD in bio-mechanics, he worked in R&D at Rossignol for 10 years, while continuing to develop his own boots. A former competitor, he gave up high-level sport in 2005, set up his own company in 2006 and now devotes himself to developing his products, testing prototypes above his home in Chamrousse in the Belledonne massif.
Eric Wahl
Eric is the first employee of Gignoux! From a small workshop, through an innovation lab, to becoming a leading brand in ski-mountaineering, he has experienced every stage of the ascent of the ski manufacturing business. Arriving in the Alps in 2005 to enjoy mountain biking and snowboarding, he got acquainted with his neighbor: Pierre G. As a product manufacturing expert, Eric is now in charge of customer service with a 5-star performance! Knowing all the intricacies, he is a member of the management team.
Gilles Peronnard Perrot
He started with the company in 2008, trained as a craftsman, manual work holds few secrets for him. Today, he is mainly responsible for manufacturing the lower shells and is the go-to person when it comes to working with carbon. Living in Chamrousse, his part-time schedule also allows him to indulge in one of his favorite activities that he competed in for a few years: carbon-intensive ski mountaineering!
Brice Filliard
Brice is the teammate you want on your team! Just as dedicated to his high-level skiing practice as he is to managing and assisting the production team, or even coming up with innovative solutions to shake things up, Brice is a “jack of all trades.” Guided by his passion for skiing, it quickly became his daily routine after being recruited by Pierre Gignoux. His days are filled with ski projects, combined with his responsibilities as a methods manager.
Adrien Massieye
A true Grenoblois, seasoned skier, a natural handyman, and with a background in composite materials, Adrien joined Gignoux 7 years ago. In charge of molding the collars, he has, through material testing and dedication, been a driving force in the development of ever more high-performance ski boots. Adrien is the proud father of two children. Originally a passionate skier, he now rides a skateboard with his sons in the skate parks of Grenoble, introducing them to the mountains of the Isère region.
Mathias Rimbaut
Arriving in 2016 for an internship with the ambition to work in the outdoor industry, Mathias immediately connects with the company’s atmosphere. The team, the working environment, and the developed products are all motivations for him, and promoting the company becomes a natural choice. He channels his energy into raising awareness about the company and working internally on the organization. He is currently responsible for the financial and commercial aspects of the business and is part of the management team.
Marc Perrocheau
Although originally from “immigrant” Annecy, Marc is a Grenoble enthusiast at heart! A multi-sport practitioner, he feels completely in his element in this young, dynamic, and environmentally committed company: “We share a lot of things outside of work, whether it’s in the evening or on the weekends!” His range of activities spans from machining to cutting and sole construction. He brings enthusiasm and a zest for life every Monday morning, arriving by (muscle-powered) bicycle with fresh pastries!
Baptiste Agnely
Baptiste is the city dweller turned mountaineer. He decided to exchange the concrete and metal of the Parisian skyline for the lines of snow-covered peaks! A true outdoor sports enthusiast, Baptiste leverages his ingenuity for R&D to develop the future Gignoux shoes. He feels fully fulfilled in the company: “More than just colleagues, we share beautiful moments during mountain projects.” Connecting profession and passion is what drives Baptiste!
Antoine Vizier
Antoine, the hands-on member of the team. Since forever, he has used his precision to craft artistic and handmade works. When offered the opportunity to create handmade, eco-friendly ski boots, he eagerly seized the chance to showcase his craftsmanship (a rarity these days!). He takes care of the assembly part: starting with a lower shell and a neutral collar, he assembles and adjusts the final details to turn them into ready-to-use
Zoé Hebinger
From the medium mountains to the high mountains, Zoé is the Alsatian turned Iséroise! Guided by her high-level sports practice and her titles as French unicycle champion, she has been living in the Alps for the past 2 years to get a closer look at outdoor sports such as paragliding, climbing, and mountaineering. A true skiing enthusiast, she is fully involved in the artisanal crafting of Gignoux shoes, handling demolding, collar assembly, and the final assembly process.
Alban Hélie
Alban has placed his passion at the center of his pursuits by enrolling in a sports management program. Born in the North, fascinated by the North Face, this ski and off-trail sports enthusiast from Lille naturally chose to settle in the Alps by joining the Gignoux team. A fan of technical products, he enjoys showcasing the advantages of Gignoux shoes through his marketing and sales responsibilities. During his free time, he explores the mountains on a bike, skis, or trail running.
