Our way
PIerre Gignoux company is based in St Martin d’Uriage near the Belledonne Mountain. 15 minutes are needed in order to put the skis on and go testing the products on the field.
All the products are home-made in our workshop, some particular pieces, machining or injected, came from local factory. This proximity is essential to Pierre, who wishes to reduce at its maximum the ecological impact. It also gives better relation ship and reactivity from the suppliers.
Pierre was a born inventor, and it was on the ski-mountaineering field that he was the most effective. Between 1994 and 1996, he developed a rear binding lighter than the so famous Low Tec then a rear lever “two in one” used some years later by another famous boots manufacturer.
In possession of a doctorate in bio-mecanic, he works during 10 years in R&D at Rossignol, while also working on its own boots.
In 2006, the XP 500 is ready and he decided to launch his own company in order to start commercialising his product. But bad timing, at this time the organisation that run the different international competition, the ISMF, did not allowed a boot to weight less than 900g. Whereas the XP 500 at this time was already weighting 600g.. Even with this, 30 pairs of boots were sold, athletes preferring to add weight on there boos rather than racing with other model.
In 2007, the ISMF changed its decision and the commercialisation can really began. In 2008 the regional innovation price “Artinov” is given to the XP 500. Sold until end of 2009, it was replaced by the XP 444 and the XP mountain. More recently the model Race 400 and Black substitute them.
All-round sportsman, PIerre started ski-mountaineering quite late. At his fist competition, the “Trans Monc-Blanc” in 1993, equipped with heavy gear, he ended up finishing 6th with his team mate, and never stopped ski mountaineering.
He grows rapidly and soon became part of the French national team in 1995. In 10 years at high level competition, he wins numerous title such as the Pierra Menta iin 2001 with Stéphane Brosse. Together, on the 30th of May 2003 they set the first record from go and return to the Mont-Blanc in 5h15 from Chamonix church.
He stopped racing in 2005 and is now dedicated to developed new product around his passion, moutain sports.
Key figures
Years of existance
Passionate employee
Lower part manufactured
Weight in grammes for the lower part of the Race 400
Our products
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Conception and manufacturing team
Pierre Gignoux
All-round sportsman, PIerre started ski-mountaineering quite late. At his fist competition, the “Trans Monc-Blanc” in 1993, equipped with heavy gear, he ended up finishing 6th with his team mate, and never stopped ski mountaineering.
He grows rapidly and soon became part of the French national team in 1995. In 10 years at high level competition, he wins numerous title such as the Pierra Menta iin 2001 with Stéphane Brosse. Together, on the 30th of May 2003 they set the first record from go and return to the Mont-Blanc in 5h15 from Chamonix church.
He stopped racing in 2005 and is now dedicated to developed new product around his passion, moutain sports.
Éric
Il a fait ses premiers pas dans l’entreprise en 2007. Il est le plus expérimenté après Pierre. Maîtrisant toutes les étapes de la fabrication, il s’occupe aujourd’hui du SAV, de la maintenance et des mises à jour des chaussures. Il intervient également sur l’élaboration des prototypes, s’occupe du suivi des moules, contrôle les chaussures avant leur envoi… Comme il le dit, il faut toucher un peu à tout et rester attentif et soigneux. Il trouve encore le temps de mettre (un peu) à profit sa formation initiale d’infographiste : c’est lui qui a mis au point, entre autres, le logo de la société. Snowboarder avant tout, il pratique également le ski de randonnée, testant à l’occasion les derniers prototypes.
Gilles
Il a débuté dans l’entreprise en 2008, d’abord pour quelques mois puis définitivement l’année suivante. Artisan de formation, le travail manuel n’a pas beaucoup de secrets pour lui. Si aujourd’hui il s’occupe principalement de la fabrication des colliers, des languettes et des bas de coque, il intervient également sur l’assemblage des chaussures. Cette polyvalence lui convient parfaitement et il apprécie de voir la chaussure de A à Z. Il reconnaît que chaque étape de production ou assemblage requiert de la vigilance : une pièce oubliée et il faut recommencer. Habitant à Chamrousse, son temps partiel lui laisse également le temps de s’adonner à une de ses activités favorites qu’il a pratiqué en compétition pendant quelques années : le surf-alpinisme en version tout en carbone !
William
Il est le plus jeune de l’entreprise, mais possède déjà une grande expérimence ! En 2006, encore étudiant en DUT de génie thermique et énergie, il commence à travailler pendant les vacances d’été dans l’entreprise. Il apprend à fabriquer les différentes pièces de la chaussure : collier, languette puis bas de coque. En 2010 une fois son diplôme obtenu, il intègre à plein temps l’entreprise et se spécialise dans l’assemblage, une fonction qui demande concentration et attention. Des aptitudes également nécessaires, selon lui, à son activité de moniteur de ski de fond à l’ESF de Chamrousse. William participe également à de nombreuses épreuves (marathon de la Clarée, Foulée Blanche, traversée de Chartreuse) se classant 4ème de la coupe du Dauphiné en 2010. Le ski, c’est sa passion !
Brice
Mathias