Gilles Sierro

Portrait-interview of Gilles Sierro

Let's get to know each other!
Gilles Sierro born in 1979, I grew up in Hérémence and now live in Riod. Married with 2 children. Mountain guide, ski teacher and keen skier. Hobbies: wildlife photography and road cycling.
What inspires you about Hérémence and the Val d'Hérens in general?
Hérémence is where I come from, my roots. Val d'Hérens is my Magicvalley, my playground, a place I like to share with my customers all year round.
Do you have a secret corner to share?
If it's secret, it's because it's shared in private ;)
What's your favourite season? What's your favourite season?
Winter, of course, for the endless skiing possibilities, but autumn is a close second. The colours of nature, the bellowing of the deer, the fresh morning air, the flocks of birds leaving our skies announcing winter...
Tell us a bit about your discipline, your activity
I enjoy the mountains in all their forms. I specialise in skiing. Powder, wide open spaces or steep slopes, as long as I'm sliding and in contact with the elements, I enjoy it. I'm best known for my challenging and technical descents on big summits like the Dent Blanche.

What are your best memories of skiing in Hérémence?
Learning to ski (I can't really remember exactly, I was 2 and a half) with my parents. Starting off-piste skiing with my friends. Countless great days shared with my wife and clients. Teaching my son to ski
What would be your top 3 suggestions for things to see and do in the region?
Mandelon, La cabane des Dix or de Prafleuri. Get lost on the paths or in the forests of the Val des Dix.
What advice would you give to a visitor to the region?
Be curious, no one has ever been bitten by an inhabitant of the valley... but don't overdo it!
How would you like to see your village, the valley, in 20 years or more?
A mountain village, independent and proud of its assets, radiating outwards without having lost its soul.

Copyright photos: Trew-David Carlier