Claude Crétier/ Provided by APEX2100
Former French World Cup Racer Brings Elite International Coaching Experience to Tignes
Apex2100 International Ski Academy has appointed former French World Cup skier and internationally respected coach Claude Crétier as its new Alpine Director, adding another high-profile leader to the academy’s performance program in Tignes, France.
Crétier joins Apex2100 after more than three decades in elite alpine skiing, where he built a career across the French, Canadian and U.S. national teams as both an athlete and coach. His arrival marks another major step in Apex2100’s mission to become one of the world’s leading ski academies for young racers.
Claude Crétier Joins Apex2100 Leadership Team
Crétier will work alongside Academy Director Mark Tilston to lead the academy’s on-snow development program and strengthen the integration of Apex2100’s “Learn, Train and Perform” philosophy.
“I have known Claude for a number of years and have seen first-hand what he brings to a group,” said Tilston. “He is an exceptional coach with a rare ability to connect the technical, physical and mental sides of performance. His holistic approach to athlete development is exactly what Apex2100 is built on, and I am delighted to be working alongside him.”
From French World Cup Athlete to International Alpine Coach
Crétier raced on the French World Cup team from 1995 to 2006 before launching a coaching career that quickly expanded across multiple disciplines and national programs.
He started coaching at Courchevel 1850 Ski Club and later worked with the Comité de ski de Savoie before joining the French national team. From 2011 to 2014, he coached the women’s World Cup speed team. He then led the men’s World Cup technical team from 2014 to 2017.
Mental Performance Expertise Shapes Coaching Philosophy
Crétier later expanded his focus beyond technical coaching. Between 2017 and 2019, he trained coaches in the French federation’s national trainer degree program before taking a mental performance role at the French ski team’s Performance National Centre.
That background helped shape a coaching philosophy centered on process, consistency and long-term athlete development.
Experience With Alpine Canada and U.S. Ski Team
Crétier coached Alpine Canada Alpin’s men’s World Cup Kombi team from 2020 to 2023 before joining U.S. Ski & Snowboard as a men’s World Cup and Europa Cup coach from 2024 to 2026.
He holds both a national trainer degree and a university qualification in mental training from Clermont-Ferrand. He also speaks fluent French and English.
Apex2100 Continues Building High-Performance Ski Program
“What strikes you about Claude is that he has lived every layer of this sport — as a World Cup athlete, as a coach across multiple disciplines and national programmes, and as someone who has invested seriously in the mental side of performance,” said Apex2100 CEO Chris Thomson.
“That breadth of experience builds a culture of excellence. Success is not just about what happens on snow — it comes from the standards, habits and environment you create every single day. Claude understands that instinctively, and we are delighted to welcome him to Tignes.”
About Apex2100 International Ski Academy
Located in Tignes, France at 2,100 meters elevation, Apex2100 combines world-class alpine ski coaching with a full IB World School education. The academy has quickly emerged as one of the sport’s most ambitious development programs for young ski racers.
Crétier’s appointment strengthens an already experienced coaching staff and reinforces Apex2100’s commitment to continuous improvement and long-term athlete development.
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