New documentary about freeride legend Léo Slemett

French freerider Léo Slemett presents “Better Up There”, an unusually personal film about loss, resilience and the power of the mountains.

Léo Slemett is considered one of the most influential figures in modern freeriding. At just 19 years old, the Frenchman made history when he became the youngest participant ever nominated for the Freeride World Tour.

Sporting successes and a world championship title quickly followed. But behind the facade of the successful athlete lies a story of setbacks, which is now being comprehensively documented for the first time.

In his new release, "Better Up There," Slemett offers insights into aspects of his life that have remained largely hidden until now. The project is supported by The North Face.

Mountains take what they give

The past few years have been marked by personal setbacks for the freerider. Illness and the loss of loved ones forced him to question how to move forward – both in sports and in life.

The mountains, which had once brought him nothing but freedom and success, revealed their other side: unpredictable and demanding.

Despite these experiences, Slemett's deep connection to the mountains remains unbroken. The film documents this inner conflict between passion and the scars left by alpine life.

Video: “Better Up There” documentary about freeride legend Léo Slemett

Collaboration with Mathis Dumas

For the film adaptation, Slemett enlisted the help of French filmmaker Mathis Dumas. Together they created a visual portrait that goes far beyond typical action sports documentaries. Instead of pure adrenaline moments, the focus is on themes such as grief, new beginnings, and the search for inner balance.

The footage captures not only the spectacular scenery of the high mountain landscape, but also the inner turmoil of a man who must reposition himself between his greatest love and the associated risks.

"Better Up There"

"Better Up There" is a reflection on how to cope with setbacks in the context of extreme passions. The question of how to find one's way back after profound losses – or forge a new path – runs like a thread through the film.

This book appeals not only to winter sports enthusiasts, but to anyone grappling with the major themes of resilience, processing trauma, and reorientation. Slemett reveals himself as vulnerable and authentic—qualities rarely communicated so openly in elite sports.

Sierks Media / © Photo: Mathis Dumas / Video: YouTube