Gilles Chabert, who represented the ESF “red sweaters” from the slopes to the halls of power dead at 74

The longtime leader of France’s ski instructors’ union, who died aged 74, spent decades defending a profession and the mountain communities behind it.

Gilles Chabert’s influence was measured not only in the years he led France’s ski instructors, but in the breadth of the world he represented. From Villard-de-Lans and the Vercors to regional politics and national debates, he became a prominent advocate for the mountain communities whose identity is bound up with skiing.

Chabert died over the weekend of October 10–11, aged 74, after a long illness, according to reports and tributes published after his death. He had led the National Union of French Ski Instructors (SNMSF) from 1994 to 2018, a 24-year tenure that made him a defining figure for the profession.

His path began locally. A lifelong resident of Villard-de-Lans, Chabert joined the French Ski School network in 1977 and became director of the town’s ski school in 1983 before moving into national leadership. He was later named honorary president of the union.

The red sweaters of the French Ski School instructors became the emblem of the people he championed. In a tribute, his successor as union president, Éric Brèche, described Chabert as someone who carried those colors “on all fronts”—from the mountains to Paris and Europe—and praised his commitment to instructors and the evolution of their profession.

The French Ski Federation’s tribute framed that work as part of a wider effort to connect ski schools with clubs, regional committees, youth training and elite competition. It said Chabert believed French skiing depended on solidarity among all those who teach, organize and compete in the sport saying:

"It is with deep sadness that the French Ski Federation learned of the passing of Gilles Chabert, former President of the National Union of French Ski Instructors (SNMSF), an emblematic figure in the mountains and a great advocate for French skiing.

"A native of the Vercors region, Gilles Chabert dedicated a large part of his life to the mountains, to teaching skiing, and to defending those who make it possible. President of the SNMSF from 1994 to 2018, for nearly 25 years, he profoundly shaped the history of French ski schools, working tirelessly for the recognition of the instructor profession, the transmission of knowledge, and the development of skiing.

"His commitment was also crucial for the French Ski Federation and the French National Teams. A loyal partner of the sporting movement, Gilles Chabert always championed the close ties between ski schools, the Federation, ski committees, clubs, youth training, and elite sport.

"A concrete commitment, guided by his conviction that the success of French skiing depended on the solidarity of all its stakeholders.

"A passionate competitor and fervent supporter of the French national teams, he contributed, through his actions and determination, to supporting generations of skiers and strengthening the links between ski instruction and elite sport.

"Beyond his official responsibilities, Gilles Chabert will be remembered as a man of character, deeply attached to his mountains, his beliefs, and the extended family of French skiing.

"The French Ski Federation wishes to express its profound gratitude for his commitment, loyalty, and invaluable support over the years.

"The President of the French Ski Federation, the members of the Executive Committee, the French national teams, and all the federation's staff extend their deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the entire ski instructor community. Thank you, Gilles, for everything you contributed to French skiing."

That breadth was reflected in his later public roles. Chabert served as an Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional councillor and adviser on mountain affairs and the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. His regional responsibilities also connected him with organizations focused on mountain policy, the Vercors Regional Natural Park and the French Alpine Games’ organizing structure.

Tributes from elected officials emphasized both his directness and his attachment to home. One described him as frank, passionate and intellectually sharp; another evoked the loss felt by France’s high-altitude communities. Savoie’s former council president Hervé Gaymard remembered his dedication to the “army of red sweaters” and to the Vercors plateau.

Chabert’s career joined two worlds that are often discussed separately: the practical life of ski instructors and the political decisions shaping mountain regions. His work made him a representative of both—not simply of skiing as a sport, but of the people and places that sustain it. The tributes now arriving from across that community suggest how widely that sense of representation was felt.