Martin Fourcade: "With Julbo, we've built a long-term relationship!"
In mid-November, while the French team was already settled in Scandinavia ahead of the official start of the season, Martin Fourcade reflected on his nearly ten-year partnership with Julbo and discussed the launch of the new Aerospeed bearing his name. Interview.
Martin Fourcade: "With Julbo, we've built a long-term relationship!"
IN YOUR SPORTING PRACTICE, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A PAIR OF GLASSES?
"I’m looking for glasses that are multi-sport. I travel a lot, and I don’t want to carry around fifteen different pairs – that’s not my approach. I want a model that performs well for skiing, cycling, and running. That’s the mindset behind my collaboration with Julbo. I want protection without limiting my field of vision. And also, importantly, they need to look good!"
DID THE AEROSPEED PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT?
"Yes. It’s a continuation of the work we did on the Aero model. That model had all the criteria except for the field of vision, which was more limited. The Aerospeed removed those constraints. In our sport, glasses must be unnoticeable and only bring benefits. Our performance depends on protection from the elements. The Aerospeed means freedom. I wear glasses 800 hours a year – that’s 34 days non-stop – so I can’t afford to make mistakes."
YOU’VE BUILT A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH JULBO THAT GOES BEYOND A SIMPLE ATHLETE-BRAND PARTNERSHIP. CAN YOU TELL US MORE?
"In 2010, I actually reached out to Julbo – not the other way around. At the time, I couldn’t find what I needed among the Federation’s partners. So I contacted Julbo to see if they’d be interested. That’s how the journey started. I had tested the glasses and was convinced by their technical quality. With my brother Simon, we were among the first Nordic athletes with Julbo. I grew with the brand, not just thanks to my results, but also thanks to the joint projects we built. Since the “Dust,” we’ve improved the products. In 2012, I initiated the Aero model with Vincent Defrasne. Look at Julbo’s athlete list – most have been there for years. That proves the products work. When developing a new model, it takes two years to reach market. A year-to-year approach doesn’t work."
YOUR THIRD SIGNATURE MODEL WILL BE RELEASED DURING THE WORLD CUP STAGE IN LE GRAND-BORNAND (DECEMBER 16–22). WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
"It’ll definitely be a special moment. People can watch biathlon on TV, but it feels distant. At Le Grand-Bornand, it becomes tangible. It’s the only opportunity to meet the French public during the international season. 80,000 people will attend across the competition. Some will discover biathlon for the first time. That’s why we chose to launch the model there."
