Professional snowboarding is often associated with adrenaline, pristine backcountry lines, and gravity-defying tricks. However, a growing number of athletes are using their global platforms for something much larger than podium finishes. French professional snowboarder Victor Daviet represents this new wave of athlete advocacy. Known for his technical prowess and smooth style on the mountain, Daviet has transformed his passion for winter sports into a lifeline for displaced athletes. By stepping up when it mattered most, he has proven that the snowboard community can be a powerful, unified force for global humanitarian aid and social change.
Beyond the Backcountry
Since 2013, Daviet has been a sponsored global team rider for Salomon Snowboards. He relies heavily on their precision equipment for high-stakes freeride missions around the world. When navigating treacherous alpine terrain, professionals like Daviet require gear that offers both intuitive mobility and vital lateral support. This is why his signature setups frequently feature specialized Salomon bindings, which utilize proprietary ShadowFit technology and a soft heel cup for a natural connection to the board. Premium components like the Highlander model also help reduce leg fatigue during extensive powder days, allowing him to push the limits of the sport safely when he is miles away from ski patrol or medical assistance.
While his professional career thrived, Daviet recognized an early opportunity to give back to the mountain communities that supported him. He launched educational initiatives like Safety Shred Days to teach avalanche safety, risk management, and mountain survival skills to young freeriders. In 2021, he expanded his philanthropic efforts by partnering with a non-profit called Zom Connection. The goal was to deliver collected winter sports gear to developing mountainous regions where access to equipment is practically nonexistent. This specific mission took him to Malam Jabba, Pakistan. It was here that an unexpected encounter would dramatically alter the course of his life and the lives of several international athletes.
The Afghan Snowboard Team Encounter
During his time hosting a Safety Shred Days event in Pakistan, Daviet met and rode with members of the Afghan Snowboard Team. These resilient athletes had historically lacked access to traditional ski resorts or high-speed chairlifts in their home country. To keep their skills sharp, they trained on rugged, high mountain passes and even rode down desert sand dunes during the hot summer months. Their dedication to the sport was absolute, driven by a pure love for sliding on snow and sand.
However, when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan later in 2021, the situation for these athletes turned dire almost overnight. The Afghan snowboarders received immediate death threats for participating in the sport and for their active promotion of gender equality in athletics. Facing an impossible and highly dangerous situation, the team sent out a desperate plea for help to the international snowboarding community. They needed immediate extraction, and traditional diplomatic channels were rapidly closing.
Snowboarders of Solidarity and the Evacuation
Responding immediately to the crisis, Daviet founded a French non-profit organization called Snowboarders of Solidarity. The organization was created to support refugee, displaced, and politically persecuted snowboarders by helping them integrate into new, safe communities. Leveraging his vast industry network and personal resources, Daviet worked tirelessly to secure visas and coordinate a highly complex rescue mission. Navigating international red tape and coordinating logistics across borders required the same intense focus he applied to his backcountry descents.
The operation was an incredible success. Daviet and his organization managed to safely evacuate 15 members of the Afghan Snowboard Team. The relocated athletes were brought to Annecy, France, a picturesque city that also serves as the global hometown for Salomon. Once they arrived, Snowboarders of Solidarity provided essential support services to help them rebuild their lives from the ground up.
The comprehensive support system for the incoming athletes included several key initiatives:
- Securing safe and permanent housing in the greater Annecy area.
- Providing access to mental health therapy to process the severe trauma of sudden displacement.
- Offering extensive French language lessons to assist with cultural integration and future employment.
- Sourcing winter sports equipment to safely return the athletes to the mountains they love.
Reintegration and a Lasting Legacy
The harrowing journey of these displaced athletes was captured in “Changing Tomorrow”, a compelling Salomon TV documentary series. The premiere episode, titled “Saved By Snowboarding”, detailed Daviet’s humanitarian mission and highlighted the incredible resilience of the Afghan team. It showed the world that snowboarding is more than a recreational hobby; it is a global family.
Thanks to these dedicated efforts, named members of the relocated team, including Mussawer, Nizaruddin, Soroush, Nasima, Kazim, and Mujtaba, were successfully reintegrated into the sport. They eventually rode safely alongside Daviet at the Avoriaz Ski Resort in the French Alps. The broader action sports industry also stepped up to offer assistance. In 2023, the Protest Fun(d) provided a targeted financial donation to Snowboarders of Solidarity. This money was used specifically to cover travel costs, ski passes, and supplemental equipment for the relocated Afghan athletes.
Victor Daviet has shown that professional athletes can successfully move beyond traditional brand sponsorships to establish impactful, rider-led organizations. His story serves as a powerful reminder that the true spirit of snowboarding is rooted in community, compassion, and taking care of one another when the stakes are highest.
