hree athletes. One shared dream: reaching the highest peaks in alpine skiing. Étienne Mazellier, Simon Fournier and Sarah Bennett are entering a new competition season, determined to give their very best to regain a regular spot on the World Cup circuit. With athletic backgrounds marked by both achievements and obstacles, the three athletes are fully aware of the steps needed to climb the international rankings. Their dream of competing at the Olympic Games is more alive than ever.
Three athletes who embody the NOPé spirit
At NOPé, these three athletes were not chosen by accident. Their determination, authenticity and deep love for sport and the outdoors perfectly reflect the brand’s values. Étienne, Simon and Sarah embody the NOPé spirit: getting outside, pushing through challenges and testing your limits, no matter the conditions. NOPé chose to support them this season to celebrate and uplift those who truly live winter to the fullest.
Independent approach: 100% self-funded
After several years within official systems and faced with the impossibility of joining the national team, the three athletes turned toward an independent model. Étienne and Simon joined the Ski Boréal team in 2025 alongside their coach, Jonathan Blanchard, while Sarah Bennett decided to go solo, taking charge of every aspect of her athletic career.
Moving forward outside the traditional system comes with its own challenges. Funding, securing sponsorships and managing the full logistics of competitions, equipment, and all the elements required to progress as high-performance athletes are part of the equation. Today, Étienne, Simon and Sarah must move mountains to continue advancing in their sport.
Étienne Mazellier, 24
Originally from Stoneham, Étienne Mazellier started skiing at age 4 and joined his local ski club during his very first season. Quickly noticed for his natural talent, he moved through every stage of the Québec ski development pathway: regional team, elite team, then Team Québec. From 2023 to 2025, he competed in the American collegiate system (NCAA) at the University of Colorado.
A specialist in slalom and giant slalom, he has earned multiple FIS victories and podiums in Canada and the United States. One highlight of his career makes him particularly proud: winning a gold medal in the parallel mixed team relay at the 2022 Junior World Championships in Panorama, British Columbia. Étienne has been competing on the Nor-Am circuit for several seasons, where he consistently delivers strong results in technical disciplines.
His goal for 2026?
Winning the Nor-Am circuit to earn a guaranteed entry into all World Cup races.
“That’s really my main focus this year. Finishing first or second in each Nor-Am discipline would give me access to all the World Cups,” he explains.
And the Olympics?
A top-30 World Cup result is required to qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games. Étienne recognizes that this goal is both realistic and ambitious, given the very short qualification window. “But it’s still a childhood dream,” he adds, a dream that continues to fuel him.
Simon Fournier, 28
Born in Ottawa and raised in the Outaouais region, Simon Fournier has always considered Mont-Tremblant his home mountain. On skis at age 2, he began competing around age 4 or 5, encouraged by his ski-passionate parents. Regional, provincial, national competitions… At 16, he entered the FIS circuit and gained his first international experience.
Simon followed a structured athletic pathway: Mont-Tremblant Ski Club, Team Québec, the Canadian national development and senior teams, as well as NCAA skiing at the University of Denver, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in finance.
Specializing in slalom and giant slalom, he has started around thirty World Cup races. He represented Canada at the 2019 World Championships in Åre in both technical events. On the Nor-Am circuit, he has earned victories and podiums in technical disciplines.
His career has been defined by cycles: years on the national team, successive departures, then returns to form and constant rebounds. Simon has stayed the course, turning a challenging trajectory into maturity and resilience.
His goal for 2025–2026?
Qualifying for the World Cup, performing well, and moving back up quickly in the world rankings.
And the Olympics?
Reaching the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games would complete “the last big missing piece” of his career.
“For me, this is the final big season where I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
Sarah Bennett, 24
Born in Laval, Sarah Bennett developed as an athlete in Stoneham. Her very active parents introduced her to skiing at age 2. Quickly identified as a natural talent with a competitive spirit, she progressed through the Club Stoneham, the regional team, the elite team, Team Québec and the Canadian national World Cup level.
She has competed on the World Cup circuit in both technical and speed disciplines. Her FIS results show strong activity in slalom, giant slalom and Super-G, including notable performances on the Nor-Am circuit. Sarah was also part of Alpine Canada’s national development team, earning international starts before deciding to continue her career independently.
Major injuries have significantly marked her journey, forcing difficult decisions and severely affecting her recent seasons. After leaving the national team, Sarah undertook a deep period of reflection before choosing to return to competition on an independent basis.
Her goal for 2025–2026?
Reclaiming her place in the World Cup start system and steadily improving her points to secure access.
And the Olympics?
For Sarah, the Olympics are an important dream, but her focus remains on her overall progression. She prioritizes long-term development and World Cup results, where every race has real impact.
“Yes, the Olympics sound cool, but if I focus only on that, I lose sight of everything in front of me,” she says with clarity.
Follow her journey on social media and get inspired by her upcoming runs.
And don’t forget to follow her on TikTok.
Three paths, one shared thread
Despite their unique stories, a common thread connects Étienne, Simon and Sarah: the will to keep performing in a demanding, unforgiving sport where hundredths of a second matter, and nothing is guaranteed.
As independent athletes, they juggle training, funding, logistics and the pressure to stay at the highest level. Three different paths, three ways forward, but one inner drive pushing them toward their dreams.
This season, NOPé will be closely following the progress of Étienne, Simon and Sarah. Over the next few weeks, discover their individual portraits on our blog, along with insights from coach Jonathan Blanchard, who chose to support Étienne and Simon in their pursuit of excellence. Stay tuned…
Extend the story in pictures: follow our athletes on their social profiles to discover their daily lives on and off the slopes.
https://www.instagram.com/etiennemazz/
https://www.instagram.com/sim_fournier/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahbenski/
https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahbenski.vf
