Better Up There

A new film from Freeride World Champion Léo Slemett, Better Up There, has been released, offering an unusually candid look at his life, career and enduring connection to the mountains.

What begins as a portrait of an elite athlete quickly deepens into something far more personal: a decade shaped not only by competitive triumphs but also by profound loss, illness and the repeated need to rebuild. Drawing on a refreshingly honest and heartfelt approach, Slemett opens the door to experiences he has rarely spoken about publicly, the deaths of both his life partners in the mountains, the emotional and physical toll of his sport, and the quiet, persistent work of finding his way back to the slopes each time. The result is a film that traces the peaks and valleys of a life lived in close conversation with risk, beauty and grief.

Slemett, who became the youngest skier ever to join the Freeride World Tour at just 19, reflects on how he has continued to pursue his sport in an environment that is as inspiring as it is unforgiving. Success arrived early, and with it the pressure to perform at the highest level, even as the mountains themselves delivered moments of devastating unpredictability. Better Up There, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mathis Dumas and available on The North Face’s YouTube channel, blends striking mountain cinematography with a raw exploration of resilience, purpose and the search for balance.