Daniel, the middle member of a family of three, was born at the hospital in Martigny on Thursday, February 18, thus preventing his mother enjoying Carnival that year. Then he grew up quite normally for a few years though, already, he showed signs of a developing a strong character.
His schooling began in Ratamiaou in Somlaproz and continued at the primary school in Orsières. Then, after two years at the secondary school in Orsières where he was enrolled in the Sports & Studies programme, he went to the College of St. Maurice, graduating in June 2012 |
Like many young people in the region, Daniel was on skis at a young age. Already competitive, he wanted to keep up with his brother Alastair, two years his senior, and so quickly learned the basics of the sport.
After a few seasons of skiing with the family, he moved on to the Ski Club Champex-Ferret. His first ski race, on the day of his fifth birthday, was The Erika Hess Open in La Fouly. Much to his dismay, he was disqualified - his parents, presuming too much of his abilities, had let him go down on his own, which he duly did, unfortunately ignoring all the poles placed here and there as he did not understand what they were for. |