Who is Valentin Foubert, surprise 5th in the Ruka World Cup round?

French ski jumper Valentin Foubert delivered a surprise result to open the season by placing fifth in the Ruka (Finland) World Cup round on November 29—his first career top‑5 and the best French World Cup finish in nine years.

Coach Nicolas Dessum admits the ranking itself was unexpected, even if the level of Foubert’s jumping was not. Foubert, a 23‑year‑old from Courchevel, says the result caught him off guard and he barely had time to enjoy it.

His mother Laurence recalls that early coaches would not have bet on him; he began ski jumping for fun and never chased results, which kept pressure low and may have aided his later development. Family and staff describe him as humble to a fault, sometimes downplaying his own performances. Dessum characterizes him as an ideal physical profile for jumping—very supple and explosive—with an ‘artist’ streak that requires careful management.

Foubert himself admits to perfectionist tendencies and finds calm in video games, especially a fighter‑jet flight simulator that mirrors the feeling of being airborne and away from outside noise. His mother hopes the Ruka top‑5 strengthens his self-belief; Dessum says the next step is mental—building confidence and consistency rather than seeking the perfect jump every time.

A first follow‑up test comes at the next World Cup stop in Wisła, Poland, on December 6–7.