Mild mannered and very low-key in the style of another famous superhero (I’m thinking double Clark Kents here) when they’re out of their spandex superhero ski suits, they blush when I tell them they remind me of the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder, and immediately look at each other, grin, laugh, and in eerie unison, ask me why?

I tell them they’ve got the requisite types of superhero physiques, they wear tights at work, and always seem ready for action just like Batman and Robin.

Not convinced, they push for more, info.

“Okay,” I tell them, “One of your teammates said you were kind of like Batman and Robin.”

“Ah oui, who said that!” they respond, again in tandem, with big, crinkled grins.

“Sorry I can’t divulge that information,” I tell them cracking a smile myself.

And again, in perfect timing, they look at each other, turn their heads back at me and shout out, “Ro-Ro!” referring to reigning women’s World Downhill Champion and teammate Marion Rolland, who’s sense of humour is legendary in World Cup circles.

“I can’t confirm that,” I respond with a feigned cough.

“Okay so who did she say is Batman and who is Robin?” Théaux asks with a stern glare worthy of the Dark Knight himself.

“I think I should be Batman, I’m taller, I love the movies, and I’ve seen them all,” Clarey interjects with a playful shoulder shove on his buddy Théaux.

“Hey I haven’t seen the last one that came out so don’t give the ending away please!” Théaux adds.

Well, since Miss Rolland’s name has popped up, as she clearly was not (cough, cough) the one who compared Clarey and Théaux to Batman and Robin - by pure coincidence, she does happen to have some opinions on the subject - and since she’s a confessed bande dessinée/comic book nerd, her take on the subject is worth examination.

“It’s a really tough question, and I don’t want to get anyone upset, but I’d say Johan is more the Batman-type, and Adrien is kind of like Robin. I’ve always found Johan to have a sombre, dark side, but just like Bruce Wayne he also has a very sociable side, and is also quite adorable. I also think he’s got more muscles than Adrien, hahaha!”

So while, we’re on the subject of Mr. Clarey, and this is a two-part article with more on Mr. Théaux in part deux...let’s take a look at 5 things you should probably know about Mr. Clarey, other than his being an alpine superhero...

1. Johan has a hidden talent...he plays the flute!

“I used to play the flute when I was a little kid. I played for about 6 years when I was young, and I quit when I was about ten. I played in school, and unfortunately also outside of school (he says with a big laugh). One day I made a bet with the guys on the team, I said I would play the flute for everyone after my first podium, but not ON the podium, just in front of the team. So after I made my first podium, I pulled out a flute and played! It wasn’t a a long concert, just a few notes for the team. I think I played Au Clair de la Lune, and some other kid’s songs, hahaha!”

2. Johan hates slow drivers...

“This is a short and simple one, I hate slow drivers on the road. In France there’s a new policy to have drivers slow down on the road, but it’s making everyone drive like snails. I really can’t stand it. It really drives me mad! The speed limit on many roads is 90 km/h but people drive about 70 km/h because they’re terrified of driving too fast. Thankfully you can go about 130 km/h on the bigger highways, that’s a speed I like much more.” 

3. Johan says he’s a terrible cook..and as a Frenchman, it’s the great shame of his life!

“Okay, I’m not very happy to say this, and to be honest, I’m quite ashamed to say it, but for someone who is French, I am a terrible cook. In fact, I basically can’t cook at all! The only thing I know how to make is pasta. I’m also embarrassed to say (he says doubled over laughing) all the sauces that accompany my pasta dishes come directly from a grocery store! I know this is a huge sin for a French person, and I hope I don’t end up like Jeanne d’Arc burned at the stake!

I may be a zero in the kitchen, but I adore French cuisine, and I certainly like to eat it even if I can’t make it myself! I love to eat, but I hate to cook, it’s as simple as that, pastas, baked potatoes I can do, just enough to stay fed, but not much else, hahaha!”

4. Johan’s dream is to visit California...

“Sometime, when I have some time off, like in the spring after race season is over, I’d love to visit California. I’d like to go for a month or so if possible. There’s so much in California, so much beauty, the mountains, the ocean, beautiful lakes. I’d really love to go there. I’ve been to the United States before, to race in Colorado, to Florida on beach holidays, but I know California would be very different. The bright lights of Los Angeles and Hollywood, the gorgeous scenery and nature of areas like Lake Tahoe. It’s a huge state with so much to do. I’d love to play golf there, do the tourist thing in LA, Hollywood Boulevard, camping in Lake Tahoe, it would be fantastic.”

5. Johan loves to play golf... 

“I love to play golf. I don’t play as much as I’d like to but it’s a sport I adore. I used to play a lot. I’ve played in France mostly, but I also always take my golf clubs with me when I go on holiday. I’ve played in some really exotic places too, like Mauritius and Egypt. When I’m playing well I shoot around 90. It’s not the social aspect of golf that attracts me, what I like most about it is the amazing feeling you get when you hit a ball well, this is a great pleasure for me. I loved golf the first time I tried it. I also really like being in nature, and this is a big part of the game also. It’s also a good way of clearing your head, and only thinking about golf. It’s really good for downhillers I think, we’re always super stressed by our jobs, and this is a great way to slow things down. I thought it was a stupid game before I ever played it. I never watched it on TV but once I played, I was hooked!”