The Chollet brothers, sharing Snowboard Cross success

17 years ago, two important things happened in the Chollet household in France. Four-year-old Aidan was given his first snowboard as a Christmas present, and in the same year, he gained a younger brother – Jonas.

Fast-forward to 13 December 2025, and Jonas and Aidan Chollet, wearing the white kit of France, crossed the finish line together at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in Cervinia ahead of the rest of the big final field. Jonas took first place in the photofinish, mere fractions of a second ahead of Aidan, and the two ended up in a hug on the snow.

It was a remarkable, memorable end to the first individual race of the season for the brothers; Aidan followed up the following day with third place in the Mixed Team event alongside Chloe Trespeuch.

The Chollet brothers have both had a rapid ascent to the top of the Snowboard Cross world. They were encouraged into the sport by their parents, with Jonas getting his start at the age of three, and have never looked back.

Aidan Chollet says: “I love being able to ride with riders from across the world, and it’s super awesome to be four at the start just before launching ourselves down the slope.”

Aidan made his first World Cup start three years ago, finishing 16th in Les Deux Alpes in December 2022. His first big final came in Sierra Nevada in March 2024; his second was in Cortina d’Ampezzo in February 2025, when he also secured his maiden victory. Two more individual podium finishes, and a win in the Mixed Team, followed before the 2024/25 season came to an end.

The older Chollet has two silver and two bronze medals – one in each of the individual and Mixed Team events – from the 2023 and 2024 Junior World Championships.

Jonas is the reigning junior world champion and Youth Olympic Games champion in both the individual and Mixed Team, with fellow French prodigy Lea Casta. He also picked up wins at the European Cup in Reiteralm, Passo San Pellegrino and Lenk last season, earning him second place in the overall standings. Aidan Chollet was second in the European Cup in the previous season.

Cervinia was only Jonas's fourth World Cup start: in 2024/25 he raced in Cervinia, Cortina and Montafon, with 19th in Montafon his best result. But he qualified fastest for Cervinia this season, and made good on that promise with four solid races to take him to victory. It was a result that, despite the strength of the French team, nobody would have predicted before the season.

“I tried to support him after he finished first in qualification so he wouldn’t get unnecessarily stressed, but basically we just said we had to be first and second,” Aidan Chollet says, of the competition in Cervinia.

“It was the best final in the world, we managed to help each other and understood what we needed to do in the run to block the others and finish first and second,” adds Jonas.

“Seeing everyone at the finish was an indescribable feeling, and when our mum jumped into the finish pen to see us, that brought us huge joy,” he says.

Of course, Jonas has had Aidan to learn from when it comes to winning World Cups. The older Chollet says his victory in Cortina boosted his confidence for the current season.

“My win showed me that I was capable of getting on the podium regularly, and it definitely made me want even more to get back to the top spot,” he says.

Jonas credits Aidan with leading by example.

“I think he’s shown me what to do and what not to do. That created my obsession for this sport,” the 17-year-old says.

Jonas is also still at school, and says: “I’m lucky to be really supported by my school. They’ve put in place a timetable arranged so that it’s possible to have a passion and a professional future alongside my studies.”

While that future long-term is certainly bright, short-term both Chollets have their eyes on a spot at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

They face fierce domestic competition for one of the maximum of four places for male French riders. While they were the strongest in Cervinia, the likes of Loan Bozzolo, Merlin Surget and Julien Tomas among others are all well in contention. Six Frenchmen finished in the top 20 of the World Cup standings last year – with Aidan Chollet fourth – so the selectors have a tough task ahead to pick the best team for the Games.

Before then, look out for the Chollet brothers at the next World Cup in Dongbeiya, China, in January, where they will be aiming to continue their rapid rise to the top of Snowboard Cross.