Aurelien Dunand Pallaz was born in 1992 in Marthod, a small village in the French Alps. From a young age, he loved the mountains and began ski mountaineering at just eight years old. At eighteen, he discovered mountain running, training during the summer on the peaks near his home — and that’s where his love for trail running was born. As a teenager, he also played football for many years, but his passion for the mountains and for sport soon prevailed.

In 2012, he entered his first trail races, and results came quickly. For him, sport is a natural extension of alpine life. He continues to challenge his endurance through competitive ski mountaineering, but trail running has become his true priority. He especially loves brutal climbs and technical descents, where he can best express his energy and resilience.

Alongside competition, Aurelien has built a professional path as a massage therapist and physiotherapist and, since the end of 2023, as a coach in both trail running and ski mountaineering. He now lives in Haute-Savoie, near Annecy, where he enjoys good food and time with his family.