Round 4 / SKI MOUNTAINEERING - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Friday 20 March 2015

4th stage of the Plum KV Courchevel for Florent Perrier and Marion Mathieu.

For this 4th and last stage of the Plum KV Courchevel (PKVC) in ski mountaineering, 84 participants were at the start. Weather conditions were ideal. To close this edition, the competitors were treated to a magnificent firework display fired at Courchevel 1850, which they could admire from the summit of La Loze at the finish of this Vertical Kilometre event of 1,000 m of elevation gain and 5 km.

In this final stage, Florent Perrier won in 43min25s ahead of Rémi Berchet (46min57s) and Jean-François Filipot (47min21s). In the ESF challenge, the first instructor, Noël Feige of the ESF of Megève, finished 7th in 51min43s. Among the women overall, victory went to Marion Mathieu of the ESF of Valmorel in 59min55s ahead of Géraldine Bau (1h01min09s) and Claude Chenal (1h02min26s).

For this first edition of the PKVC in ski mountaineering, the outcome is very positive despite a difficult start to the season because of the lack of snow. In the end, the 4 rounds were run with a total of 327 starts given for 236 different ranked competitors. Yoann Sert took the season record in 42min01s and Catherine Juillaguet the women’s record in 54min26s.

New French Vertical Kilometre ski mountaineering record for Yoann Sert and Catherine Juillaguet…

All winter, the best specialists were able to come and fight for the French ski mountaineering record on this vertical kilometre course approved by the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME). After official validation by the Federation, Yoann Sert (42min01s) and Catherine Juillaguet (54min26s) set the French Vertical Kilometre ski mountaineering record.

Prize money of €500 will be awarded to them on Wednesday 25 March at the end of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel final. The PKVC will resume on 10 July in trail running on the same course, with trail runners / skyrunners able to compete for the “Region Series Alpes 2015” title and try to win the “Skyrunner France Series KV” in the event on 24 July. The best time by a man and a woman in the summer season will be rewarded with prize money of €500. €1,000 will be given for the best time by a man and a woman of the year, by adding the 2 best performances in ski mountaineering and trail running.

Florent Perrier and Géraldine Bau win the 4th Grand Slam.

In the weeks when the MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL (MSTC) and the PLUM KV COURCHEVEL (PKVC) are organised, a ranking is drawn up for those who complete the “Grand Slam” (taking part in the 2 events in the same week).

This week, the “Grand Slam” combined the times of the MSTC on Wednesday 18 March with the times of the PKVC on Friday 20 March. 32 competitors ran both races. Florent Perrier won this fourth stage in 1h07min16s and Géraldine Bau took the women’s win in 1h34min56s. The Grand Slam records for the 2015 season were set by Yoann Sert (1h05min03s) and Charlotte Le Roux (1h32min04s).

The official prize-givings for the 4 “Grand Slams” of the season and for the Plum KV Courchevel 2015 in ski mountaineering will be held on Wednesday 25 March at the great ski mountaineering party in Courchevel, on the occasion of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel final. A very festive evening is in prospect: registration will be free for everyone who comes in fancy dress and has taken part at least once during the season in the MSTC. The closing meal prepared by our partner hotel “Le Chabichou” will be offered to all participants and volunteers in the Croisette hall. Many attractions will enliven the evening, with a roaming band at the start and finish, tastings of “Pom’Chaud” and chocolate, a fancy-dress competition…