Round 17 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 26 March 2014

Justine Tonso and Tony Portanier win the 17th Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel.

This 4th season of the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel (DSTC), which began on 11 December, ended with a flourish on Wednesday 26 March at the final, with 243 ski mountaineers. Since the creation of these ski touring climbs of 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain, it has been the custom to dress up for the last stage. For this 4th season, registration was free for everyone in fancy dress, and once again almost all the participants played along and did not lack imagination. The prize for best costume was awarded to Jean-Marc Sullice, who was decked out in period dress and pulled a hay sled behind him over the whole course.

For this final climb of the season, Justine Tonso did not hesitate to come especially from Saint-Martin Vésubie with her family, and at just 13 years old she won in 30min40s ahead of Blandine Du Crest in 31min01s and Corine Chauchaix of ESF Arêches in 31min16s.

Among the men, it was Tony Portanier of ESF Courchevel 1550 and the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club who set the best time of the evening in 26min25s ahead of Lionel Margueron of team Sybelles in 26min57s and Steeve Dobert of CSA 13th BCA in 27min13s.

A fine evening that closed with a good meal prepared by the partner hotel Le Chabichou in the Croisette hall in Courchevel 1850. At the closing ceremony, Guillaume Prin, president of the organising association Courchevel Sports Alpinisme, and all the volunteers were warmly congratulated for having worked every Wednesday and ensured 2,056 starts with 1,070 different classified participants over 17 climbs. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the 70th climb since the launch of the DSTC on Wednesday 8 December 2010, and for this the volunteers were offered a magnificent cake made by the hotel Le Chabichou.

Kilian Jornet and Laetitia Roux take the season 4 record.

Runner-up in the DSTC for 3 years, the Catalan Kilian Jornet finishes at the top of the standings for the first time and takes the record this year in 22min16s. The Italians Damiano Lenzi (22min19s) and Robert Antonioli (22min26s) complete the podium. The patron of the 2014 DSTC, Mathéo Jacquemoud of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club, winner of the DSTC last year, finishes this season just off the podium in 22min28s.

Among the women, it is the ten-time ski mountaineering world champion, Laetitia Roux, winner of the 2014 Pierra Menta a few days ago, who takes the record in 25min31s ahead of her Swiss Pierra Menta teammate Maude Mathys (26min00s) and Andorra’s representative Sophie Dusautoir Bertrand (26min56s). The Swede Emelie Forsberg, season 3 record holder, finishes this year in 4th place in 27min44s.

In the ESF challenge, Andrien Piccot of ESF Bellevaux set the best time of the season in 24min10s. Among the women, it was Corine Chauchaix of ESF Arêches who turned in the best performance in 31min31s.