Round 16 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 19 March 2014

16th stage of the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel, victory for Rémi Berchet and Marion Mathieu.

For this 16th and penultimate stage of the season’s Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel, the 121 ski mountaineers were out in force. With the days getting longer, the first to finish this ski touring time trial of 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain between Le Praz and Courchevel 1850 did not need to switch on their headlamps. On the other hand, the course was not easy in places because the snow had warmed up throughout the day and had refrozen just before the 6 pm start.

The few icy sections of the route did not however displease Rémi Berchet of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club, who won in 26min33s ahead of Frédéric Thérisod in 26min53s and Yoann Caillot of CAF Maurienne in 26min55s.

Among the women, it was Marion Mathieu who took the win in 31min38s ahead of Corine Chauchaix of ESF Arêches in 32min35s and Véronique Lathuraz in 33min34s.

The youngest participant of the evening, born in 2004, Anael Lecerf of the Méribel cross-country skiing club, set a magnificent time of 55min58s.

For the occasion, the Mayor, Gilbert Blanc-Tailleur, was at the finish to congratulate the participants and the organisers from the association Courchevel Sports Alpinisme, who in 4 years have made this climb an unmissable and friendly sporting event that attracts more and more people.

The provisional records for the climb are for now held by the Catalan Kilian Jornet in 22min16s and the Frenchwoman Laetitia Roux in 25min31s.

Get your costumes out for the final…

Next Wednesday (26 March) will see the final climb of the season. It will be the last chance to beat the records of Kilian and Laetitia, to beat your personal best for those who come to race the clock one last time, or to be in the 2014 Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel standings so you can then compete for the “Courchevel Vertical Challenge” standings by taking part in the “Dynafit MOONtain Races Courchevel” trail running races from 10 June to 9 September and the “Cyclo’Courch” cycling events from 2 July to 17 August.

To celebrate this last stage of the season and finish with a flourish as every year, registration will be free for everyone who comes in fancy dress, and the closing meal prepared by the partner hotel “Le Chabichou” will be offered to all participants in the Croisette hall.

Last year, 175 participants were at the start of the final climb and 80% of those registered came in fancy dress. This year, the turnout should soar, and Mathéo Jacquemoud, second in the 2014 Ski Mountaineering World Cup Vertical Race standings and patron of this 4th season of the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel, who is currently taking part in the 2014 Pierra Menta with his teammate William Bon Mardion, will be there, of course… in fancy dress!