ROUND 1 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 14 December 2011

William Bon Mardion and Stéphanie Duc open the season.

V

ery well, they’re off for the 17 Dynafit Ski Touring de Courchevel (DSTC), which will take place every Wednesday from 14 December to 4 April! A first edition that was very wet and difficult for the ski mountaineering competitors, with snow that tended to stick to the skins. The start at Le Praz was in the rain and the finish in Courchevel 1850 in the snow! Nevertheless, after a 3.2 km climb with 500 m of elevation gain, William Bon Mardion of the Club Multisports d’Arêches Beaufort, 3rd last year in the DSTC overall standings with a time of 24min07s, won this first climb in 24min51s, declaring at the finish: ''I’m satisfied with the time for this start of the season, which has been very difficult for training because of the lack of snow. In addition the track wasn’t easy this evening and I think I can do better than last year this season in the next climbs''. Pierre-François Gachet of the same club took second place in 26min16s ahead of Sébastien Fayolle of the CAF Albertville in 27min08s. Among the women, Stéphanie Duc of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club, also 3rd in 2011 in the DSTC in 32min07s, took first place in 32min14s ahead of Cécile Duc in 42min05s and Emmanuelle Boddele in 44min16s.

Worth noting for this opening round was a strong turnout from the 7th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion, with Anthony Fraissard, who finished just off the podium in 27min56s.

A good start to the season for the DSTC, but nothing is won yet: the race for the record has only just begun. Whatever your level, do not hesitate to come and set your time.