ROUND 13 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 2 March 2011

The 13th round goes to the 2011 ski mountaineering world champions.

Last week, the Spaniards Kilian Jornet Burgada and Mireia Miro Varela won the ski mountaineering vertical race world titles in Claut (Italy, Dolomites). These two champions came to Courchevel this Wednesday for the 13th Dynafit Ski Touring with two objectives: for Kilian, to try to beat the record he set on Wednesday 16 February in 23min07s, and for Mireia, to set a new record, the previous one being held by the Swiss Gabrielle Magnenat (30min17s).

During this 13th edition, the 71 competitors were able to see the CANAL + cameras, which followed Kilian for a report to be broadcast on a forthcoming edition of ''Intérieur Sport''.

At the start, runners are sent off roughly every 15 seconds, and Kilian set off much faster than on his previous appearance, in 19th position. It did not take him long to overtake those ahead of him. The whole crowd was waiting for him at the finish, and everyone was sure he would beat his record. The marshal announced his arrival on the last bump above the Hotel Chabichou, a quick glance at the clock, it was going to be tough, the clock already showed 23 min. In the end, Kilian won this climb in 23min38s, but his record was not improved this time. The men’s podium was completed by Anthony Fraissard of the 7th BCA in 25min32s and Sébastien Bedu of Tignes in 26min04s. We should also highlight the fine performance of Sébastien Figliolini, who after winning the Pierra Menta with Pierre Roger Blanc in 1998 finished in 29min46s, and that of Nicolas Mater, who finished 8th in 28min56s and who will shortly take part in the 2011 Pierra Menta with his teammate Denis Metge to represent the colours of Courchevel.

Among the women, Mireia Miro Varela of team Dynafit, who set off just before Kilian in 15th position, devoured the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain in a record time of 29min01!! The women’s record has fallen.

Next came Christine Gachet of the CAF Vanoise in 35min39s and Kilian’s mother, Nuria Burgada in 39min49s.

At the finish, Mr Gilbert Blanc-Tailleur, Mayor of Saint-Bon Courchevel, came to congratulate these great champions and the whole organising team of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme association for putting on this event, which is growing every week (already 669 starts for 363 ranked competitors). At the prize-giving in front of the “Camp de Base” shop, Kilian and Mireia were treated to a spectacular arrival with a descent on Tarzan’s vine, put on by the Courchevel guides. Mr Robert Gonzalez, Director of Dynafit France, came with a multitude of Dynafit prizes to reward more than half of the runners.

There are 6 Wednesdays left before 13 April, so everything can still change. Laetitia Roux should take the start shortly, Yannick Buffet and William Bon Mardion have already arranged to come after the Pierra Menta, and more surprises are on the way.