Round 10 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 17 February 2016

10th Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: new record for Axelle Mollaret.

Only 5 rounds remain before the grand final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) 2016, to be held on 23 March. On the initiative of Guillaume Prin, president of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club, and his whole team, the anniversary of this 100th climb will be marked by the traditional fancy-dress ascent followed by the concert by “La Compagnie Créole”. In this friendly, festive atmosphere other surprises are expected to make this evening unforgettable, notably the presence of a media personality who will host the official prize-giving of the Plum KV Courchevel 2016 and the MSTC 2016.

While waiting to welcome spring in joy and good humour, the ski mountaineers will have to keep up their efforts over the 5 remaining rounds.

142 ski mountaineers were at the start of this 10th round of the MSTC on Wednesday 17 February, and a tsunami caused by Axelle Mollaret and Justine Tonso shook up the women’s provisional overall standings. With a blistering time of 27min29s to cover the 3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain of this Vertical Race course between Le Praz and Courchevel 1850, Axelle Mollaret of the Arêches Beaufort Multisports Club set the new provisional record, relegating Corinne Favre (28min10s) to second place in the provisional overall standings. Second of the evening in 29min26s, the young Cadet Justine Tonso of the Montagne Club Club Vésubien took 3rd place in the provisional overall standings, and Véronique Lathuraz in 31min38 of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme club completed the podium of this 10th round.

Among the men, the overall standings did not change, with Florent Perrier (23min40s) still in the lead, followed by Tony Portanier (24min40s) and Arnaud Mazet (24min42s). Julien Poquet of the Val d’Isère club won this 10th round in 24min59s ahead of Yoann Caillot of Jarienne des Cimes in 25min23s and Jean-Christophe Bette of Val d’Arve Ski Alp in 25min38s.

In the ESF challenge, Nicolas Mater of ESF Courchevel 1550 won in 29min17s, and among the women instructors, victory for Pauline Caillet in 36min58s.

Worth noting is the fine performance of Guillaume Prin, president of the Courchevel Sports Alpinisme Club, who finished in 31min24s. Fernand Mugnier, municipal councillor of the commune, made his first climb of the season at an easy pace in 1h13min56s, accompanying his clients. The mayor, Philippe Mugnier, equalled his personal best in 44min32s and Hervé Bodeau, representing the partner brand “Petzl”, finished in 49min13s.

3rd Grand Slam this week…

The 3rd round of the Vertical Kilometre (KV) of the Plum KV Courchevel (PKVC) will be held this Friday 19 February. The 2016 French KV records will be awarded at the end of the 4 rounds offered this season on this 5 km course with 1,000 m of elevation gain, approved by the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME). The provisional best times of the PKVC 2016 are for the moment held by Mathéo Jacquemoud in 40min05s and Corinne Favre in 51min04s.

In the weeks when the MSTC and the 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 "3rd Grand Slam" of the season will take into account the combined times of the MSTC on this Wednesday 17 February and those of the PKVC on Friday 19 February. The 2016 "Grand Slam" records are to date held by Arnaud Mazet in 1h09min22s and Corinne Favre in 1h19min30s.