ROUND 8 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 13 February 2019

Laura Deplanche and Jean-Christophe Bette win the 8th “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel”.

For some years now, ski mountaineering, which combines endurance, gliding and nature, has been a booming sport. Ever more efficient equipment is also an essential factor in the development of this activity, which is accessible to all. The resort of Courchevel caught the wave at the right time by creating in 2012 the first groomed, secured and marked ski touring course. A slightly crazy gamble at first, but one that very quickly won over enthusiasts and above all customers, who appreciated discovering this discipline in an environment with no avalanche risk, since 80% of the route winds through the forest. This 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain, now called “Millet Ski Touring”, very quickly gave rise to a new route named “Plum KV” with its 1,000 m of elevation gain over 5 km. Hundreds of hikers walk these routes every day in winter. Today, ski mountaineering has become for the resort of Courchevel a major vector in its programme of diversifying its activities.

The parallel creation of the 2 races organised by the Courchevel Sports Outdoor Montagne Club, the “Millet Ski Touring” and the “Plum KV”, has contributed strongly to this spectacular development. As proof, this Wednesday 13 February, the 8th round of the Millet Ski Touring brought together 131 participants including Swiss, Russian and British nationals.

Relegated twice this season to the second step of the podium, Jean-Christophe Bette, France’s most decorated rower (Olympic gold medallist at the Sydney Games in 2000 and 5-time world champion), climbed to the top of the podium for the first time with a time of 25min44s. He beat Frédéric Thérisod, second in 26min15s, and Guillaume Panisset, third in 26min29s. In the provisional overall standings, Yoann Sert remains leader in 23min26s followed by Arthur Blanc in 23min50s and Florent Perrier in 24min.

Among the women, Laura Deplanche, a member of the French ski mountaineering team, won in 27min31s with a 4-second lead over Corinne Favre (27min35s). These times propelled them to second and third place respectively in the provisional women’s overall standings behind the Russian Ekaterina Osichkina (26min58s). Mélanie Rousset completed the podium of this 8th round in 30min26s.

Thanks to this remarkable performance, Laura Deplanche, instructor at the ESF in La Toussuire, took the lead in the women’s ESF challenge. Among the male instructors, Nicolas Mater of the ESF in Courchevel Village, in full preparation for the Pierra Menta, won in 28min55s but did not threaten Arthur Blanc of the ESF in Arêches, who remains leader of the Challenge in 23min50s.

This week: ski mountaineering event of the Plum KV Courchevel and Grand Slam 2019

After the Trail and Bike races held last summer, the ski mountaineering climb of the Vertical Kilometre (KV) of the Plum KV Courchevel (PKVC) completes the triptych and will be held this Friday 15 February on the official 5 km course with 1,000 m of elevation gain approved by the French Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (FFME). A specific ranking will be compiled at the end of the event, with prize money awarded to the podiums and the presentation of the “La Trace” medals (reminder of the times to achieve on the Plum KV: Gold Trace: under 1h, Gold-Plated Trace: under 1h15min, Silver Trace: under 1h30min, Bronze Trace: under 1h45, and for the Finisher medal you simply have to finish). Competitors who have taken part in all 3 events (trail, bike and ski touring) will be ranked in the Plum K3000 Challenge.

A special ranking will also be compiled for those who complete the “Grand Slam 2019” by taking part in the MSTC and the PKVC.

This Grand Slam 2019 will take into account the cumulative times of the MSTC on Wednesday 13 February and those of the PKVC on Friday 15 February. Competitors who took part in the MSTC on 13 February will be entitled to a 50% reduction on registration for the Plum KV. A good way to come and discover this race, which is open to all.