ROUND 2 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 1 January 2020

Millet Ski Touring Courchevel: 2020 starts strong!

126 competitors decided to put on their touring skis to take part in the 2nd round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC) this Wednesday 1 January. Laetitia Roux, the undisputed female icon of ski mountaineering who has marked the discipline over the past decade with her multiple world championship titles, and still holder of the absolute MSTC record in 25min31s since 2014, was there, but this time as coach to 2 of her athletes, members of the US national team, Sierra Anderson and Grace Staberg. “I came to train and advise my 2 American athletes on this course, where I still hold the record. I might pin a bib on again if the record were to fall (laughs), but one thing is certain: I’ll be here for the fancy-dress final on 18 March and the Shy’m concert to celebrate this 10th edition,” she told us.

Joris Perillat Pessey and Sierra Anderson take the lead in the provisional overall standings.

With the elite very sharp at the start of the season, the records of Kilian Jornet (22min01s) and Laetitia Roux are hanging by a thread. After last week’s performance by Gédéon Pochat, who won in 22min51s, 2 new athletes went under the 23-minute mark: Joris Perillaz Pessey of ESF La Clusaz won in 22min34s, a new provisional record, ahead of Yoann Sert 4 seconds behind in 22min38s. In third place in this second round came Yoann Caillot, team winner of the extraordinary Dynastar X3 Courchevel 2019 Triathlon, who was not to be outdone with a superb time of 24min44s.

Among the women, the Americans Sierra Anderson and Grace Staberg dominated and, with respective times of 28min23s and 28min56s, did the double (win and second place in the round and in the provisional overall standings). Perrine Gindre of team Isère Montagne completed the podium in 33min04s.

This 10th season could not have started better. While the race for records remains a primary objective for some, it is no less true that a majority of participants, whether holidaymakers or locals, compete for the fun of it and for a playful sporting activity. In this context, the MSTC have gained fine recognition over the years, both nationally and internationally. Many loyal visitors to the resort come regularly to the course, such as the Russian Dmitry Orlov, accompanied by his partner and friends, advised by their instructor Henry Thurier. Another regular, the racing driver François Perrodo, won the Vermeil “La Trace” medal in 41min33s. Philippe Mugnier, the mayor of the resort, posted a good comeback time of 47min03s. The management of the Société des 3 Vallées (S3V) tested the course with Pascal De Thiersant, chairman of the management board, in 36min47s and Stéphane Pfend, director of the Courchevel ski area, in 36min21s. They took the opportunity to announce the launch of an internal challenge for the discipline, an idea that could be taken up by other companies or local authorities in the region.

Ski mountaineering, more ski mountaineering and always ski mountaineering…

The next 2 weeks are going to be promising for the discipline in Courchevel.

Monday 6 January: 1st round of the Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel (PMRC), which will take place by the light of the full moon from Courchevel Village to the top of the Col de la Loze. Participants will be able to enjoy a good meal at the high-altitude restaurant “Le 1928” before the torchlit descent supervised by the ESF instructors. (reminder of the other PMRC dates: full-moon Mondays 6 January, 10 February and 9 March)

Wednesday 8 January: 3rd round of the MSTC, with 50% off the registration fee for those who ran the PMRC on Monday.

Wednesday 15 January: 4th round of the MSTC

Friday 17 January: 5th round of the MSTC: “le Chrono des Champions”, open to all, a “selection” event for the next World Cups (this round will be free for competitors who took part in the climb on 15 January)

Saturday 18 January: French Championship - Individual event