ROUND 2 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 22 December 2021

Round 2 of the 2022 Millet Ski Touring Courchevel for Mathéo Jacquemoud and Claudia Chmielowska

The big Wednesday event under the stars was back on 22 December. 93 ski tourers were on the start line of this unmissable 3.2 km Vertical Race with 500 m of elevation gain, a time trial from Courchevel Le Praz to Courchevel. With Christmas approaching, the atmosphere was good and convivial: the DNA of this race open to all! Quite a few participants came in Christmas fancy dress, like the trio Manon Morin, Laura Mayer, Solenne Mugnier as reindeer and Joseph Samson (winner of the best costume at the 2021 final) as a Tahitian Santa. This second “Full Moon” round, held under the glow of an almost full moon, was enlivened by the prize draw for a pair of Plum R120 bindings, won by Steeve Dobert.

Mathéo Jacquemoud: the comeback

MSTC winner in 2013 and 2016 with a personal best of 22min40s, Mathéo Jacquemoud is back in competition. Twice winner of the legendary Pierra Menta and four-time ski mountaineering world champion, Mathéo had announced on 8 March 2017 the end of his competitive career to devote himself to the mountains as a guide and to coach the French ski mountaineering team. After this parenthesis, he is returning to the circuit to get back to the top level. His goal: a podium at the 2022 French Vertical Race Championship, which doubles as the 7th round of the MSTC on Saturday 22 January, which would allow him to rejoin the France group for the World Cups. On his comeback on 4 December at the French Cup on the same track, he clocked 24min34s. This Wednesday 22 December, he took the win in 23min16s, a dazzling improvement that puts him 6th in the provisional overall standings, still led by Xavier Gachet in 22min31s.

A big battle at the finish for the places of honour between Vincent Loustau (Club des Sports de Méribel), second in 25min15s, Clément Charles (Courchevel Sports Outdoor), 3rd in 25min16s, and Frédéric Perrin (CAF Albertville), 4th in 25min 19s.

Claudia Chmielowska: a first for Poland

Having discovered this race last year, Poland’s Claudia Chmielowska , with a personal best of 32min52s, has become hooked like most of the competitors who come to challenge the clock and enjoy the pleasure of this headlamp-lit climb. Already well honed, she won in 33min11s ahead of Céline Vocanson of ESF Valmorel in 35min18s, a performance that propels her to the top of the provisional women’s standings of the 2022 ESF challenge. Caroline Rainieri (Courchevel Sports Outdoor) completed the podium in 38min06s.

New for 2022: the S3V challenge

In partnership with the Société des 3 Vallées, the S3V challenge was born. Cédric Perretier, head of the piste service, took the lead in 35min57s followed by Stéphane Pfend, director of the ski area (37min16s), and Philippe Mottier, director of the ski lifts (38min23s). Among the women, Laetitia Renard, safety officer, opened the ball in 42min41s.

Also worth noting are the fine performances of our local personalities: Alice Garcin, town councillor, in 46min16s, Philippe Mugnier, former mayor of Courchevel, in 43min33s, Stéphane Pétracin, head of the resort’s Municipal Police, in 41min01, not forgetting Jean-Marc Sullice, a well-known figure of the commune, in 45min46s.

FFME marketing manager Jimmy Kilfiger completed the climb in 54min35s. Alice Ninet (1h12min48s) and Yvan Haas (1h12min53s), representatives of our partner Millet, brought up the rear, delighted to leave with the ski mountaineering medal: La Trace ESF finisher.

An excellent start to this 12th season of the MSTC which, besides being an institution in the ski mountaineering world, have become a meeting and sharing point between locals, holidaymakers, amateurs and elites, who can congratulate each other at the finish over a good soup from the cauldron.

Next event: Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 29 December 2021