Round 1 / SKI MOUNTAINEERING - PLUM KV COURCHEVEL - Friday 20 January 2017

Plum KV Courchevel 2017, the ski mountaineering season is under way: Yoann Sert and Géraldine Bau lead!

The first ski mountaineering round of the “Plum KV Courchevel” began quietly with 47 competitors this Friday 20 January 2017. Participation will very quickly rise over the coming rounds, because at the end of the 4 rounds offered this season (20 January, 3 and 17 February, 17 March) on this 5 km course with 1,000 m of elevation gain, approved by the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME), the 2017 French KV records will be awarded, with a €500 cheque as a bonus for the men’s and women’s records.

Yoann Sert and Géraldine Bau took the lead by winning this 1st round. Yoann Sert, three-time winner of the extraordinary “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” triathlon, won in 43min06s ahead of Arnaud Mazet (44min40s) and Eric David (47min21s). Géraldine Bau set the benchmark time in 57min24s, followed by Stéphanie Pommat (1h01min55s) and Véronique Lathuraz (1h02min36s).

In the ESF challenge, Arêches took the reins with the win of Grégory Gachet (48min26s) among the men and Courchevel 1550 with Pascale Gachet Mauroz (1h15min14s) among the women.

For 2 years now, the ski mountaineering “Plum KV Courchevel” has been the big sister of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel”. With twice the elevation gain, the “Plum”, as many participants call it, can be impressive, but it remains open to the less experienced, who can start 45 minutes before the elites. As proof, Mireille Franchino swallowed up these 1,000 metres of elevation gain, with a smile, in 2 hours.

Two Challenges offered this year: the X2 and X3 KV Courchevel challenges!

- X2 KV Courchevel Challenge 2017

Last summer, the 228 athletes classified in trail running in the 2016 “Plum KV Courchevel” could take part in the 2017 “X2 KV Courchevel Challenge” by competing at least once in one of the 4 rounds this winter in ski mountaineering. It is a concept unique in the world, where ski mountaineers and trail runners can express themselves and compare their performances on a Vertical Kilometre course that is strictly identical in winter and summer, with fine rewards at stake: 1st man and woman: €600, 2nd: €300 and 3rd: €100. The 2016 “X2 KV Courchevel Challenge” was won by Jean-François Philipot (1h22min11s) and Axelle Mollaret (1h33min53s)

- X3 KV Courchevel Challenge 2017

In addition, the 50 athletes classified in summer 2016 who took part in both events (trail running in the 2016 “Plum KV Courchevel” and cycling in the 2016 “Dynastar KV Courchevel”) can play for the 2017 “X3 KV Courchevel Challenge” by taking part at least once in one of the 4 rounds this winter in ski mountaineering, with the following prizes: 1st man and woman: €800, 2nd: €500 and 3rd: €200.

In short, a good way to prepare for the extraordinary Mountain Triathlon: the “Dynastar X3 Courchevel”, a sequence of cycling, trail running and ski mountaineering on 16 April 2017.

Arnaud Mazet and Elsa Nodet win the 1st Grand Slam.

In the weeks when the "Millet Ski Touring Courchevel" (MSTC) and the "Plum KV Courchevel" (PKVC) are held, a specific ranking is drawn up for those who complete the "Grand Slam" (taking part in both events in the same week).

This week, the “Grand Slam” took into account the combined times of the MSTC on Wednesday 18 January with those of the PKVC on Friday 20 January. 16 competitors did both races back to back. Holder of the 2016 record in 1h09min22s, Arnaud Mazet won by just 2 seconds more, in 1h09min24s, and Géraldine Bau won in 1h29min23s. These are records to beat for the next 3 grand slams!

The official prize-giving for the season’s 4 “Grand Slams” and for the 2017 ski mountaineering “Plum KV Courchevel” will take place on Thursday 23 March during the great ski mountaineering party in Courchevel with Patrick Sébastien on the occasion of the “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel” final. The X2 and X3 KV Courchevel Challenges will be awarded at the 2017 “Dynastar X3 Courchevel” on 16 April.