ROUND 2 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 18 December 2013

The 2nd Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel goes to Florent Perrier and Blandine Du Crest.

For this second ski touring climb of the season, the 77 competitors registered for the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel (DSTC) were able to enjoy a superb landscape lit by the rays of the full moon and a fine, freshly snowed track. With the lack of snow at the start of the season, it was with shovels and snow brought in on plastic tarpaulins that the volunteers of the association “Courchevel Sports Mountaineering” had to cover some sections of this 3.2 km course with 500 metres of elevation gain with snow so that the race could take place.

Thanks to all the energy expended over the past week, the runners were able to climb without difficulty, and among those taking part for the second time, many managed to improve their times.

The provisional record set last week by Mathéo Jacquemoud in 24min01s was not beaten, but Florent Perrier, the absolute benchmark in ski mountaineering with 7 world champion titles, 6 European champion titles and many Pierra Menta victories, gave his opponents no chance by winning this second stage of the season in 24min44s. Morgan Salmon of the club Haute Tarentaise Montagne took second place in 25min33s ahead of David Lacoste of ESF Tignes, who led the French Ski Schools challenge in 26min15s.

Lionel Claudepierre of team Vosges Ski Alpinisme, the record holder for the Chamonix-Zermatt high route in only 18h35, was also there with a fine 8th place (27min56s). Robert Petit Jean, head of the National Forests Office in Courchevel, who has contributed greatly for 2 years to the preparation of the DSTC course, finished in 39min33s.

Among the women, Blandine Du Crest of the club Haute Tarentaise Montagne also failed to improve the provisional record of Marion Manéglia (32min12s) but took the win on this second climb in 32min53s. Meredith Edwards of team USA, reconnoitring the course for the Ski Mountaineering World Cup Vertical Race to be held on 26 January, finished second (35min36) ahead of Charlotte Leroux of CAF Annecy (37min23s).

With a time of 38min28s, Corine Chauchaix of ESF Arêches took pole position in the French Ski Schools standings among the women. Israeli Smetanith Dmitri accompanied by his instructor Bruno Lauzier of ESF Méribel opened the ‘ESF clients’ standings with a time of 48min04s.

Two future great champions were there. At only 10 years old, Gaspard Normand could not do better than last week, finishing this time in 49min12s, and Edgar Lalanne set his first reference time in 55min14s.

Next week, the 3rd stage of the DSTC will take place on Christmas Day, Wednesday 25 December, and to celebrate this event, registration will be free for all participants who come dressed as Father or Mother Christmas! At the finish, surprises will be offered at the aid station and thousands of gifts will be handed out at the prize-giving.