Round 15 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 25 March 2015

15th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel for Jean-François Philipot and Corinne Favre.

This Wednesday 25 March was the great ski mountaineering party in Courchevel on the occasion of the final of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel. The weather was not ideal, with mist and snowflakes, but never mind: most of the 293 ski mountaineers had not come to set a time but to have fun and celebrate the close of this new edition of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel.

At the end of this 15th round, the winners are Jean-François Philipot (23min53s) and Corinne Favre (28min52s) ahead of Florent Perrier (24min33s) and Marion Manéglia (30min08s). Third place went to Gary Ozeray (24min41s) andJustine Tonso (30min28s).

In the ESF challenge, Gary Ozeray of ESF Peisey Nancroix and Charlotte Le Roux of ESF Le Grand Bornand set the best times of the evening and win the 2015 ESF ski mountaineering challenge on this Vertical Race event in 24min41s for Gary and 32min20s for Charlotte.

Of the 15 rounds run this winter, 13 were run on the official MSTC Vertical Race course (3.2 km and 500 m of elevation gain) and counted towards the 2014-2015 MSTC overall standings. The 2 races held early in the season on the fallback course because of the lack of snow were not counted. In total, 2,030 starts were recorded and 940 different competitors were ranked. Guillaume Prin, president of the organising association “Courchevel Sports Alpinisme”, and his whole team of volunteers are delighted with such a success, which grows every year.

For 5 years it has been customary to take part in fancy dress. This tradition was once again well observed, with more than half of the participants in costume. Nurses, Caesars, sumo wrestlers, Lucky Luke, pirates, crocodiles, nuns and plenty of other costumes of every kind were out for this very festive evening. Registration was free for everyone in fancy dress who had taken part at least once during the season in the MSTC. Many entertainments enlivened the evening, with a roving band at the start and finish, tastings of “Pom’Chaud” and chocolate and even a fancy-dress competition, whose prize this year went to the duo Robin Laurent and Florimond Gachet, who made the climb attached to the same pair of skis, dressed as riders on their horse. To end in style, all the participants and volunteers were able to enjoy the closing meal prepared by the partner hotel “Le Chabichou” in the La Croisette hall, where the prize-giving was held.

At the opening of the official awards ceremony, the mayor of Saint-Bon Courchevel, Philippe Mugnier, a fervent devotee of these climbs who missed only one round this year, congratulated the organisers, the participants and the partners, and also spoke of the commune’s determination to support these ski mountaineering events, which are enjoying great success by bringing specialists and amateurs together.

Kilian Jornet and Laetitia Roux take the official record of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel 2014-2015.

For the second year in a row, Kilian Jornet in 22min01s and Laetitia Roux in 26min04s are at the top of the overall scratch standings. Mr Jean-Pierre Millet, representing the event’s partner company Millet, presented each of them with the “René and Raymond Millet” crystal trophy (named after the founders of Millet) along with €2,000 in prize money. Yoann Sert in 23min02s and Corinne Favre in 28min05s were rewarded with €1,250 in prize money for their second place. Florent Perrier in 23min35s and Justine Tonso in 28min45s completed the podium, winning €750 in prize money.

Sébastien Figliolini, manager of the partner shop “Le Camp De Base” and winner of the Pierra Menta in 1998, gave substantial shopping vouchers to the winners of each category.

1st Senior-Veteran (60+): Marc Malvolti in 31min13s and Martine Fache in 55min44s.
1st Veteran: Florent Perrier in 23min35s and Corinne Favre in 28min05s.
1st Senior: Kilian Jornet in 22min01s and Laetitia Roux in 26min04s.
1st Espoir: William Perrier in 25min08s and Laurie Renoton in 34min16s.
1st Junior: Swann Juillaguet in 24min13s and Elisa Gayet in 32min43s.
1st Cadet: Alban Raisin in 27min49s and Justine Tonso in 28min45s.
1st Minime: Malo Lions in 32min30s and Chiara Marhic in 45min03s.
1st Benjamin: Anakin Lecerf in 38min05s and Zoé Raoult in 42min53s.

New French ski mountaineering Vertical Kilometre record for Yoann Sert and Catherine Juillaguet on the Plum KV Courchevel.

All winter, the best specialists were able to come and battle for the French ski mountaineering record on the “Plum KV Courchevel”, a vertical kilometre course approved by the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME). After official validation by the Federation, represented by Olivier Mansiot, National Technical Adviser, Yoann Sert (42min01s) and Catherine Juillaguet (54min26s) set the French ski mountaineering Vertical Kilometre record.

A €500 prize money was presented to them this Wednesday 25 March by the director of the partner binding company “Plum”, Albert Félisaz. The PKVC will resume on 10 July in trail running on the same course, with trail runners / skyrunners who can come and compete for the “Region Series Alpes 2015” title and try to win the “Skyrunner France Series KV” in the 24 July event. The best men’s and women’s times of the summer season will be rewarded with €500 in prize money. €1,000 will be given for the best men’s and women’s time of the year, by adding the 2 best performances in ski mountaineering and trail running.

2015 Grand Slam records for Yoann Sert and Charlotte Le Roux.

In the weeks when the MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL (MSTC) and the PLUM KV COURCHEVEL (PKVC) are held, a ranking was drawn up for those who did the “Grand Slam” (taking part in both events in the same week).

The 2015 season Grand Slam records were set by Yoann Sert (1h05min03s) and Charlotte Le Roux (1h32min04s). The official prize-givings for the 4 “Grand Slam” rounds of the season were held this Wednesday 25 March.

To congratulate and thank all the volunteers of the “Courchevel Sports Alpinisme” association, Florencia Malbran of the artisan chocolate maker “Piste Noire” had made a chocolate plaque in the colours of the two races, with the names of all the volunteers inscribed on it.