ROUND 11 - DYNAFIT SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - 16 February 2011

Kilian Jornet Burgada smashes the record.

A top-level field for the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel, which as the Wednesdays go by is beginning to take on the look of the biggest ski mountaineering gatherings. Indeed, since the first edition, many athletes recognised in the discipline have taken an interest in this new concept, which every week allows you to improve your record, compare yourself with others and try to beat the record which, let us remind you, will allow the best woman and the best man at the end of the 19th climb on 13 April to win prize money of €500 offered by the shop ''le camp de base'' and the new ''Low Tech Race Dynafit'' binding worth €750.

For this 11th edition, the Spaniard Kilian Jornet Burgara, current ski mountaineering vertical race world champion and winner of the 2010 Pierra Menta with the Swiss Florent Troillet, but also a great trail running specialist whose record includes winning the Grand Raid de la Réunion ''La diagonale des Fous'' in 2010 and winning the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc twice, came to smash the record for this 3.2 km climb with 500 m of elevation gain in 23min07s, which had been held since last week by Yannick Buffet in 23min29s. The men’s podium of this edition was completed by two representatives of the Club Multisports d’Arèche Beaufort (CMSAB), William Bon Mardion in 24min07s and Sébastien Perrier in 25min50s.

Among the women, Gabrielle Magnenat of the CMSAB also came back to try to beat the record she held in 30min44s. After a fine climb the record was not improved, but Gabrielle still finished in front with a time of 30min50s. Stéphanie Duc took 2nd place in 32min27s and Blandine Ducrest of the CAF Albertville finished 3rd in 34min33.

Records that should improve still further

Kilian Jornet and Yannick Buffet will be back after the world championships taking place in Claut, Italy, next week, together with the current French champion Laëtitia Roux. More fine climbs ahead!

529 starts have already been given and 308 competitors are currently ranked. The top 10 of the men’s provisional overall standings on 16 February is: 1, Jornet Kilian 23:07:69. 2, Buffet Yannick 23:29:65. 3, Bon Mariond William 24:07:08. 4, Perrier Florent 24:09:60. 5, Pellicier Alexandre 24:21:41. 6, Gachet Grégory 24:22:03. 7, Sbalbi Tony 25:09:64. 8, Perrier Sébastien 25:50:13. 9, Fraissard Antony 26:09:90. 10, Therisod Frédéric 26:16:05.

And for the women’s standings: 1, Magnenat Gabrielle 30:44:01. 2, Favre Sandrine 32:27:19. 3, Duc Stéphanie 32:27:85. 4, Favre Armelle 33:43:89. 5, Trecourt Claudine 34:00:25 6, Du Crest Blandine 34:34:43. 7, Martin Gaëlle 35:04:71. 8, Bonnevie Daniele 36:08:54. 7, Joguet Caroline 37:03:53. 8, Minary Catherine 37:26:25. 9, Bozon Marlène 37:36:70. 10, Morand Sabine 38:11:13.

For this 11th edition, the association had organised a talk in the Salle de la Croisette, open to all and presented by François Taffin, high mountain guide, on the theme “snow and avalanches”. The evening gave everyone present a better understanding of snowpacks and of the different avalanche levels and risks. Now all that remains is to wait for the snow…