ACT 9 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 12 February 2020

9th “Millet Ski Touring Courchevel”, victories for Nicolas Reymond and Véronique Lathuraz.

For a decade, ski mountaineering, a discipline that combines endurance, glide and nature, has been a booming sport. Ever more efficient equipment is also an essential vector for the development of this activity, which is accessible to all. The resort of Courchevel caught the wave at the right moment by creating in 2012 the first groomed, secured and marked ski touring course. A slightly crazy gamble at the outset but one that very quickly won over enthusiasts and above all the clientele, who appreciated this ecological discipline in a natural setting without avalanche risk, since 80% of the route winds through forest. This 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain, known today as the “Millet Ski Touring”, very quickly gave birth to its big brother called “Plum KV”, with its 1,000 m of elevation gain over 5 km. Since this season, a new route has appeared, starting from Courchevel Village up to the Col de la Loze (alt. 2,304 m), with 820 m of elevation gain over 4.8 km, called the Plum MOONtain Races. Hundreds of ski tourers tread these tracks every day in winter. Today, ski mountaineering has become, for the resort of Courchevel, a major vector in its programme of diversifying its activities.

The parallel creation of the 2 races organised by the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor Montagne, the “Millet Ski Touring” and the “Plum MOONtain Races”, not forgetting the “Plum KV” organised over the last 5 years, has greatly contributed to this spectacular development. As proof, this Wednesday 12 February, the 9th round of the Millet Ski Touring brought together 103 participants, including a good number of foreign nationals, notably Russians and Britons.

Nicolas Reymond set the best performance of the evening in 23min49s ahead of Jean-Christophe Bette, multiple Olympic and world medallist in French rowing, who stepped onto the podium for the first time this season with a time of 25min56s. Sébastien Bedu, leader in the veteran category, completed the podium in 26min30s.

In the women’s race, a fine showing from the Société des 3 Vallées with the victory of Véronique Lathuraz in 32min08 and the third place of Stéphanie Pommat in 34min09s. Young cadet Louna Broche, a member of Méribel Sport Montagne, slotted in in 34min07s and remains at the head of her category in 31min48s.

The 11th Millet Ski Touring, scheduled for Wednesday 26 February, will be, among other things, the selection event for the 2020 Ski Mountaineering European Championship, to be held in Italy at Madonna di Campiglio from 2 to 5 April, for "Cadets" and "Juniors"! The provisional standings of these categories for the “Millet” are the preserve of Pierre Ferreol (26min43s) and Louna Broche (31min48s) among the cadets, Pablo Giner (25min08s) and Grace Staberg (28min56s) among the juniors.

2nd round of the Plum MOONtain Races Courchevel for Valentine’s Day!

Originally scheduled for Monday 10 February, a full-moon day, the second round of the Plum MOONtain Races had to be moved, because of a major storm on the upper part of the ski area, to Friday 14 February, Valentine’s Day! For the occasion, registration will be free for all couples, who will be able to immortalise this evening in a grand setting on ski touring skis under the stars. Tasting a good soup from the cauldron and a Savoyard buffet at the mountain restaurant “Le 1928” will precede the torchlit descent supervised by the ESF instructors. A €4 reduction on the registration fee (€15) will also be offered to all runners who took part in the 9th round of the Millet Ski Touring.