ACT 3 - MILLET SKI TOURING COURCHEVEL - Wednesday 4 January 2023

The Millet Ski Touring Courchevel go higher

While waiting for snow to return to the official course, the 3rd round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel (MSTC), held this Wednesday 4 January, took place on the alternative route from Courchevel 1850 to reach the top of the Loze relay. This route, 2.6 km long with 500 m of elevation gain, was inaugurated at the start of the 7th season in 2016-2017 to cope with insufficient snow cover on the lower part of the resort. At that date and after the 4 rounds validated, Corinne Favre (25min42s) and William Bon Mardion (20min02s) set the first records.

Should 5 rounds be run on the alternative route, the rewards planned for the MSTC will be shared in order to endow the records of the courses (official and alternative) fairly. However, the Raymond & René Millet Trophy will be awarded only for the overall records (men and women) of the 2022-2023 season on the official course.

A fairytale 3rd round!

The magic of the night was once again on the menu for this 3rd round, run during the full-moon week with a finish at an altitude of 2,249 m. Around a hundred participants crowded the start line, with 6 nations represented besides our compatriots: Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Israel, Russia and Switzerland. A few runners took the opportunity to come and discover the route that will be used for the Vertical Race event of the French ski mountaineering championship scheduled for this Saturday 7 January.

The Pole Sebastian Druszkiewicz, an employee of the partner shop Le Camp de Base in Courchevel, opens his country’s account by posting the reference time of the season in 23min26s. He finishes 10 seconds ahead of Rémi Berchet of the Sainte Foy Montagne club and David Poncet of the same club, credited with 24min34s.

Already the record holder since 2017, Corinne Favre did it again in 26min19s. She wins ahead of Lula Martinez-Perez of Ski Montagne Albertville (29min56s) and Stéphanie Wittenhove (31min14s).

This 1st "Full Moon" special, held under the glow of an almost perfect moon, was enhanced by the draw for a pair of Plum R150 bindings. The lucky recipient is a loyal MSTC participant, Jean-Louis Fillatre of the ESF Méribel.

On to the 2023 French ski mountaineering championships

A fine rehearsal for the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor, which will organise on this same course the Vertical Race event of the 2023 "France" championships this Saturday 7 January from 6 pm. This competition will be broadcast live on the channel 8 Mont-Blanc and on a giant screen located at the start of the race on the snow front in Courchevel 1850. The elite of the country’s athletes will be there, with, topping the bill, the title holders namely Axelle Gachet-Mollaret and Thibault Anselmet. The French championship vertical race event will be open to all and will serve as the 4th round of the MSTC.

The next day, Courchevel will have the privilege of awarding the very first French Mixed relay champion title, a new event on the programme of the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics in 2026. This event will take place at the foot of the Loze ski piste from 10 am.

A fine spectacle in prospect this weekend, which is the pride of the resort.

Detailed programme of the French Vertical Race Championship (4th round Millet Ski Touring Courchevel) on Saturday 7 January:

18:00: start of Senior women
18:10: start of U20 women + U14 (neutralised)
18:15: start of U18 women
18:20: start of U16 women

18:40: start of Senior men
18:44: start of U16 men
18:51: start of U18 men
18:58: start of U20 men

Next dates:
French Vertical Race Championship (4th MSTC) on Sunday 7 January
French Mixed Relay Championship on Saturday 8 January
5th round of the Millet Ski Touring Courchevel on Wednesday 11 January