Top-level action at the French Vertical Race and Sprint ski mountaineering championships in Courchevel
It was a celebration! A celebration of ski mountaineering on the weekend of 2 and 3 February 2013
It was a celebration! A celebration of ski mountaineering on the weekend of 2 and 3 February 2013 in Courchevel, which hosted the Vertical Race and Sprint events of the French Ski Mountaineering Championships. The difficult weather conditions while preparing the event did not frighten the volunteers of the association “Courchevel Sports Alpinisme” and the Fédération Française de Montagne et Escalade (FFME), who spared no effort so that the events could take place as well as possible. The French ski mountaineering championships began on Saturday 2 February with the Vertical Race event on the same course as the Dynafit Ski Touring Courchevel (DSCT), allowing participants to be included in the 2013 DSTC overall standings. Despite the snowflakes and gusts of wind, the 147 competitors entered in this event were able to perform on a course perfectly prepared and secured for the occasion.
On this formidable 3.2 km course with 500 m of elevation gain, where rest periods are unknown, it was the Catalan Kilian Jornet Burgada who won the Scratch in 22min48s. The Frenchman Alexis Sévennec, finishing just behind in 23min37s, took the title of French champion ahead of Pierre-François Gachet in 23min30s and Florent Perrier in 23min45s. Among the women, it was the Swede Emelie Forsberg who won the Scratch in 27min14s, leaving the French champion title to the Frenchwoman Axelle Mollaret, who finished in 27min53s ahead of Valentine Fabre in 29min26s. Next came the Canadian Melanie Bernier in 29min26s, allowing Catherine Juillaguet, 5th in the scratch, to move up to third place in the French championship in 29min53s.
Fanny Meynet (32min43s) and Simon Bellabouvier (25min43s) took the title in the Cadet category. So did Sophie Mollard (32min07s) and the local of the day William Perrier (35min38s) among the Juniors, Axelle Mollaret (27min53s) and Pierre-François Gachet (23min30s) among the Espoirs, Favre Valentine (29min26s) and Alexis Sévennec (23min13s) among the Seniors, and Catherine Juillaguet (29min53s) and Florent Perrier (23min45s) among the Veterans.
On Sunday 3 February, the French championships continued with the Sprint event, held on the Courchevel snow front in the heart of the resort, in more clement weather. The show was on in this event, which is the shortest of the French championships as it is completed in under 3 minutes. A true concentrate of ski mountaineering: gliding, “manip”, carrying, kick turns, descent and strategy. The race was held in several phases, starting at 10 am with an individual time-trial qualification, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals in heats of 6 skiers.
In this very spectacular event, it was Yann Gachet who came out on top, taking the title of French champion ahead of Robin Mottiez and Alexis Sévennec. Among the women, the American Nina Silitch won the scratch, leaving the title to the Frenchwoman Axelle Mollaret, who finished ahead of Marion Maneglia. Next came the Canadian Melanie Bernier 4th in the scratch and Valentine Fabre, who thus took 3rd place in the French championship.
Adèle Milloz and Simon Bellabouvier took the title among the cadets. As did Sophie Mollard and Corentin Cerutti among the Juniors, Axelle Mollaret and Robin Mottiez among the Espoirs, Marion Maneglia and Yann Gachet among the Seniors and Alain Bellagamba among the Veterans.
These two days of championships ended on a high on Sunday at 2 pm with the prize-giving ceremony and a mountain buffet prepared especially for the event by the hotel Le Chabichou.