Ski-Mountaineering Champions

Also, in the same day, the third edition of the British Ski Mountaineering Championship took place, on the route for juniors (male and female), the so-called Route B.
The race began at 8am. The athletes were aligned at the start-line from Le Tour ski area. The competition's routes passed through Aiguille des Posettes, Col de Balme, Les Autannes and Charamillon. With a temperature of 4°C at noon, the weather was good for ski touring. The risk of avalanche was relatively small (2/5), and not a single cloud on the sky.

The contestants were grouped, according to their category. Each category was given a different route:
Route A: espoirs, seniors and veterans, an altitude gain of 2485m.
An easy climb to the head of La Vormaine and a gentle slope around the La Vormaine area to Le Tour. Then, the first tough climb begins towards the Aiguillette des Posettes. Just before reaching the summit, route A deviates west on a mixed descent below the crest of the Posettes ridge, then tracks back up and along the top of the Posettes ridge to the Aiguillette des Posettes. A short descent down the back side of the Posettes into Les Esserts is followed by a long climb up to the Tete de Balme. From the Tete de Balme, there is a short descent to the Col de Balme and then the skiers continue on up the ridge until they are directly above Les Autannes. From there there is a short steep descent to the top of Les Autannes chair lift, followed by a long slope along slow and gentle descent, the latter part on the flat, then a short ascent to the Tete de Charamillon. From here, the skiers start their first steep descent, a fast and furious ride into the ravine below the Charamillon top station, followed by a short but grueling ascent back up the ridge, to a point just above Charamillon top station and from here, the final steep descent to the Finish line, just above Le Tour.

Route B: juniors (men), as well as the GB Championship's, a 1890m altitude gain. Route B is the same as Route A, except, there's no deviation along the Posettes ridge.

Route C: cadets and juniors (women) a 1370m altitude gain. Route C is the same as Route B except from le Col de Balme, the race takes a very gentle slope back to the top of Les Autannes chairlift and from there, no deviation to the Tete de Charamillon, but a descent, gentle at first but steep as it heads into the ravine below the Charamillon top station.

In the women's competition, a Franco-Swiss team was the first to finish. They were closely followed by Marion Maneglia and Valentine Fabre, two French athletes registered at the Club de Sport de Chamonix. Due to the nationality of the first team, Marion and Valentione obtained the title of Champions of France.
In the men competition, the big winners were the Savoyards skiers, Florent Perrier and Adrien Piccot.

Bon boulot, les mecs!

For more results click here!