The British Ski Moutaineering Champs in Association with La Sportiva. 15th February 2015.

Skimoutaineering is becoming incredibly popular – why not come and have a go on a spectacular marked course?

2015 will be the fourth edition of this annual event.
The three previous editions have been held in the Aiguilles Rouge, the Vercors and last year Le Tour.

What does a race involve?
Skimountaineering races test all the skills that the skimountaineer might encounter. Uphill progression by ski may be on gentle slopes requiring gliding or steep slopes where kick turns are needed. Very steep and or icy slopes are ascended on foot, possibly using crampons. Descents can be steep in places, the terrain is mostly off piste and so the skier needs to be able to cope with whatever snow conditions prevail underfoot. Some courses have flat sections where skating may be advantageous. All ascents and descents will be marked and the uphill sections have a track ready in place.

This year the race will be held in Superdevoluy. The race will involve approximately 1700m climbing and will involve sections on foot. The area is famous for caves and natural arches, weather permitting these will feature in the race course – in particular the “Heroic Traverse”! . The need for harnesses, via ferrata tethers and crampons is likely.

The intention of the event is to encourage all to participate. Anyone is welcome. There will also be a shorter course of approximately 900m climb, for those not wanting to compete the Championship, or just wishing to “have a go”. Additionally, the organisers plan a further course that will not require technical skills.

Why not make a weekend of it – ski the lifts on the Saturday and race on the Sunday?

Programme:

On the night of SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY there will be an athletes reception & Free Mountain Film Night in the “Welcome Hall” in Super Dévoluy

From 5:00 pm Athlete reception, last minute registration, race number distribution. For further information please contact us
6:30 pm Race briefing in “Maison d’accueil – Superdévoluy”
From 7:00 pm Dinner “Pasta party” Registration by email : animation@ledevoluy.com
From 8:00 pm Free mountain film night with “Dejame vivir” Seb Montaz-Rosset’s film on Kilian Jornet, featuring Mathéo Jacquemoud

SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY
Race day Grande Trace
From 7:00 am Last minute race pack collections, Athlete reception at the foot of the slopes (Pelourenq chairlift) and at maison d’accueil, Superdévoluy
8:30 am Start
From 12:30 am Lunch at the SuperDévoluy Sports Centre
3:00 pm Prize giving ceremony at the SuperDévoluy Sports Centre and Prize Draw

For accommodation or for any information about the Devoluy Resort, please contact :
l’Office de Tourisme du Dévoluy
Web site : http://www.ledevoluy.com
Phone : +33 (0)4 92 58 91 91

For more information please consult the event websit http://www.lagrandetrace.fr
Or look at their facebook page.

I would not call the Belledonne the Vercors. Anyway looks a great event and I can only recoomend a visit.

Aha. I have just worked out who you are….Embarrasingly should have got it straight away. My BiL did a lot of the footwork form the FFME for ogranising the 2013 one in the Belledonne. We may well come this year.