Nina Silitch showing off the new Chamonix Ski Alpinisme (womens!) team colours

Been taking it easy this week (ie no huge training sessions after work!) ready for the Tour du Grand Veymont down in the Vercors – which was this years French National Championship Individual Race, so a very strong field.  We had a record turnout of Brits for this one – 6 of us in all.  Unfortunately we were on the alternative course due to the high avalanche risk, but still a great race.

Arreche Beaufort dominated the mens race (no surprises there then!) taking 4 out of the first 5 places – William Bon Mardion coming home first.  In the womens race Laetitia Roux won by a good margin as expected.

How did we fare? – Well, Carron lead the way with an excellent 18th place, then Ben Bardsley and I came in somewhere further down in 55th and 47th respectively – but due to advancing years, that put me as 6th Veteran – so well pleased with that.  Es Tressider came in 88th and Simon ‘Nobby’ Naylor 122nd – Cath Naylor was doing really well till the top of the 2nd climb, when she had a brand new binding break - so unfortunately had to bail.

The rest of our group from the newly formed Ski Alpinisme section of the Chamonix Club des Sports did well too, with Nuno 38th in the mens race and Nina, Lyndsey and Julie coming 8th, 11th and 13th respectively in the womens race.

Final climb on day two of the TSF Millet 2010

Another relaxing weekend – not…  After heavy snowfall on Friday, we were racing on alternative courses at this weekends TSF Millet.  Saturday began with a bit of a disaster, as we found ourselves boxed in at the start and ended up right near the back – the rest of the race being spent overtaking people and battling the weather, which was pretty snowy.  Carron was much stronger than me, so quite a bit of towing going on too! 

Sunday the weather was better and we ended up in about the right place at the start, so things went more smoothly.  We finished 30th overall, so no great result, but a great weekend.
Quite a few technical problems with kit on both days – ie crampons that wouldn’t go on and skis that kept coming off! -  so that should keep us busy till next weekends Tour du Grand Veymont down in the Vercors.

Pyramide D'Oz

First outing of the season this Sunday, competing in the individual race at the Pyramide d’Oz and a good result too - 3rd overall and 1st Vet, so a trophy and a some goodies to show for it.  The race itself is on a good course, with some particularly knarly descents – especially the last one where we were treated to a 35 degree slope covered in crusty snow, layed on top of 50cm of soft snow, layed on top of rocks and bushes for over 500m - hmmm, lovely…

Cath and Simon (Nobby) Naylor were also racing – Cath having a great race  finishing 2nd woman and 1st Vet, so more prizes being won by Brits.

Another great Wednesday night relay race this week with Nick Wallis over at Pelvoux – part of the Team Ecrins Ski-alpinism series.  After 3 laps of lung busting effort, we finished up 6th and 3rd Vet team – so a podium and plastic trophy to boot!

Picking up a place on the final changeover.

Both looking suitably rifted at the finish.

This is a new Swiss National Cup Race and proved to be a great course, with plenty of technical interest for an individual race – 1635m of ascent and 12 transitions between skins on and off, both climbs and descents on ski and on foot etc.  I wasn’t feeling too fresh after a hard week working on the hill and not much sleep, so took things steady and finished 12th Vet (yes, ok I’m 40 this year!) in 2hrs 04min.  Not bad for the first proper up and down race of the season though.

Carron and Jon were on a bit of a mission however, racing hard to finish neck and neck in 6th and 7th place respectively in the Seniors, both in 1hr 52min – ie great results.  A few pics from the race below - taken at the top of the 2nd climb and on the final descent to the finish:

Carron pulling through on the final climb to the summit.

Jon raising a smile close behind.

Al bringing up the rear…

 Giving it some on the final descent.

 Ditto.