Click on this text to access a video about the 2010 Pierra Menta ski mountaineering race. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Pierra Menta, one of the grand dames of ski mountaineering races. The Pierra Menta, The Italian Trofeo Mezzalama and the Swiss Patrol des Glaciers make up the great three traverse competitions in the alps. Vast experience, time and training are necessary to bag this hat trick otherwise known as "le grandes tros de ski de montange."
Founded in 1985 and run over four days in the beautiful Areches Beaufort region in France surrounded by the mountain massifs the Vanois, the Areches and the Mont Blanc, the Pierra Menta covers roughly 18-25 kilometers per day and a total of 10,000 meters (32,800 feet) of elevation gain and descent. This year from March 11-14th 200 teams of two (15 female) will tackle 7:00am starts, three to six hour days with hundreds of kick-turns through evergreen forests and up steep couloirs. Due to high demand a category for "espoirs" or up and coming racers born in 87-89 will also be included.
This year the course will boast a special route at the base of the celebrated peak the Pierra Menta as well as the return of the famed day three stage, the Grand Mont. Thousands of spectators wake early on Saturday morning to ride the lift and skin up the back side of the Grand Mont (elevation 2620 meters) to watch the racers climb the technical ridge and ski down the other side. Racers will summit the peak twice during the third stage. The spectators line the route and some return each day creating a cross between a Tour du France and American tailgate atmosphere. Veteran fans come equipped with vin chaud (hot wine) and stoves for making fondue and raclette. The roar of the crowd is an encouraging sound to racers after tackling the difficult climb.
Last year the event was part of the World Cup circuit and only teams of the same nation were accepted, however this year they are returning to the former format and mixed teams are encouraged allowing for new strategic partnerships. The intermingling of nations allows for some exciting pairings notably the favored duo of Spanish racer Kilian Jornet and Swiss national Florent Trolliet, and French star Laticia Roux and Spanish talent Miriea Mira Valera.
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