|
The explosive sport of skyrunning, where runners pit themselves against mountain trails at altitudes of over 2000m, is a true test of mettle. Run by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), skyrunning began as a competitive sport in Italy in 1994 and in only a few years has attracted legions of die-hard runners across the world seeking an extra challenge. One of the ISF’s most prestigious and popular events is the annual Skyrunner World Series, and a leg of the Series is happening this July at the Face de Bellevarde in the stunning surroundings of the Val d’Isère. So what are you waiting for? Get out of your summer holiday chalet and throw yourself into skyrunning: the Vertical Kilometer awaits you! Length To successfully complete the course and have the right to call yourself a proper skyrunner you’ll have to wend your way up 970m of punishing terrain along a total distance of 3km up to the finish line at 2,798m. Scintillating, severe and only for the dead-serious, the Face de Bellevarde takes no prisoners. Face up or go home – this is no place for the timid. Course The race takes competitors up the gruelling slope of the Face de Bellevarde, site of the Men’s downhill ski race at the 1992 Winter Olympics. You and your fellow skyrunners will leave one after another at 30-second intervals, and from then on it’s just you and the mountain – only then will you know if you’ve truly got it in you to skyrun with the best, or whether you should have just stayed in your summer holiday chalet with the rest. Think you can tear up the history books? The men’s record for this course is a phenomenal 33 minutes and 34 seconds, set by the French ski mountaineer Xavier Gachet last year, while the women’s record is held by the French runner Christel Dewalle, a legend of the sport, who set an equally impressive time of 38 minutes and 11 seconds the same year. On your marks, get set, go! Dates The race is on Friday 7th July at 17:00, and is sure to be a memorable opening to Val d’Isère’s programme of summer events. Who can enter The Vertical Kilometer is open to all, with professional runners and keen amateurs alike competing to conquer the Face de Bellevarde and make their mark in this most unique of sports. Compete with your mates and find out who’s got the tenacity, the strength and the will to face down the Face…and win. How to enter Guarantee your chance to be a part of this most epic of adventures by registering now at the Val d’Isère Club des Sports. It won’t wait! Accommodation Make the most of this fantastic opportunity by renting a summer holiday chalet in the Val d’Isère. Enjoy the mesmerising spectacle of the French Alps in summer with your best friends as you chill out and celebrate the glory of completing the Vertical Kilometer. Belinda Smythson works for Ski Amis, a specialist ski travel agency and booking service that has been helping avid skiers craft their perfect winter or summer holiday for over a quarter of a century. If you're looking for the best summer holiday chalet, Ski Amis is the go-to company for those searching for the holiday of a lifetime in the French Alps.
Related Articles -
summer, holiday, chalet,
| 
