2017 Snow Trail Running Events in 2 Alpes

This year, a second event has been added to make a full weekend of snow running events. The brand new Mad Snow Trail will be a 5 kilometre obstacle race along the snow front for individuals, teams and families.

The Night Snow Trail – Saturday 21st January 2017

This night time trail running event comes in three distances, all sharing a common start. Uniquely amongst trail races I have entered, the run starts at altitude and finishes in the resort, so there is more downhill than uphill. The 10km race has 220m of climbing for 760m of descent, the 15km race is 450m up for 990m down and the 20km is 700m up for 1200m down.

To reach the start, the competitors ascend to the Les Crêtes area on the White Eggs lift, which runs into the evening for the occasion. Labelled black bags are issued to allow you to send your warm jackets and spare clothes back down the eggs to the finish.

At 5.30pm, just as the dusk starts to fall, the race begins with a slog up the Petites Crêtes green run. This might be easy enough to ski down, but running up it is a different matter altogether. Most people will be walking on this section. At the top of this, and only two kilometres in, you will be grateful for the downhill bias of the event as you look forward to a long, gentle cruise to the village down the Bellecombes 1, Jandri 2 and Demoiselles pistes. This is where running on the snow can take its toll and you might find that the soft stuff makes for a more difficult descent than you expect. If the snow is firm, this section will be easier but the diagonal crossing of the lower slopes will be more difficult.

As you reach the village, the 10km runners carry straight on to finish in the main square, while the rest take a right down to the passerelle (bridge). The next five or ten kilometres will feel much longer than the first few as you leave the pistes for woodland tracks and more climbing, either heading towards Bons and La Moliere (20km) or towards La Kanata and the Balcon de Vallée Blanche (15km).

At the finish the refreshments are welcome and plentiful, so you can recharge those depleted energy levels before warming up by the open fireplaces placed around the square. Later in the evening, a hot meal and drinks are served in the Sports Centre before the prize giving. This is a comprehensive affair with male and female podiums in up to seven age categories for all three distances.

The race costs 25€ to enter and can be booked online via the website link on our events calendar or at the Tourist Office. The price includes the meal afterwards and a free souvenir gift (usually something useful for running). Compulsory equipment comprises a head torch, hat, gloves, long trousers/leggings and a thermal top.

Registration is from 2pm-4pm in the Sports Hall before the race. You will need to bring ID (to leave as a deposit for the timing chip) and either a medical certificate to show you are fit to race or a licence from a French running club.

The Mad Snow Trail – Sunday 22nd January 2017

This is a brand new race introduced as a less serious alternative to complement the Night Snow Trail. With it being the first edition, we do not know exactly what the event will entail yet, but we are looking forward to finding out on the day. What we do know is that it is a fun, family friendly event taking place along the snow front – the flat area at the foot of the pistes that runs the length of the resort.

The location should be perfect for spectators so expect a good crowd to cheer you on. The race is described by the organisers as “a challenge with a crazy course, funny and ultra-convivial over a distance of 5km”. Runners can participate individually, in teams or as families, at a run or at a trot, and fancy dress is encouraged. The obstacles are set to include climbs, descents, bumps zones and sliding zones. The start is at 10am and registration is at the sports hall from 7.30am-9am or the previous afternoon.

Like the Night Snow Trail, the race costs 25€ to enter and can be booked online via the website link on our events calendar or at the Tourist Office. If you enter both events together you pay the discounted price of 40€.

Read more from Ian on his website.