Big Mountain Battle – Ride, Rock and Race!
Posted by JoClinch 24th January 2012
The excitement this month in Les Gets is centring round the “Big Mountain Battle” which is akin to an extreme orienteering race on the snow! Part of the “Helly Hanson Big Mountain Battle”, which before now has only taken place in a select few North American resorts, Les Gets is the only European resort to staging the race!
Running every Saturday for 4 weeks (starting last Saturday) teams of two are given a map of check points, piste map and Flaik GPS tracker and sent off round the ski area, in a race to find and pass all the checkpoints in under 3 hours. First prize is 800 €, with a selection of goodies for the closest runners up. The first race was last weekend – which I forfeited in favour of a powder day, however the plan is to participate this weekend with my boyfriend who is coming out to visit.
Each race is sponsored by one of the bars in Les Gets, and a concert is held for all participants at the end of the race – hence the slogan “Ride, Rock and Race”!
Given the “not to be sniffed at” prize money, I’m guessing that the local racers will be taking part, so chances of winning are nigh on impossible, however it’s the taking part that counts! Sounds very exciting, although I am hoping there’s more downhill skiing, and less uphill trekking!
Watch this space for details!
About the author
Jo has been skiing and snowboarding since she was 10, and first visited Les Gets on a family ski holiday aged 15. Returning every winter since – either for a holiday or to work – Jo now works for an independent ski company. Despite having visited many other resorts in the French Alps, Les Gets is still top of her list - for the fresh powder you get on Mont Chéry, especially if you are lucky enough to have empty slopes and also for one of the nicest resort mountain restaurants – la Grande Ourse with stunning views over the Mont Blanc range!
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