They don’t have their 20-year-old legs anymore, but the motivation is intact. In fact, they are at least three times as old. In the Instructors’ Challenge, which runs through Saturday, April 23 in Vars, the most experienced instructors compete at the Gaston-Cathiard Memorial. With different ambitions. “It is the fun, the passion for skiing that motivates us. And then the joy of meeting friends from other resorts”, laughs Christophe Bossert, instructor of the ESF in Arc 1800 (Savoie) behind his full beard. At 65, he almost looks like the young leader of the “Cathiard”, since Marcel Chapelon, the dean of the course, of the ESF in Vars, was born in 1934!
“It allows you to stay in shape, to keep up to date in equipment, to update all that a little bit,” says Claude Emonet, who teaches in Praz-sur-Arly (Haute-Savoie).
Elisabeth Meynet (ESF Les Orres) warms up in the starting area. At the age of 62, she feels the pressure increasing for the start. “I generally liquefy so I don’t have too much fun during the race. But it allows me to challenge myself a bit and not lose my temper too much. †
THE PERIODS OF THE DAY
Male Veterans 1: 1. Gabriel Rivas (ENSA); 2. Mathieu Hustache (ESF Les Menuires); 3. Steve Missillier (ESF La Clusaz).
Male Veterans 2: 1. Antoine Dubourgeal (ESF Combloux); 2. Sebastien Pichot (ESF Courchevel 1850); 3. Alexandre Anselmet (ESF Valmeinier).
Male Veterans 3: 1. Gregory Guignier (ENSA); 2. Jérôme Schandène (ESF Alpe d’Huez); 3. Julien Boulanger (ESF Courchevel 1550).
Telemark ladies: 1. Laura Grenier Soliget (ESF Samoens); 2. Julie Roubin (ESF La Norma); 3. Huguette Braisaz (ESF Les Saisies).
Telemark men: 1. Philippe Lau (ESF Méribel-les-Allues); 2. Antoine Bouvier (ESF Les Contamines); 3. Adrien Eymard (ESF Font d’Urle).
Memorial Gaston Cathiard ladies: 1. Muriel Jay (ESF Les Menuires); 2. Danielle Besson (ESF Les Menuires); 3. Françoise Berthet (ESF Alpe d’Huez).
Monument Gaston Cathiard men: 1. Daniel Collomb-Patton (ESF La Clusaz); 2. Pierre De Kinkelin (ESF Serre Chevalier Chantemerle); 3. Claude Baringo (ESF Serre Chevalier Villeneuve).
Child monitoring: 1. Catherine Cousin (ESF Val d’Isere); 2. Elizabeth Meynet (ESF Les Orres); 3. Brigitte Noyrey (ESF Alpe d’Huez).
Ladies 4: 1. Ophélie David (ESF Alpe d’Huez); 2. Sandrine Mollard (ESF Les Contamines); 3. Karine Brunet (ESF Les Agudes).
Ladies 5: 1. Anne Pauget (ENSA); 2. Muriel Jay (ESF Les Menuires); 3. Maryse Duc (ESF Les Saisies).
“It’s legitimate to come and cheer them on”
On the edge of the track, there are not only silver foxes to push these brave competitors. Young people are also there to give a voice. “They were there when we started, so it’s legitimate to come and cheer them on,” assures Vincent, instructor of the ESF in Lioran, in Cantal.
Further along the route, a dozen young instructors from La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie) are waiting for their foals. “The foundation of the Challenge is sharing the fun times during the week, regardless of age,” confirms Albin Pessey. “It’s our great pleasure to come and cheer on our deans, as they do when it’s our turn to race. And then they have fries, almost more than us! They manage the pressure well and then drink it, just like us. †
A mutual respect and a solidarity that make the salt of the Challenge!
