Behind the scenes at La Pierra Menta 2023,
the world’s top ski mountaineering competition
It’s one of those events where even simply mentioning the name suddenly evokes a whole world of faces and emotions. The 37th edition of La Pierra Menta was another great example of this. The international ski mountaineering competition is quite simply the most prized event on the calendar for many ski mountaineers, both pros and amateurs.
From 8 to 11 March, Julbo was in attendance at Arêches-Beaufort in Savoie, France to follow the performances of our athletes, but also to help you discover the totally unique nature of this race through our social media channels. Our report on the top event of the skimo calendar.
La Pierra Menta Part I: the skiers and the competition
They call it “La Pierre” or “La Pierra Ment’” and their winter season is geared solely towards this one goal. Over the years, they’ve created a kind of love affair with this characterful and challenging race. Many skiers end up doing skimo because of, or for this race. Because yes, it’s true, La Pierra Menta is a one-of-a-kind event. A sporting experience that you want to have when “you love competition and the mountains”, as Jean-Marc Joguet, winner of the first edition of La Pierra Menta in 1986, would say. For four days, two-person teams come to pit their skills against each other in daily stages with an elevation gain of around 2500m. But as well as getting 10,000 meters of total elevation under their belts, entrants put in hours of training first and foremost to experience the unique atmosphere and the emotions generated by this event.
Out of the 200 two-person teams on the starting line this year, some 15 athletes were wearing Julbo colors (and products). Eight of them even came with the firm intention of aiming for a place on the podium or outright victory, such as the pairing of Axelle Gachet and Emily Harrop, the big favorites on the women’s side, but also Xavier Gachet “the local hero”, and the team of Samuel Equy and Mathéo Jacquemoud, as well as Davide Magnini and Nadir Maguet.
While La Pierra Menta is a stunning event because of the routes it usually follows, the 2023 edition showed that all of this is still down to one determining factor: the weather. And this year, the skies decided to be particularly unpredictable... After almost two months of good weather, the Beaufortain mountains were subjected to biblical rainfall for three of the four days of the event. An unprecedented situation that forced the organizers to make decisions never seen before in the 36 previous editions
Despite all this, the race took place and battle raged on all levels. On the first day, in particularly tricky conditions (rain, snow, strong wind and reduced visibility), the billed favorites quickly took the lead. From the start, Xavier Gachet and his teammate from Arêches had issues with their equipment, allowing the Italian Nadir Maguet and his sidekick Matteo Eydallin, as well as the Davide Magnini–Michele Boscacci pairing to overtake them. Samuel and Mathéo had a very good stage, gradually climbing to finish in third place. On the women’s side, Axelle and Emily left no one in doubt as to their leadership status. They finished the stage nearly 15 minutes ahead of the next team. They seemed to have a totally different goal in mind – getting the best possible overall classification for men and women combined!
The second day of La Pierra Menta saw the skies momentarily clear to give the skiers an almost normal stage: in other words, technical and roped sections, amazing descents and generous changes in elevation. In these conditions, the Arêches locals led by Xavier Gachet took to the starting line ready for battle and were in the leading group on the stage. They finished a few seconds ahead of the Italians led by Davide Magnini, who took first place in the provisional general classification at the same time. Mathéo Jacquemoud and Samuel Equy were in fine form and unexpectedly took third spot, consolidating their position in the general standings and demonstrating their ambition for the final victory. On the women’s side, the French pairing of Axelle Gachet and Emily Harrop continued their trajectory with a bold stage win, taking them close to the top 20 in the overall combined standings, hot on the heels of another Julbo athlete, Ludovic Pommeret!
It was on the third day that La Pierra Menta took a radically different turn. Torrential rain on the start line, and snow and gusts of over 50mph on the high parts of the course. The weather situation became critical and the safety of competitors, volunteers and spectators could no longer be guaranteed. With all the runners on the start line, the organizers decided to cancel the stage. A bombshell for the race which, in all its 36 editions, had never seen anything like it.
Although faced with an even more complex weather situation the next day, the organizers decided to continue with the fourth and final stage, but over a much shorter format using time trial starts. Another unprecedented way of doing things but which would be necessary if the race was to go ahead.
Under this new setup, the race times were very short, making it tricky to dig out significant gaps over others. In a final last stand, the French teams Jacquemoud–Equy and Gachet–Bon Mardion gave it their all. The latter won the stage but only regained a few seconds from the Davide Magnini–Michele Boscacci pairing, who finished hot on their heels.
At the end of the three stages, the final classification went to Julbo athlete Davide Magnini with his compatriot Michele Boscacci, ahead of local Xavier Gachet and his teammate. Placed third were the pairing of Mathéo Jacquemoud and Samuel Equy. Julbo athletes therefore made each step of the podium, alongside another 100% Julbo performance with the resounding victory of Axelle Gachet and Emily Harrop on the women’s side.
La Pierra Menta Part II: authenticity and passion
As well as the skiers who of course write the pages of this race’s history, La Pierra Menta has also cemented its reputation as something really special thanks to its clever mix of tradition, rustic character and the ardent defence of skimo values by its organizing committee and the volunteers who contribute to the whole myth of the race.
In Arêches, a pretty and typical Savoie village, and the epicenter of Beaufort cheese production, the land is key for all local inhabitants. In this mountain enclave, helping each other out and being “real” are clear and obvious attributes. There are many families of cheese makers here, a difficult job where you have to be super-tough. Created by these same local families, La Pierra Menta has this DNA in its blood. Here, they don’t do skimo on the slopes, they want mountains with a capital M. Unique, technical and stunning routes. Jean-Marc Joguet and Florent Perrier, who both make Beaufort cheese and won the event in 1986 and 2007 respectively, are strapping lads in the image of “la Pierre”: in other words, authentic!
Throughout the four days of racing, it’s this subtle mix that can be found, lived and felt, whether you’re a competitor, volunteer or spectator. And this is what makes more than 4,000 people set off at 5am to ski tour up to the top of Le Grand Mont, the highest point of the race at 2687m, where they come to encourage the competitors. All amidst the chaotic soundscape of cow bells, cheering, horns and raging chainsaws! When the competitors get to this point (when conditions allow), after climbing a brutal and highly technical ridge for well over half an hour, they come over the top into the midst of the crowd, smelling the fondue, Savoie sausages and mulled wine as they pass by.
This image is typical of La Pierra Menta, an event like no other, where the world’s best athletes and unknown amateurs come to live their dream, in a world combining a love of the land and the common sense of farming communities.
So of course we knew we had to come one day and cover this event for Julbo!
The 37th edition of the world’s top skimo event will always be seen as an extraordinary one, even if it turned out to be slightly less spectacular for the competitors who were so keen to do battle each day. But more than ever, the race has won the recognition and respect of everyone in terms of the massive amount of effort and energy put in by volunteers and the organizers to allow the race to take place, come what may.
There’s definitely something special that happens in Arêches-Beaufort at the end of each winter, and Julbo will no doubt return to Beaufort to see a new page written in the history of skimo, both by our athletes and all ski touring enthusiasts.
