A “classic” summer ski race

Long before the affordable jet travel age, skiers from the Alps used to train on glaciers and when possible on a snowfield, well into summer months, instead of traveling to the southern hemisphere.

In my hometown, the Hauts-Forts, the highest mountain around overlooking Avoriaz could hold a skiable snowfield long enough to set up a ski competition. A memorial race, called “Coupe Emile Marullaz”, was held there for the first time sixty years ago and is said to have been scheduled some 36 times.

Enough snow was key, of course, to organize a short slalom course in summer. Last year's event was on the calendar but canceled when snow didn't hold long enough. To my chagrin, I've never attended the race, but remember its early days, often time around Bastille Day (July 14) when the French Ski Team came over to participate and the competition gave a boost to our family restaurant in nearby Lindarets.

These glory days are over and today it has turned more like into a fun race where post-event partying has become the main focus. Yet, just yesterday, the 18-year-old Ambroise Paget from Combloux and Laurence Lazier from Morzine, who is no other than the former GS champion Cyprien Richard's significant other, won the men and women's contests.