AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIATHLON

An old hand at the usual swim/cycle/run variety of triathlon, Iain decided to try his hand at a different kind of triathlon!

The Courchevel Dynastar X3 experience is one of a series of adventure events hosted by Courchevel Sports Outdoors which include cycling, ski touring, parapenting amongst other sports. The event describes itself:

Good atmosphere and conviviality will be in the spotlight on this EXCEPTIONAL triathlon with the sequence of 13.9km (930m D+) of Cycling, 6.3 (180m D+/-) of Trail and 4.8km (950m D+) of Skiing Mountaineering.

Iain’s highlights from the event…

Starting with a 930m climb on the bike, before a hilly trail run and then finishing with another 900m climb on touring skis – all in the oxygen-deprived air of the French Alps – this is not your normal race.

It’s the taking part that counts

This race was “all about the taking part”, so I seeded myself to the back of the field and as the starter horn went off reminded myself to dial back on the testosterone and focus on smooth pedalling.

The stations of Courchevel

As the day warmed and the different ‘stations’ of Courchevel passed by, I finally reached transition by wading through deep and melted snow, carrying my bike until it was taken from me and racked by a race volunteer.