Official partner race of the Grand Raid de la Réunion/ La Diagonale des Fous INFORMATION2019 KIT SwissCanyonTrail www.swisscanyontrail.com 8-9 june 2019 COME AND CONQUER THE CANYONS CONTENTS 2 KEY NUMBERS 3 WELCOME 4 PARTNERSHIP GRAND RAID 6 VAL-DE-TRAVERS 8 SAINTE-CROIX 10 ACCOMMODATION 12 MANDATORY EQUIPMENT 14 COURSE HIGHLIGHTS 15 2019 AGENDA 16 MAP AND COURSES L’ÉNERGIE DE VOTRE RÉGION 18 CHOOSE YOUR RACE Vos partenaires de con ance pour 20 THE COURSES les questions énergétiques 26 TRANSIT TIME 26 2020 JUBILEE 26 2019 ATHLETES ÉNERGIE CHALEUR CONFORT EFFICACITÉ EAU MOBILITÉ 28 RESULTS 29 MORE INFORMATIONS www.groupe-e.ch 2 3 A PROUD TRADITION, A VIBRANT FUTURE THE SWISS CANYON TRAIL. WELCOME TO THE 2019 IN NUMBERS. SWISS CANYON TRAIL, OUR TH 24 EDITION Welcome to all of our runners from Switzerland and from overseas. In September 1994 the Trail de l’Absinthe came to life. At the time, we were considered crazy for setting out with the ambition of creating a TH race of this magnitude. Twenty-four years later under its new guise Swiss Canyon Trail, the event is still going strong despite all of the EDITION numerous evolutions in the sport. 24OF EVENT AS A WHOLE (FORMERLY The Swiss Canyon Trail organisers have always put the desires and well- TRAIL DE L’ABSINTHE) being of its participants first, from listening to feedback to providing all of the essential facilities for your well-being. We are proud of our reputation for first-class organisation, excellent race management and ND KEY NUMBERS course facilities. races. All ending in ‘5’: 105K. 75K. 45K. 25K. 5 EDITION Relay (3 x 15K) Taking into account athlete feedback, and to respond to the ever- UNDER2 changing nature of the trail world, we introduced some momentous + over the course THE GUISE 5'550 M 105K changes in 2018. Our weekend is now truly a weekend with races THE SWISS starting on Saturday, finishing on Sunday. Last year we launched our + over the course CANYON 3'870 M 75K ultra distance race with our inaugural K105. All 150 limited places for TRAIL total official distance of the this race sold out quickly. This is one of five main races, joined by the 320 KM (REBAPTISED five races K75, K45, K25 and the relay, comprising three individual 15km legs. IN 2018) These changes celebrate the event’s tradition, benefit from our vast official refreshment stops on the experience, and point us in an exciting new direction. For both the 2019 11 parcours 105K editions of the 105K and 75K registration is limited to 250 athletes. So official refreshment stops be fast in signing up! on8 the parcours 75K In 2018, we also commenced our partnership with La Diagonale des cantons crossed, Neuchâtel et Vaud Fous. More information can be found in this guide. La Diagonale is a 2 magnificent, legendary race with much in common with our own. The absinthe producers in the partnership has also introduced many benefits for athletes taking part Val-de-Travers+ 25 in both races. runners have completed Trail de l’Absinthe+ 24'600 races over the last 23 years We wish all of the runners a wonderful event and hope you take the maximum pleasure competing in this majestic, natural and distinct nationalities and Swiss Cantons 25 26 environment. Be ready to meet the green fairy at any twist or turn. She represented each year may even be able to help during the most difficult moments ! pasta dishes served during the Pasta Patrick Christinat Party1'500 Founder, Swiss Canyon Trail tonnes of refreshments provided www.swisscanyontrail.com + 8 4 5 LA DIAGONALE DES FOUS & SWISS CANYON TRAIL : A PARTNERSHIP WITH ATHLETES AT ITS CORE In April 2018, La Diagonale des Fous, celebrated matriach ultra trail of the Grand Raid, and the Swiss Canyon Trail commenced a new partnership, celebrating the clear similarities between the two races and offering exciting opportunities for trail runners interested in taking part in both races. TWO RACES, MUCH IN COMMON BENEFITS FOR ATHLETES For those who have not experienced the two In celebrating this new partnership, the two race races, the similarities, at first glance, may not organisers have put in place special discounts appear obvious. One event is located on a for athletes competing in both races and have volcanic island on a small French territory in the agreed to share their combined expertise Indian Ocean - imagine beaches, lush greenery in organising exceptional races. The current and an imperious volcano. The other is situated in benefits include: the rugged, wild absinthe valley of Switzerland. A • 105K Swiss Canyon Ultra Trail athletes land of adventure and legend. Dig a little deeper wishing to participate in the Diagonole des though and La Diagonale des Fous and the Swiss Fous 2019 and 2020 are informed that they Canyon Trail are two ultra race events with a will have the advantage of not having to go number of points in common. through a random ballot. In this way, they will The two races are defined by their natural automatically have the opportunity to register. environment. The Réunion island and the green • In turn, runners participating in the 2019 Diago- valleys of the west of Switzerland are noted nole des Fous will receive a 20% discount on ideal trail running terrains. The race courses their 105K Swiss Canyon Ultra Trail registration offered by the two events are not defined by one as long as they finish their race. single feature but by the element of adventure • To celebrate the start of the partnership, and experience. For La Diagonale des Fous it is the winners of the 2018 Swiss Canyon Trail heavily forested volcanic slopes, dense, steep 105K were invited to the La Réunion to “ My first Trail …..a fantastic gorges and technical trails. In Switzerland the participate in the Grand Raid of 2018. The experience, incredible landscapes, nature is equally enchanting with waterfalls and best Réunionnais athletes, first man and first superb organistion and a kindred canyons a constant feature of complex courses. woman, will be invited to Switzerland for the spirit of community…..thank you for Neither race is defined by a single peak or an 2019 Swiss Canyon Trail. this marvellous experience” ascent but by the constant mental and physical challenge, the ever-changing switch in elevation, Further details on the partnership, including a Swiss Canyon Trail finisher, 2018 steep paths, rivers and by a sometimes intangible combined competition, will be communicated in element of mystique, think of the absinthe due course. distillers and green fairy legend in Switzerland, the bright night stars, enchanting courses and partisan, lively local support in the Réunion. 6 7 A BRIEF INTRODUCTION THE VAL-DE-TRAVERS IDEAL POUR UN SEJOUR EN PLEINE NATURE The Val-de-Travers (population 10,900) is located IDEAL POUR UN SEJOUR EN PLEINE NATURE in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The region is nestled in the valley of the Swiss Jura ForfaitForfait « Clé en main »» mountains and lies 30 minutes from Neuchatel ; HHéébergementbergement en pension complète 1 hour, 15 minutes from Geneva ; two hours enen chambreschambres de 2 à 6 lits from Zurich. Its most populous town is the accès illimités aux installations sportives watchmaking centre Fleurier. The Val-de-Travers accès illimités aux installations sportives is world-renowned as the cradle of absinthe. •• piscine piscine couverte - jacuzzi •• mur mur d’escaladed’escalade – fitness – wellness •• salles salles omnisports, de danse et de combatcombat •• stade stade d’athlétisme et terrains extérieurs LE VAL-DE-TRAVERS PrixPrix parpar personne Enfants Adultes The Val-de-Travers was created on January 1, 2009, 6 à 15 ans following the merger of nine former municipalities: •• 3 3 joursjours (2 nuits) : CHF 118.- CHF 159.-159.- Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, •• 4 4 joursjours (3 nuits) : CHF 174.- CHF 234.-234.- Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpice and Travers. The merger was approved by popular vote on February 24, 2008. The •• 5 5 joursjours (4 nuits) : CHF 228.- CHF 306.-306.- town hall is in the village of Fleurier. In addition, the former municipality of Môtiers gave the name to the village square (place of February 24) in memory of this historic day. DécouverteDécouverte ... •• LLee CreuxCreux du Van •• LesLes gorgesgorges de l’Areuse GÉOGRAPHIE LesLes minesmines d’asphaltes According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Val-de- •• Travers is 124.91 km2. 6.0% of this area corresponds to •• LaLa maison maison de l’absinthe areas of housing or infrastructure, 42.4% to agricultural •• LesLes muséesmusées régionaux areas, 50.7% to wooded areas and 0.8% to unproductive … areas. Val-de-Travers borders the Neuchâtel municipalities •• … of Verrieres, La Cote-aux-Fees, La Brévine, Ponts-de- Martel, Brot-Plamboz, Brot-Dessous, Boudry and Gorgier. PleinPlein air ! It is also bordered by the Vaud municipalities of Provence, •• PiscinePiscine ouverte des Combes Romairon, Mauborget, Fontaines-sur-Grandson and Via ferrata du Tichodrome Sainte-Croix as well as the French communes of the •• Via ferrata du Tichodrome Allies (25) and Hauterive-la-Fresse (25). Val-de-Travers is •• LugeLuge Féeling d’été et d’hiver located in the Swiss part of the Jura mountains; there are Parcours VTT, vélos électriques typical formations of the Jura mountains, such as Crêt du •• Parcours VTT, vélos électriques Cervelet. •• ParcoursParcours de Nordic Walking CentreCentre sportifsportif régional du Val-de-Travers TélTél : :+41 +41 32 32 889 889 69 69 19 19 CCllosos Pury Pury 15 – 2108 Couvet EmailEmail : :[email protected] [email protected] www.val-de-travers.ch WWW.CENTRESPORTIF-VDT.CHWWW.CENTRESPORTIF-VDT.CH 8 9 THE TOWN OF SAINTE-CROIX Resting on a sunny terrace in the heart of the vast expanse of Jura Vaud, the Commune of St.