The Foulée Blanche Competition Comes To Autrans In January

From Jan. 20 to 24, 2010, Autrans will feel more like Scandinavia with the arrival of the 32^nd edition of La Foulée Blanche. This popular and inter-generational assembly attracts young and old, competitors and amateurs, all rallying around the same passion for cross-country skiing.

This year, a few changes have been made to the format of the competition, influenced by the ideas of Dominique Locatelli. The organisational committee invited the former Autrans champion to add his personal touch to this year's event. His ideas? To revive the Nordic spirit of the competition and invite the public to get involved, even if they aren't competing.

La Foulée Blanche is always several events rolled into one and the festivities kick off Wedesday, Jan. 20 with the Youth Foulée. Then the little ones snap on their skis for the Children's Foulée, Thursday, Jan. 21. Friday, the pistes are treated to a make over in preparation for Saturday's and Sunday's competitions.

Saturday, two classical-style competitions (25 and 10 kilometres) will satisfy cross -country skiers who prefer classical to skating and gets back to the Scandinavian origins of the sport. This new event should attract even more participants, no matter their age and will also welcome senior citizens, who will no longer be kept apart in their own Senior Foulée.

The public will also have the chance to participate in an athletic or discovery snow shoe trek on Saturday, along with fun activities designed for the entire family.

Sunday, thousands of skiers will again run their legendary race - the Foulée Blanche. According to your feelings and your physical condition, each skier will have fun on the 42, 20, 10, or 5-kilometre pistes, redesigned this year to put spectators as close as possible to the competitors. The skiers will pass straight through the villages of Autrans and the public will be there to cheer them on to the traditional sound of their cow bells.

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