The GlaGla Race

This wild idea is the brainchild of Benoit Mouren. After opening a stand up paddle center in Sevrier in 2012, he launched the Alpine Lakes Tour in 2013. Events in this multi-stage competitive circuit are held on three of the Alps’ biggest lakes (Lake Geneva, Lake Annecy, Lake Bourget), several mountain lakes (Confins Lake, Roseland Reservoir, and Tignes Lake), as well as Saint-Leonard Lake in Switzerland, Europe’s largest underground lake. Benoit wanted to create an event that includes an athletic component, a visual experience, and a human adventure where people inspired by the same passion come together. This fast-growing sport takes paddlers to some of the most extraordinary natural environments. A close relationship with the great outdoors is built into stand up paddling by nature.

In addition to the new beginner’s course, the two standard 6.5 km and 15 km races will take place. The long course forms a loop that starts in Talloires Bay, circumnavigates the upper section of the lake, follows the shoreline to Sevrier, crosses the lake to Menthon, hugs Roc de Chère Cliff, and then leads back to the starting point. The shorter version (6.5 km) heads across the lake and back. The other races (short distance, Technical Race, and the Dragon Race) stay within shouting distance of the beach in Talloires. For onlookers watching from the shore on the other side of the lake, the Clos Marcel restaurant plans to serve coffee and croissants on the morning of Saturday, January 22, starting at 10:30.

On Friday, January 21, everyone will have the chance to try paddle yoga, to attend conferences, to grab a quick bite to eat at lunch from one of the many food trucks present, to enjoy a soothing massage, and to try out Roulotte du Masseur’s mobile sauna.