Dynafit Ski Team breaks sets speed record for “Symphony”

News from down-under. A Dynafit ski mountaineering team comprising Spain’s Javier Martin, Italian Lorenzo Holzknecht and Kiwi local Grant Guise have set a new speed record for the “Symphony on Skis”, a 46.7 km long, 4000m vertical, east-west crossing of New Zealand’s Southern Alps last Saturday.

Javi skiing on to the Franz Josef, Tasman sea in the distance

Described as the Kiwi version of the European Haute Route, the Symphony was pioneered by Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, along with Franz Waibl and Daniel Frey in 1985. This original trio did the trip from Rankin’s Hut in the Godley Valley to Chancellor Hut on the Fox Glacier, via Armadillo, Tasman and Graham Saddles and West Hoe Pass in an amazing single push, taking 18.5hrs.

Grant on Armadillo Saddle

The Dynafit Team, obviously equipped with the latest and greatest offerings from Dynafit’s SkiRunning range, slashed over 5.5hrs off this time, taking only 12hrs 58mins to make the journey!

Unlike many speed attempts, the team was completely unsupported, carrying all their own food and water, as well as breaking trail, covering ground for the first time, at times, over heavily crevassed terrain.

The team would like to thank Dynafit for supplying the team with gear to get the job done, and to Yoli, Vio and Fred who met them at Chancellor with much needed warm food and dry clothes.

Dynafit New Zealand
“Speed Up”
http://www.dynafit.co.nz

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