Iris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats 5Iris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats 5
©Iris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats 5|© Y. Lasbats

An unprecedented record... Goal achieved for Iris Pessey!

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On Sunday 14 July 2024, as part of the Fête de la Montagne, Iris Pessey, a native of Le Grand-Bornand, set a new record for the round trip from Le Grand-Bornand church square to the summit of Pointe Percée.
It’s a project that means a lot to her, here at Pointe Percée, the mountain that is so dear to her and where she grew up.

This intense challenge gave rise to a film, “La Pointe Pessey”, directed by Alex Chambet, in the form of a portrait documentary. After a successful festival tour, the film was posted on YouTube for public broadcast on 14 July 2025, 1 year after the record was set and the day of the Fête de la Montagne. The story has come full circle! The film looks at Iris’s convictions, the role played by the village of Le Grand-Bornand in her personal development, her taste for “extreme” mountains and an intimate portrait of the Aravis mountains…

La Pointe Pessey | Iris takes on the Pointe Percée
La Pointe Pessey | Iris takes on the Pointe Percée
©Alex Chambet | ©Glace Noire Films
Iris Pessey Kft Yanis LasbatsIris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats
©Iris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats|© Y. Lasbats

    A few words from Iris the day after her performance 

    “I really managed my effort perfectly and I pushed myself to the limit – more than in most races. There was nothing to win at that finish line, but it gave me more emotion than my World Cup victories.

    BIO Express 

    Iris is a professional trail-running athlete who competes on the world skyrunning circuit, where her achievements include 3rd place at the World Skyrunning Championships in 2023 and 2nd place at the World Vertical Kilometre Championships in 2021.

    The route is divided into several sections:

    • 8.5 km of road with 350 m of positive ascent between Le Grand-Bornand and the Vallée du Bouchet ;
    • one vertical kilometre from the bottom of the Bouchet valley to the Gramusset refuge;
    • 500 m of positive ascent to reach the summit, with some technical sections and climbing.

    A total ascent of 29 km and 1900 m of positive ascent, for which Iris reached her objective (to make the round trip in 4 hours maximum) since she accomplished this challenge in a record time of 3 hours, 36 minutes and 4 seconds, respecting the signposted routes. A first for this route and a real achievement for the world of trail running. Full of determination, Iris took just 2 hours 12 minutes to reach the summit of Pointe Percée.

    Fkt Iris Mardbst 23Fkt Iris Mardbst 23
    ©Fkt Iris Mardbst 23|© M. Dubost
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