An unprecedented record… Iris Pessey reaches her goal!

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 the church square in Le Grand-Bornand to the summit of Pointe Percée.
A project close to her heart that holds special meaning for her here at Pointe Percée, a mountain dear to her that has seen her grow up.

This intense challenge inspired a film, “La Pointe Pessey”, directed by Alex Chambet, in the form of a portrait-style documentary. Following a successful festival tour, the film was released on YouTube for a wider audience on 14 July 2025, one year after the record was set and on the day of the Fête de la Montagne. We’ve come full circle! The film explores Iris’s convictions, the role played by the village of Le Grand-Bornand in her personal development, her passion for ‘extreme’ mountaineering, and offers an intimate portrait of the Aravis…

©Alex Chambet | ©Glace Noire Films

©
Iris Pessey Kft Yanis Lasbats
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© Y. Lasbats

A few words from Iris the day after her performance

“I really managed my effort perfectly and pushed myself to the absolute limit – more so than in most races. There was nothing to be gained at the finish line, but it gave me a greater sense of emotion than my World Cup victories.”

BIO Express

Iris is a professional trail runner competing on the global skyrunning circuit; her achievements include a third-place finish at the 2023 Skyrunning World Championships, following a second-place finish at the Vertical Kilometer World Championships in 2021.

A route divided into several sections:

8.5 km of road with 350 m of elevation gain between Le Grand-Bornand and the Bouchet Valley;
a vertical kilometre from the bottom of the Bouchet Valley to the Gramusset refuge;
500 m of elevation gain to reach the summit, featuring technical sections and climbing.

A total ascent of 29 km and 1,900 m of elevation gain, for which Iris achieved her goal (to complete the round trip in 4 hours or less) as she completed this challenge in a record time of 3 hours, 36 minutes and 4 seconds whilst following the marked routes. A first on this route and a remarkable achievement for the world of trail running. Full of determination, Iris took just 2 hours and 12 minutes to reach the summit of Pointe Percée.

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

A few words from Iris the day after her performance

BIO Express

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