The more original a discovery is, the more obvious it seems later.”
(ARTHUR KOESTLER)
In 2024, the GlaGla Race turned 10. It is part of the Alpine Lakes Tour circuit that we created in 2013.In 10 years, 5,000 people, crazy enough to defy the mountain winter, have participated in the GlaGla Race, a race that has been legendary from the start. For the very first GlaGla Race in 2014, there were 40 participants, in 2019 there were 650 people, in 2024, 850.In 2022, the cumulative French media audience measured by AOP: 34.6 million! More than any other SUP competition. The 8 Mont Blanc live since 2019 has also broken audience records. Many international pro competitors came from all over Europe but also from New Caledonia, the United States, Australia in particular without there being any prize money! Thank you! 10 years… 10 years is also months and months of cumulative volunteering to take up this rather awesome challenge of offering a paddle race, in the middle of winter with water at 4 degrees.End-of-year family celebrations sacrificed for the benefit of an imminent organization. Prefectural files defended with determination to ensure that State services fully respect safety rules. Hours of insomnia because organizing an outdoor event means taking on very big personal responsibilities. Hundreds of meetings to try to convince partners and investors…. SUP does not attract advertisers. And 10 years is also the explosion of social networks, this incredible opportunity to be able to create communities and communicate easily. It is also the unlimited possibility to criticize those who organize and to demand an ever more personalized service. To organize an outdoor event you have to be passionate.To organize an outdoor event, in winter, on a lake with water at 4 degrees, you have to be passionate, determined and accompanied with kindness. The 10th edition was beautiful but painful. We spent our winter there. We were criticized. Partners and communities reduced their support.We took up the challenge of organizing it. We have not yet recovered after its organization. A break is necessary. It is anything but normal to organize the GlaGla Race as we do. Over time, the GlaGla Race has become a little too “normal” for our taste, while it must be understood that it is a somewhat crazy event. We are going to take a little time for once. We look forward to seeing you for the next GlaGla Race on January 17, 2026. The program of the Alpine Lakes Tour 2025 will not include a GlaGla Race, but 5 stages in France, Switzerland and Italy with something new! This program will be revealed in December. Benoit & Sarah and the very small team of very invested volunteers. |