Dynafit Team breaks speed record for "Symphony"
10th September 2009
A Dynafit ski mountaineering team consisting of Spain's Javier Martin, Italian Lorenzo Holzknecht and Castle Hill local Grant Guise 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 this past Saturday.
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 Rankins Hut in the Godley Valley to Chancellor Hut on the Fox Glaicer, via Armadillo, Tasman and Graham Saddles and West Hoe Pass in an amazing single push, taking 18.5hrs.
Grant, Javi & lorenzo pout side Rankin's Hut, Godley Valley
The Dynafit Team, equipped with all 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!
Javi skiing on to the Franz Joesf, Tasman sea in the distance
Unlike many speed attempts, the team was completely unsupported, carrying all their own food and water, as well as setting all the track themselves, covering ground for the first time, at times, over heavily crevassed terrain.
Grant on Armadillo Saddle
A special thank you to Dynafit for supplying the team with gear to get the job done, and to Yoli, Vio and Fred who meet us at Chancellor with much needed warm food and dry clothes.
Javi, Grant and Lorenzo on Graham Saddle, with Mt Cook behind them
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