Élise Poncet Sets New Women’s Ski FKT on Mont Blanc

On Friday, May 16th, 2025, French trail runner and ski mountaineer Élise Poncet etched her name into the alpine record books with a blazing-fast ascent and descent of Mont Blanc. Starting at 5 a.m. from the iconic church steps in Chamonix, the 29-year-old ripped up and down the mountain in just 6 hours, 54 minutes, and 47 seconds—setting a new women’s ski fastest known time (FKT) on the route.

The 35-kilometer round trip, with over 3,800 meters of vertical gain, is one of the most grueling and iconic endurance tests in the Alps. Poncet didn’t just shave time—she dismantled the previous ski FKT by over 30 minutes and even eclipsed the overall women’s FKT on Mont Blanc, which was set by trail runner Hillary Gerardi.

In a conversation with POWDER, former record holder Anna DeMonte was honest: “It’s never fun when your record gets broken.” Still, she supported Poncet’s effort, even offering beta as the young athlete prepared for the attempt. “Really, I’m happy because it means other elite women are going for this, and to me that shows progression in the sport.”

Poncet’s time now stands as the fastest all-category female time ever recorded on Mont Blanc—on skis or on foot.

In a sport where marginal gains are typically measured in seconds, Poncet’s effort was something of a blowout. Her performance cements her as one of the premier endurance athletes in the high alpine and highlights Mont Blanc’s continuing role as both proving ground and crucible for the world’s mountain endurance athletes.