There’s plenty of room at the top.

The white peaks of the Lebanese Faraya-Faqra region are going to be more alive than ever this winter, with a ski-touring event of international proportions: La Patrouille des Cèdres.

Unprecedented in the region, this annual snow race is only the second of its kind in the world. Ski professionals and enthusiasts might associate the name with the Swiss La Patrouille des Glaciers, the world-famous ski race organized by the Swiss Army since 1943.

Indeed, La Patrouille des Cèdres is a younger version of the said Swiss event, famed as the hardest and most extreme alpine race in the world. La Patrouille des Glaciers is a daring ski contest involving a 53-km track across the Swiss Alps with an altitude variation of more than 8000 meters. Every year, more than 3,500 participants from all countries flock to this adventure race which includes two tracks and two separate categories – civil and military. A new record for the long Zermatt-Verbier track (53km) has been established by a French team in last year’s April 2007 race, with 6 hours, 18 minutes and 48 seconds.

From the Swiss Alps to the Lebanese mountains, a race just as adventurous. La Patrouille des Cèdres will summon participants from all corners of the world to skid over some 15 km of crisp Lebanese snow. Teams of two racers each will dart off the start line at some 1650 m altitude, backcountry skiing over some 1500m of positive ascent. Skiing experience and knowledge of mountain tricks and difficulties are demanded of every participant, who will have to dash down severe slopes at times, or even take off his skis at others to cross the mountains’ technical passages. 

La Patrouille des Cèdres which will include 2 civil categories (men and women) and one military, has been organized by Bank Audi with the support of the Swiss government, and will be conducted with the Bank’s Corporate Ambassador Maxime Chaya, the Lebanese athlete who reached the summit of Mount Everest.