From Asphalt to Summit: Trail running as a social ladder and tool for youth empowerment
Faced with social inequality in access to the mountains and outdoor activities, the Club Outdoor Alpin has launched "Du Bitume au Sommet – Académie Trail & Inclusion" (From Asphalt to Summit – Trail Running & Inclusion Academy). This unique initiative uses trail running as a powerful lever for personal development and community engagement for young people aged 13 to 18 from backgrounds that are far removed from the sport. This hybrid model, recognized for its concrete social impact and replicability, is a candidate in the Social Initiative of the Year category at the Trail Running Awards.
Making the mountains accessible to everyone
The program was born in Annecy, the outdoor capital, from a simple observation: the mountains remain socially inaccessible to many teenagers from disadvantaged neighborhoods or social structures. The initiative aims to create a bridge between the city and the alpine trails, allowing these young people to reconnect with nature and reveal themselves through collective effort.
The approach is based on three fundamental pillars:
Social & Inclusive: Organization of social runs, inclusive hikes (including with migrant groups), and environmental education workshops.
Sporting & Educational: Creation of a Trail Academy supervised by qualified coaches and mentored by experienced athletes (including Antoine Charvolin, winner of the TDS).
Sustainable & Inspiring: The project has been awarded the Impact 2024 label and is supported by Adidas TERREX, as part of a long-term approach.
The Trail Academy: A model of inclusive excellence
The originality of the program lies in its ability to combine a very open social dimension (introductory workshops) with a structured program of sporting excellence (the Academy).
Each young athlete at the Academy benefits from supportive coaching and a personalized training program, with specific goals such as the Young Race at the Mont Blanc Marathon or the YCC at the UTMB. The multidisciplinary approach (sports coaching, mental support, and nutrition) enables rapid progress, as evidenced by the numerous podium finishes and top 10 rankings achieved by young athletes in benchmark events in 2025.
This measurable sporting success proves the legitimacy and relevance of the program as a social ladder, reinforcing young people's pride in "representing their neighborhood in an international race."
Cultural impact and sustainability of the model
The initiative has generated benefits that extend far beyond the realm of sports, contributing to cultural and regional impact:
Media coverage: The project was the subject of the documentary film "Les Sommets Libres"(Free Summits), screened at several outdoor festivals. This production offers national visibility and helps to forge a new narrative for the sport: inclusive, supportive, and rooted in reality.
Local roots: The program strengthens the connection between young people, the local area, and nature through local environmental awareness initiatives. Partnerships with local social and educational organizations (PASSAGE, MJC) ensure the program's sustainability and help expand its audience.
Satisfaction and Re-engagement: The satisfaction rate among young people receiving support is very high (over 95%), and the re-engagement rate for new training cycles is significant.
By training not only runners but also "mountain citizens," Du Bitume au Sommet has established itself as a replicable model of inclusion through mountain sports, combining diversity, knowledge transfer, and performance.
