The event

Raid Centrale Paris is an association of more than 80 engineering students from Ecole Centrale Paris formed around a strong project: to organize a great adventure race for students and companies every year.

A high-level multisport adventure race

This event is a competition that assembles no less than 220 competitors ready to face this sportive challenge each year. The program has more than 8000 m of ascent and around 250 km of race waiting for the contenders.  These five days consists mainly of trail running and mountain biking. Supported by locals, the itinerary of the Raid is designed to let competitors enjoy the natural beauties of Durance Valley. In addition, some “fun-activities” spark up the course of the race: canoeing, climbing, rafting and even caving, each one adding its own dose of sensations. Competitors will have to show courage, motivation and mainly team spirit to push through their limits in the midst of sumptuous landscapes of this nature lovers’ paradise.

Raid Centrale Paris teams must have four members of both sexes. Faced with the requirements of such a race and since excellent physical condition is needed, competitors are asked to validate a course of at least 20 km to register and participate in the Raid. The Prologue is a very good reference course and excellent training to the Raid!

épreuve de trail

Trail running

épreuve de trail

Zip-line activity

A student-company race

A third of the competitors comes from partner companies, whereas the remaining two-thirds are students from French “Grandes Ecoles” and universities from France and abroad, which makes Raid Centrale Paris a unique and original event.

This week of racing and challenges is an occasion for the meeting of students and companies in an exceptional and new environment, different from traditional fairs. Sharing the same adventure and the same objectives, students and companies may exchange their impressions during the race or in the camp.

The organizing team makes an extra effort to create great opportunities for exchange between the competitors, like meeting points along the race, meals and presentations.

 

The meeting day

The day meeting is as such a special time of sharing where the senior managers from partner companies are invited to support their team and discuss with students. Everything is done to facilitate the exchange in a friendly environment especially chosen for the occasion, with cultural tours in the region for some and active participation in certain activities of the course to others.

The day ends with a dinner that gives each student the opportunity to talk with a company of interest: giving his vows before the Raid, we will put them together! It is also a moment for companies to meet passionate students.

Total, a long-standing partner

Total long-standing support testifies to the success of this original form of meeting between students and companies. Raid Centrale Paris’s partner since its first edition in 1999, Total remains an important financial contributor. If Total is engaged in this adventure each year, that’s because the company share the same values of the Raid such as team spirit, taste for adventure and effort…