Born in Marseille, Kern grew up as the ultra-active son of two outdoor-loving architects, getting dragged out to the crags even as a newborn, and later playing every sport imaginable, including competitive decathlon. Trained as a manufacturing engineer, Kern took a career break in 2016, to rebalance a life that had tilted too far in favour of the desk. He moved to New Zealand, where he signed up, off the couch, for an ultra, and was so hooked that within 4 years, he was living in Vallouise, lacing up for the prestigious 6000D race and winning it. Most people don’t think of ultrarunning as a team sport, but Kern is equally sustained through a 20 hour race by his support crew’s motivation and vibe than by any of the snacks they hand him. You can succeed alone, he says, it’s just nowhere near as fun.

Achievements

• 1st Swiss Canyon Trail 120km, 2019
• 1st 6000D (2019)
• 5th la Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion) 170km
• 12th UTMB 166km, 2019