British schools ski and snowboard championships

14 - 19 December 2006

This is a new event on the competition circuit, and a great success for Wellington.    Our teams came first in the Slalom, second in the Grand Slalom, and a large number of individual medals meant lots of happy skiers returning home for Christmas.  The boarders also had an amazing time with ESF lessons and personal advice and experience from one of the best snowboarders in the UK, Chris Southwell.  

The skiing was remarkably good given the stories in the press about lack of snow, the hotel was excellent, being run by a very simpatica Italian lady, the hotel provided excellent four course meals. More importantly, I think that most of our students have made new friends in other schools, and I hope some will want to continue to race either through Wellington or when on holiday.  Basecamp were clever in selecting Les Deux Alpes as the destination, as we found a range of well-pisted runs from 3400 - 2000 m.  The only runs that were completely impassable were those down to the village.

The weather varied a lot - we skied under brilliant blue skies, and in mist; the weather was balmy and then -12c with wind.    All our pupils were amazing in being at the right place at the right time, being wrapped warm enough to counter the weather, and being so positive about their training and the competitions.   They loved Guillaume, who liaised with ESF and the technical team.  As well as giving some personal tuition on the hill he joined us in the Hotel at night.  If pupils return with an excellent Borat impression, it's Guillaume's fault.

What's good for the future is that individuals from our 'B' team gave the 'A' racers a run for their money, and we have discovered some new talent which will strengthen the standard of skiing overall.

Summary of results:

Slalom individual boys -
2nd Geoffrey Hopkinson
4th Danny Price
Wellington filled 5 out of the top 7 places

Slalom individual Girls
2nd Charlotte Bowring

Slalom Team
1st Wellington A  (we have a cup as a result which I hope can be presented to Geoffrey at assembly at the start of term.)
3rd Wellington B

Grand Slalom individual boys
2nd Danny Price (this is a fantastic result from someone who has never really raced before)
3rd Angus Farquharson
4th Xan Bryant

Grand slalom girls
2nd Charlotte Bowring

Grand Slalom Team
2nd Wellington A

Parallel slalom teams
Wellington A won their pool, and were runners-up in the final.
Wellington B were runners-up to Wellington A in their pool.