Of the three years I have organised the three valley rally, this year has seen the best turnout ever.
With 18 teams from nearly every ski company in
Courchevel it was just a matter for the weather to hold out.
After initial reports of high winds and closed 3 valley links the sun managed to fight its way through the clouds to make the day almost perfect.
Outside Gringos there was every sort of costume you could have thought of. 80Ãs Wrestlers, Jeans & gatter clad Parisians, Wildlife face paints, Injured skiers, Pirates, One pieces, Hawaiian shirts, chefs, rabbits and a reindeer??
The first checkpoint, half way down to St Martin de Belleville gave some of the teams their first chance to see these runs all season. 1 union jack and a quick deviation to Motteret to find a sticker and it was the sexy Easter bunnies who turned up first quickly followed by
Mark Warner, Qski and
Scott Dunn.
Many passers by in Val Thorens might have wondered what Fred and Mat, dressed in hard hat & fluorescent waistcoat and zebra pimp gear respectively were doing flying the welsh flag proudly 100 yards from the top of the 2 lacs chair. It wasn't until the first teams arrived that they realised that the checkpoint was 100 yards vertically up from the lift. This time the bunnies were holding on to their lead but the length of the fur tails on their little arses. The teams were given a 'lucky dip' between the choice of show us your nipples and show us your nipples although later teams had an outside chance of performing a sexual position.
The third checkpoint, positioned on the peak between Motteret and Les Menuires gave the teams a 50/50 choice which direction to head in. The quickest route was via Les Menuirers and was taken by the first 6 teams. This time the union jack bearing Mark Warner Competitive Mums and Dads had sneaked into first place ahead of the bunnies.
After a red wine/ coke/ Bacardi/ Worcestershire sauce layback the teams had to practice their climbing and rolling skills down a powder slope. Most notably were the Pirates of Pornsants, one of the last teams to come through. Where others had rolled on their side and head over heel, Chris managed 2 ? cartwheels before gravity and powder got the better of him.
To the last checkpoint at the Skil odge in la Tania were the teams had to prepare a poem 'Ode to Hugo', luckily most teams have had first hand experience of Hugo in one way or another so inspiration was not a problem, various amusing examples can be seen around this issue. After downing a special Skilodge cocktail it was off to the finish at Gringos.
Once again a big thank you to Fat Face, White Stuff &
Ski Higher for generously donating the prizes.
Amy, Jessica, Fred, Mat, Hugo & Sandy for giving up their day to adjudicate on the checkpoints. Ollie for donating the alcohol and providing a great BBQ at the finish.
Without these people this event wouldn't have been possible.
