Last week the
Natives Workers Challenge was held in Meribel. The event used to be split over the two valleys with the Individual GS being held one day in Meribel and the team dual Slalom was later in the season, in
Courchevel. Now both events are held the same day in Meribel.
The individual GS is in the morning and this year there were some very fast times being clocked up (not by myself!!!), and also a few people that braved the glorious sunshine in fancy dress.
In the afternoon there was the team dual slalom where teams of five race in relay down two identical courses. This is a fun event and you don't need to be a racer to take part. Our team, 'The Kilt Lifters' had three team members not make it on the day as one got called into work (unavoidable, and the phone call allowed us to draft in a new team mate from Meribel), one was sitting at the bar in L'Equipe when we were called to the start line and the other actually made it over to Meribel, decided the course was too small and after some encouragement from his resort manager decided to go skiing with his mates instead. Strange how said resort manager approached me later and said he would have taken part if I'd only let him know and would have rounded the boys up!!!!! Anyway we got through to the quarter finals thanks to three lads from Meribel, James Cochrane (NBV) who bravely joined a group of skiers on a snowboard,
Tom (NBV) and
James (Eurogroup). Thanks also to John
Shally (Ski Higher) for being the original team member and Skiing despite only having done it for two weeks. We got through the first round by default against the 'Mutzig Display Team' as even though we had a fall and a missed gate one of the guys from MDT had consumed so much Chartreuse that he missed every gate!!! A special mention goes to the MDT for the most outstanding fancy dress. We were knocked out in the next round by a team of ski instructors but there wasn't much in it as they had a team member fall, but they made it back up and round the gate in the nick of time. Special mention also has to go to the team with the best name on the day 'Your Sister's Good But Your Mother Does That Thing With Her Tongue' Genius!!! Big Thanks to
Natives for organising the event and the fantastic prizes and also to Jack's Bar (Meribel) for providing such a memorable after party (I think!!).
These events are great fun to get involved in and it is a shame that more people from
Courchevel were not able/arsed to get over on the day. Do not miss out on upcoming events like The Brookie Bowl (
Courchevel Stade March) and the Three valley rallies. The more people that take part the more fun they are!!
