What's it like being a trainee racer? - Ben Clatworthy
Saturday April 18, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

For many British ski racers the British Land National Ski Championships that take place each Easter in Meribel are the biggest set of races they compete in each year. 

2009 marks my 6th year of racing at the British Championships and my 2nd in the Seniors and Juniors.

A few years ago I wrote in my ‘Season Review’ for the Kandahar Ski Club book that the best way to describe the British is that at the top of the piste nerves are apparent in the majority of racers, whilst at the bottom of the race the party has already started.

Meet the pressAs ever the week started slow with the Downhill Training runs on Saturday and Sunday with few spectators and little fuss about the races.

However, come Monday, the races got underway with the Junior Downhill and suddenly the TV cameras arrive, the press, photographers and lots of spectators to watch the racing.

Days at the British start very early as by lunchtime the snow has softened and conditions are not that for racing at high speed.

For the past two weeks the competitors and race organisers alike have been getting up at 06.00 in order to be at the lift for 07.00.

Course inspection took place as the sun was slowly rising over the mountains and the sky becoming lighter at around 07.30. The first racers pushed out the start at 08.30, when the bottom section of the course was still in the darkness of the Meribel shade.

The atmosphere at the start is decidedly different from that of other races; there is a buzz of excitement, mixed with nerves and a certain amount of trepidation of what is to come. However once your standing in the start gate, the beep, beep, beep of the clock all these nerves go out the window as the adrenaline of the race takes over.

The race piste at nightOnce racing is over the whole event turns into more of a social as the racers chat with family and friends at the bottom of the piste before heading back to various hotels, apartments and chalets for a spot of lunch (often by this stage a late lunch!) and to prepare their race skis for the next day’s competition.

It’s after all this that the masses descend on the shops and bars of Meribel for some well-earned free time and a rest.

This year the infamous Barometer bar in the centre of the town partnered itself with the races giving the competitors 20% discount and a chance to use the internet, watch British TV and have a laugh with each other. Meribel’s crepe shop seemed never to stop serving the racers and the various shops were always full.

The championships also coincided with the Altitude Comedy Festival, which only added to the atmosphere in the town and meant that most afternoons there was a lively party somewhere with live music – it was great!

Once again Meribel brilliantly hosted the British Championships, which wouldn’t have been possible without the various partners and sponsors, especially ESF, the local ski school that managed the piste and the slope action. On behalf of all the racers we most certainly must say a big thank you to everyone involved behind the scenes.

You will be able to watch all of the action from the British Championships on ITV 4 this Sunday (19th April 2009) at 17.30 – 18.30. The coverage is then repeated on Tuesday 21st on ITV 4 and Wednesday 22nd on ITV 1. 

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