What a laugh
Tuesday October 20, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

Check out the video as people took part in 'suburban skiing in Surbiton'. Contestants strapped blocks of ice to their feet and then raced down the road. It was all for charity and hilarious.

Now here at PlanetSKI we have been at the Winter Olympics, the Freeride World Tour and a host of other events with the world's top sportsmen and women.

On the World Cup circuit we've watched and partied at the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuehel, the Lauberhorn in Wengen and the Premiere Neige in Val d'Isere.

We've raced in the British Ski Championshps in Meribel, countless club races and taken part in many fun mountains races in The Alps involving plenty of drinking in fancy dress.

We've been at the Brits in Laax, the Tignes airwaves and the legendary Boss des Bosses in Chamonix. Next season we're even entering the gruelling Patrouille de Glaciers.

The winnersBut we've never been at a ski race in the tranquill and leafty suburb of Surbiton in South West London.

Until now that is.

400 people turned up to watch, 42 people took part and it was one of the best events ever.

So, what happened?

Well, the organisers put down a bit of plastic sheeting and safety netting. Cushions were spread out, crash barriers were lined up to keep the crowds at bay, the competitors strapped blocks of ice to their feet and "the games began."

It was all done to raise money for The Shooting Star Children's Hospice and the organisers raised around £5,000 to look after terminally ill children and support their families.

Apart from the skiing competition some highly collectable items were auctioned off including a rather poorly stufffed reindeer that went for £45 as a man bid against himself without realising it.

A particularly small and unpleasant plastic model of a skier exceed its recommended retail price by £34.90 as it was sold for £35.

But, quite simply, the whole event seemed to encapsulate why we love the sport of skiing.

Fun, laughter, sharing experiences and a common humanity with our fellow man. It was a laugh!

We made new friends, sampled a bit of apres ski in the pub opposite when the event ended and if it is on again next year we'll enter a team. We know of 2 members of the British Ski team that live nearby.......so come on Ed and Chemmy.

If you want to find out more see this earlier story we wrote on PlanetSKI that has become one of our most viewed stories this month and here is more information about the event and the hospice and if you want to donate it is a very, very worthwhile cause in our humble opinion.

Here's a few photos of the event taken by ace lensman and budding snapper, MaxC, (aged 10).

sscrowd_400