Thredbo Top To Bottom

On Friday the groomers prepared the top of Karels for the annual Top To Bottom race. Rumour had it that the course had been changed from previous years (due to a bad crash at BunnyWalk station last year). The snow cover was good and the course (where ever it went) was sure to have a great cover.

In the pre-dawn dark of Saturday morning, an enthusiastic and yet quiet crowd of competitors gathered slowly at the base of Kosi chair around 6:00am. I’m always interested in the calm exterior shown by so many serious competitors. Then of course there are a few others like me who are more there for the sheer enjoyment and not the competition.

By 6:15am and still in the black of night, a decision was made to move the start to behind Eagles Nest, as visibility had dropped considerably.

Just minutes before the start of the first race, the start was moved again to the top of Snowgums chair as the frontal activity was expected to decrease visibility even further.

I had looked at the system on the BOM radar internet pages at 5:00am and it looked like a serious storm was on the way but just after we all moved to Snowgums a big hole broke in the clouds and good visibility was restored.

The new course took us behind BunnyWalk station to the Rossi racecourse then back down Rossi racecourse B until we took a hard right back, at the groomer shed, onto the Supertrail before continuing down the Milk Run. This bypassed my favourite section of the course – the fast, straight, tuck down the Supertrail from BunnyWalk to the Milk Run. I managed to get 3 course inspections in the allocated time. High speed in the dark is a thrill. Ski Patrol were wearing headlamps that put an eerie touch to the course.

Only once before have I been past during the race. Starting last has its advantages. This year Jock (out of patrol uniform) started last and past me just below Kareela Hutte.

All in all, a fun morning. I haven’t found out what time I got and I haven’t managed to download my video yet. Yes, as in the past, I carried my video camera down the course rather than my ski poles. This did make the start difficult trying to click into my bindings without poles to balance, while on a cross fall line slope in a strong wind.

Riding the chair after 3 course inspections in the dark

The sun is finally making a showing

Lady boarders were first off the mark

Followed by Lady skiers

Some of the action at the finish line

Winner of the Mens Open division

Race suits are common at the pointy end of the races

Winners of Womens Boarder and Skiing divisions

Winners of Veteran Mens and Boarder divisions

Winners of Mens Amateur and Open divisions

It has snowed most of today and heavily towards the end of the day. There is a lot of creamy fresh out there and tomorrow is looking better still. The temperature has been running steadily below –6C keeping the quality high. Although we did not get the depth of snow forecast for Thursday or Saturday, the forecasts are for continuing snow this week.

Rosco (preferring to be called Rusty) has landed in Thredbo and will be on the mountain in the morning.