There's More Than One Way To Go Top To Bottom

At first light it seemed that the annual Top To Bottom race in Thredbo would be in sunshine but clouds started moving over, making for dull photos. The snow was fast yet carveable and no, I didn't compete. I would have if I thought I had been up to it. As it was, the strength I conserved was well spent on another rarity in Thredbo.

Around midnight I had noticed lights on the hill in a peculiar place. As I watched I realised the groomer was way south of The Basin - it was on Funnel Web :-) Yes folks that rare treat - a groomed Funnel Web. I managed 4 runs before 9:30 when the Kosi lift queue suddenly went feral and I decided to switch to T-bars.

This morning was equally strange. I could hear water running off my roof and thought that may be I could have a lie-in (I don't do rain). But habit got the better part of me and I dressed for skiing. Unlike some rumours, I don't sleep in my ski clothes ;-). I arrived in the queue for about 4th or 5th chair. It was snowing wet flakes. Once we got on the chair it turned to big wet flakes and it dumped for the next hour.Supertrail had around 4-5cms of creamy fresh on the grooming and it didn't turn sticky until Ski-In Ski-Out corner. All the groomers were a delight on the untracked bits. The snow did start to pile up in the heavier trafficked areas. True Blue and Little Beauty were tasty before any one else woke up to the fact. The off piste is still firm but should soften as the new snow transfers some moisture down.

And yet another rare pleasure was to see Tommy Tomasi on ski patrol duty on Saturday (he normally avoids weekends) and special for Tommy to see his grandson Sam come in second (behind Scott Kneller) in the Men's Open Ski division. Well done!

Early light on the race course for the series of Top 2 Bottom Races

Women's Ski divsion follwoed by Women's Snowboard division

Veteran Men's dvision with Duncan ahead of Charlie (ending up 1st & 2nd respectively)

And a long way back came the rest of the pack;-)
The verteran men's division has the most competitors

Men's Snowboard division and for the first time - fat tyre mountain bikes

The Mumm presentation dias and the Men's Open division finishers

I had noticed the groomer lights around midnight
Dawn revealed their work and good reason to go for early lifts

Funnel Web was groomed from below Trap Door down to the Tower 10 exit
Looking back up and down from the start of the steep descent

Looking up and down from the S bend on Funnel Web

Meadows base depth indicator this morning

Congratulations to all competitors in the Top To Bottom. It's not about winning but being there. The atmosphere is always electric and the adrenalin rush lasts and lasts - I got past by some on Funnel Web going twice my speed and I wasn't slacking either.

Click here to see all the Top To Bottom Results.

Happy Birthday Rosco!

The next instalment in Richard's Grump has now been posted at: wikigrumps/4579700901_2014080614
This is now the 8th addition to the start of this grump and there's a long, long way to go yet.