Ski Team Triumph in Wengen

Eleven of our boys attended the Downhill Only Ski (DHO) British Schoolboys competition in Wengen. Against the backdrop of the iconic Lauberhorn, the courses were a real test of skill and nerve. The boys secured some fantastic results and the unity they displayed was humbling. 

The first event was the dual slalom; always a favourite with the boys and the crowds. The U16 team set the standard with a fantastic silver medal narrowly losing to Reeds in the final. The U18 team (Toby Jones, Ignacio Rivero-Anglada, Tom Perkins and Will Perkins) went a step further and produced a series of exceptional races to beat Reeds in the final. This is the first time a Sherborne team has won this event and the circumstances could not have been more exciting. 

The following day sunshine over the Lauberhorn provided great conditions for the giant slalom event. Will Perkins maintained his lead to post two excellent times and led the unregistered competition overnight. Equally Frey Hopkinson skied with determination to post two great times. Tom Perkins achieved the Bronze medal in the U21 giant slalom due to his consistency over two runs. Oliver Brunton and Edward Waller both put in strong performances on their first day of racing.

The challenge of a four day race championship is immense and of course ski racing is inevitably high risk. This was most evident on the last day of competition. In pursuit of a third successive title Will Perkins crashed out of the slalom course. Tom Perkins also fell on the penultimate gate of his final run for the School ending his chance of an overall medal. It is by such margins that ski races are won and lost and that is what makes it such an exciting sport. Ben Farmbrough, Tommy Boylan and George Perkins skied strongly to complete both their slalom races.

The unique element to the DHO competition is the team event - 3 racers out of the team of 4 must complete each of the four runs. When a boys falls, misses a gate or is disqualified it is up to the other members of the team to forgo their personal ambition and ski selflessly for their teammates. Ignacio Rivero-Anglada and Toby Jones personified this in their approach to the competition. The Sherborne A team achieved silver in the team unregistered event and the B team came fourth. The boys showed great spirit throughout and were expertly led by Tom Perkins who captained the team with passion and readily shared his experience with the younger members.  

Tom Mason