Ski Racing - DHO British Schoolboys Championships

The Sherborne Ski Racing squad returned to Wengen, after a two year absence due to Covid, for the DHO British Schoolboys Championships. After a successful training camp in Austria over October half term, the boys were super keen to challenge themselves, particularly as most of the squad were new to ‘real’ racing.

After two days of training in Switzerland, the racing began with the parallel slalom where some rustiness was evident despite our U16A team defeating the hot favourites, Reeds U18A, complete with their three GB skiers. The main racing began on Tuesday with Giant Slalom on the famous Lauberhorn World Cup run. There were some falls, a few wobbles and lots of courage! Top performers were Sam Nokes (L6g), Henry Persse (5m), Zander Lacy-Smith (5d), Henry Carvosso (4f) and Oliver Beckly (3g) although just getting down and completing the course was a success for many of our inexperienced racers.

Wednesday was Slalom day on the ‘Bumps’ piste on the lower section of the Lauberhorn. In the more technical discipline there are always disqualifications for straddling or missing gates, but the Sherborne boys concentrated hard in course inspection and many boys were pleased to record a time. Sam Nokes and Henry Persse were impressive, again, and Henry Hardick (3b), Will Norton (5b) and Jago Lacy-Smith (3d) also got near the podium with clean runs.

Individually we were very, very close in a number of age groups and categories  and pleasingly, the U16 unregistered team of Jamie Guy (5g), Eddie Henderson (4m), Henry Persse and Henry Carvosso were able to finally secure a medal with bronze place in the overall competition.

A super trip with many positives and great to be back racing on the slopes in Wengen, particularly with so many parents supporting their sons on the slopes.

David Guy, Director or Sport