The Emanuel Ski Team, composed of twenty-three elite skiers from Year 8 to Year 13, enjoyed a fantastic week of racing in Sestriere at the end of a busy Autumn Term. Many of the team were returning participants with prior experience of competing against the likes of Whitgift, St Edwards Oxford, and Guildford High School. That experience and racing nous was crucial to Emanuel’s success this year: the school’s medal haul included six individual podium finishes and three team podium finishes – easily eclipsing the school record of five pieces of silverware set last year.
Bright and early on Friday 15th December the team began their journey to Milan, then up to Sestriere, in the Via Lattea – Italian for ‘Milky Way’ – fully equipped with stylish Emanuel Ski Coats and bobble hats. Accompanied by experienced ski instructors, the team then began their preparations for the slalom, giant slalom, and the intense mixed team slalom.
By lunch on the first day – the team was kept well fed by a ‘Pizza Corner’ in the hotel restaurant – it was clear that this Emanuel ski team was highly competitive. With the inspiring leadership of Etienne (U6), who helped pioneer the Emanuel Ski Team when he was in Year 8, the team not only had top talent challenging for the top spots, but also had great strength in depth with some serious talent in all categories.
Skis edged and waxed, helmets donned and boots firmly clipped in, the team performed brilliantly on all four race days in beautiful bluebird conditions. Etienne Boles achieved 3rd place in the U19 Slalom and 2nd place in the U19 Giant Slalom, cementing his reputation as a true Emanuel ski champion. Immy, who spends most of the school winter holidays with Mountain Masters Race Group in Val d’lsere and trains in the UK whenever she can at Aldershot Ski Race Club, got a double first, winning both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events in the U16 girls. Maxi joined the party by snatching 3rd place in the Slalom and Giant Slalom for U16 boys – he was only denied top spot by a pair of Brentwood School skiers a whole year above him.
Perhaps the highlight of the week, however, came in the mixed team slalom. There were two competitions: a Cup, made up of teams who got through a qualifying round; and a shield, made up of those who were knocked out of the initial qualifying round. Emanuel fielded a whopping four teams of five skiers, all of which made it through to the prestigious Cup competition. No other school qualified all their teams for the Cup. Not only this, but all Emanuel’s teams progressed in the competition, blowing away teams from the likes of Radley, Brentwood, St Edwards and Whitgift. In an intensely close semi-final, our top team (Etienne, Immy, Maxi, Max, and Mark) were pipped at the finish by Felsted School. Emanuel made up for that by consummately winning the third and fourth play-off to take the final podium position.
All skiers grew and developed in the competition, learning how to attack the slope and carve down the mountain in even the iciest of conditions. Otto and Ned even made a strong case for an ski jump competition, showing off pirouettes and 180s aplenty. Integral to the school’s success was the team spirit, encapsulated by the relentless clamour of supportive cow-bell ringing (special thanks particularly to Anna).
The team’s success didn’t stop at the bottom of the piste, though: Emanuel won the trip social media competition, too!
All students involved should be congratulated on a brilliant trip. The Emanuel Ski Team continues to go from strength to strength; bring on the next trip!
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