The Company of Entrepreneurs’ Ski Team maintains a highly proportionate regime of training throughout the year. However, as with almost all things Livery, principally this training is dedicated to “fellowship” - so, in between the months of WhatsApping one another Mean Girls GIFs and pictures of pets, and meeting up regularly at Entrepreneurs’ events, some time does occasionally need to be given over to actual skiing.
 
In this spirit, therefore, on Friday 22nd December, three plucky Snow Dragons (Freemen Amy Hopper and Simon West, accompanied by the Clerk) donned their salopettes and took to the powdery foothills of North Buckinghamshire. Endeavouring so far as possible to recreate the Alpine experience, each had risen early and breakfasted inadequately, and made their way to the queue for the lifts wondering whether or not they would remember what to do. The Clerk had taken the immersive mission especially seriously, and travelled to Milton Keynes by bus, nursing a fierce hangover and hugging his skis, and annoying Christmas shoppers by asking for directions to the Snozone in his uniquely-accented Franglais.
 
In addition to the many geographical challenges of the day, there were also physical challenges to overcome. Eclipsing the Clerk’s hangover, Freeman Hopper’s catastrophic spinal injuries, and Freeman West’s ruptured knee cartilage threatened to significantly reduce the level of activity, but some gentle warm-ups and even gentler turns allayed any serious health concerns. The artificially-created (but in every other sense “real”) snow at Europe’s largest indoor resort was slightly sticky, but the numbers of skiers was manageable, and, even allowing for the occasional chicanes presented by learner groups, some decent distance was covered. By the end of the two-hour session, the Snow Dragons could confidently report that there had been no further injuries, and that the team probably presented no significant danger either to themselves or to others.

 

 
Team selfie © A Hopper

 
Although there was no formal refereeing, the team engaged in some modest competition on the slopes – vying casually not only for “quickest” (Simon) but for “most turns” (also Simon) and “most stylish” (a three-way tie). This, they felt, was enough training for the rigours of Inter-Livery Skiing next month, and so retired to the bar to discuss the serious business of travel arrangements and catering requirements. Refreshed with hot chocolate and steaming tea, the Snow Dragons said their goodbyes and Merry Christmasses, and looked forward to reconvening in greater numbers in the Haute-Savoie on the French-Swiss border at the end of January 2024.

 

 
Refreshments! © A Hopper

 
NOTES: All Snow Dragons places for the 2024 Inter-Livery Skiing are now filled, but if you would like more information about the competition please visit https://www.liveryskiing.com/ or speak to the Entrepreneurs Ski Team Captain, Court Assistant Stephen Wheatley, via the Clerk’s Office. Other skiing and fellowship opportunities are available throughout the year.