' ' • NOVEMBER, 1 969 - the DHO

THE SEASON IN
ANY well-known resorts, in Austria for
Minstance, started late and closed early for lack
of snow, but Wengen always had enough. Not a
sunny winter, but from the middle of March, it was
wonderful. There was a drop of approximately onethird
in the numbers of visitors to Wengen during
January, French and British being the principal
absentees. Final figures were not available, but Herr
Gerber did say that these figures were average for
Switzerland generally. Against this drop in normal
visitors he noted with pleasure the rise in British
families visiting Wengen during the holidays, for
which he gave the D.H.O. credit.
SKI-STUDY GROUP In conjunction with the
National Ski Federation, we have operated a small
ski-study group. Several girls have spent the winter
with Miss Lansdown at Tahdorf, Interlaken. The
D.H.O. engaged Rene Seiler to train them three
days a week and to take them to a regional race
each weekend, using the two minivans. In between
they studied languages, etc., and kept up their
school work. Other young racers lived at Ros's
Lauterbrunnen chalet, which she ran all winter
for their benefit. Rene himself, as well as the girls,
won cups all over Bernese Oberland. Members will
be pleased to hear that he married the New Zealand
girl, Vivienne Bowen on 26th April.
SKI-BOBS Ken Foster's article in last year's Journal
seems to have been prophetic. There were ski-bobs
in the shops, for hire, and on the slopes, and many
being used by D.H.O. members. There were Ski-bob
Championships in Switzerland, a Ski-bob coaches'
Top of the Lauberhorn
Photo Sir George Pollock
Edited by Rosamond Hep worth
course, and a ski-bob for two has been designed.
Wengen is one of the resorts where they are neither
banned nor controlled as yet, but the Kurverein is
planning to restrict them to their own piste next
year. It has been suggested that the D.H.O. could
add a ski-bob race to the fixture list.
D.H.O. RACES All Training Races had capacity
entries and more categories had to be devised with
more prizes given. The entry for domestic races was
thinner than of late, but all the races were run and
all the cups given. The winners included Tony
Foster, Rob Ireland, Antoinette Betts, Don Warrington
(Kandaher), Hugo Holmes, Julie Molyneux
(Kandahar), A. Carver, Tim Ashburner, P. Browning,
J. Webster, F. Garnham, J. Turville and Mrs.
Hankin.
D.H.O. RUNS The instruction runs with Rene
Seiler were held once a week throughout the season,
subsidised by the D.H.O. Club runs with the reps
were taken almost daily. There were several letters
from members saying how much all runs had been
appreciated. Wengen types may be somewhat oldfashioned
in their technique compared with, say,
St. Anton or Verbier types but our reps and our
trainer do keep up the standard.
ACCIDENTS Not many, and still mostly due to the
bindings not opening in a slow awkward fall. Nina
Cowdy is still in plaster but will get if off on 3rd May.
Jaimie Rankin broke his leg at Easter and all his
friends will wish him a quick recovery. Piers Browning
ran into trouble in the McMillan Cup, and
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