World Cup 4 - Cesena 2008/2009
The journey to Cesana was going well until we were about an hour away when we were hit by a snow storm. Pete and Gomer were about an hour in front of us so warned us about the hazards ahead. Although we had summer tyres we bought some snow chains on the way. We passed lots of vehicles that had got stuck on the hill to Sestriere, usually we would stop to help but we knew that if we stopped we would also get stuck so we forged ahead keeping up our precious momentum..
We had not had to put the snow chains on but when we were only 500m from the hotel we got stuck. We jumped out of the car and because Jackie and Nic had had a lot of practice with snow chains they volunteered to fit them. They completed the task at super speed only to realise the car was rear wheel drive and the chains were securely fitted to the front wheels, serving no purpose whatsoever. It would have been funny but it was freezing and we were fast having a sense of humour failure. It was quickly turned around when the Monaco team passed us in their van and wound down their window to laugh at our misfortune only to stall and get stuck themselves. The laugh was on them when we put the chains on the correct wheels and pulled away, waving as we passed them!!!
Kat had informed us that 10ft of snow was expected over the next 2 days. We thought she must have misheard and asked if she meant 10inches. We were very surprised when, in the morning, we looked out of the window and saw more snow than we had ever seen I our lives.. It took us a while to dig the van out of the snow and it took some time to actually find the car!!
It was no surprise that training that day was cancelled as the roads to Cesana were all closed and there were also reports of avalanches. We were sceptical that the race would be on at all. After 2 days of cancelled training the jury managed to get down the hill to the track to decide if the race could go ahead. While they were there there was an avalanche that blocked the road, stranding them at the track. Unsurprisingly the verdict that came back was to cancel the race! A lot of teams were disappointed not to be racing but most were pleased that a decision had been made early enough that they could arrange to go home early for Christmas.
We made plans to get the team home early too but we made sure we had our Christmas party before we left which lead to some rushed wrapping of presents! We had organised a Secret Santa but wont divulge what we received as most are too rude!!!
Having been stuck in the hotel for nearly three days, boredom set in. Gill, Jackie and Kat regressed to childhood playing in the snow. Jackie and Gill dug a snow hole and Kat built her first snowman. Unfortunately his life was short as, only minutes after she had finished, he was destroyed by a snow plough. The snow ploughs were extremely efficient (as proved by the demise of Kat’s snowman) but the sheer volume of snow meant that the roads were only clear for a short space of time. We decided to get out as soon as we could to make sure that we made it home for Christmas. The thought of any more time stuck in the hotel in Sestriere was too much to bear!
We made our travel arrangements, Nic, Jo, Gill and Kat squashed into an over-packed car took car and Pete and Jackie had to stay for a few days as they were collecting Pete’s daughter from Germany for Christmas. We are not entirely sure what happened to Gomer as he got a lift to Frankfurt but had no flight!!! We think he got back to Canada safely. We have our suspicions though that he may in fact be the real Santa Claus………
We had not had to put the snow chains on but when we were only 500m from the hotel we got stuck. We jumped out of the car and because Jackie and Nic had had a lot of practice with snow chains they volunteered to fit them. They completed the task at super speed only to realise the car was rear wheel drive and the chains were securely fitted to the front wheels, serving no purpose whatsoever. It would have been funny but it was freezing and we were fast having a sense of humour failure. It was quickly turned around when the Monaco team passed us in their van and wound down their window to laugh at our misfortune only to stall and get stuck themselves. The laugh was on them when we put the chains on the correct wheels and pulled away, waving as we passed them!!!
Kat had informed us that 10ft of snow was expected over the next 2 days. We thought she must have misheard and asked if she meant 10inches. We were very surprised when, in the morning, we looked out of the window and saw more snow than we had ever seen I our lives.. It took us a while to dig the van out of the snow and it took some time to actually find the car!!
It was no surprise that training that day was cancelled as the roads to Cesana were all closed and there were also reports of avalanches. We were sceptical that the race would be on at all. After 2 days of cancelled training the jury managed to get down the hill to the track to decide if the race could go ahead. While they were there there was an avalanche that blocked the road, stranding them at the track. Unsurprisingly the verdict that came back was to cancel the race! A lot of teams were disappointed not to be racing but most were pleased that a decision had been made early enough that they could arrange to go home early for Christmas.
We made plans to get the team home early too but we made sure we had our Christmas party before we left which lead to some rushed wrapping of presents! We had organised a Secret Santa but wont divulge what we received as most are too rude!!!
Having been stuck in the hotel for nearly three days, boredom set in. Gill, Jackie and Kat regressed to childhood playing in the snow. Jackie and Gill dug a snow hole and Kat built her first snowman. Unfortunately his life was short as, only minutes after she had finished, he was destroyed by a snow plough. The snow ploughs were extremely efficient (as proved by the demise of Kat’s snowman) but the sheer volume of snow meant that the roads were only clear for a short space of time. We decided to get out as soon as we could to make sure that we made it home for Christmas. The thought of any more time stuck in the hotel in Sestriere was too much to bear!
We made our travel arrangements, Nic, Jo, Gill and Kat squashed into an over-packed car took car and Pete and Jackie had to stay for a few days as they were collecting Pete’s daughter from Germany for Christmas. We are not entirely sure what happened to Gomer as he got a lift to Frankfurt but had no flight!!! We think he got back to Canada safely. We have our suspicions though that he may in fact be the real Santa Claus………
