Crans Montana 2025: A Weekend of Ski Racing, Fondue, and Festivities

Day 1: The Journey to Crans Montana 

The journey began with Switzerland’s iconic train system, known for its efficiency and stunning views. Despite our journey being meticulously planned by our organisers and completely blaming the lack of caffeine in our systems, we unfortunately took a wrong train. Once we realised and corrected ourselves it was a smooth ride through valleys and charming alpine villages. The final leg of the journey included the scenic funicular ride up to Crans Montana, where it was apparent that other City Ski Challengers were full of excitable anticipation.  

After being greeted by Pierre-Henri, Crans Montana’s head of tourism, the group gathered for dinner at Viva Voce, an Italian restaurant renowned for its warm ambiance and delectable dishes. After coyly revealing our journey mishaps to our host, we relaxed over several glasses of local wine and tucked into a selection of traditional Italian cuisine. The perfect fuel for the days ahead. 

Day 2: Race Training, Fondue, and Après-Ski Fun 

The second day kicked off with race practice under the guidance of Kevin Berclaz, an expert in ski racing. The weather wasn’t entirely in our favour; with low visibility and high winds, it proved to be a challenging first day on the snow. Being entirely new to ski racing, I wasn’t hugely confident in pushing myself to the max. However, with Kevin’s keen eye and technical expertise, he provided valuable tips on carving precise turns and maximising speed. The practice helped me to build confidence and visualise my turns for Saturday’s race. 

For lunch, Pierre Henri made a reservation at Pepinet Restaurant, a cosy mountain escape for a classic Swiss fondue experience. The restaurant slash dairy prides itself on delicious rich cheese, with most of the menu consisting of their own fayre. While we (me in particular) would have happily spent the rest of the afternoon in the refuge, we savoured the meal before heading to the Plaine Morte glacier to begin our final run.  

With our legs well and truly put through their paces, we headed for a well-deserved drink. The first of many après-ski festivities for the weekend kicked off at Zerodix hosted by Momentum. The bar is one of Crans Montana’s most popular spots, perfect for winding down. The selection of Revival DJs provided by Momentum created a buzzy atmosphere as skiers celebrated a day well spent on the slopes. As the sun set, the party atmosphere grew, making for a lively start to the evening. 

Later, we headed to Hotel Art de Vivre for an informal dinner, followed by a quiz night hosted by Amin Momen and Frank Gardner. The mix of light-hearted competition and laughter made for a great bonding experience, with plenty of entertaining moments.  

Day 3: Race Day & Celebrations 

Race day finally arrived, and excitement filled the air. The weather had cleared up, with much better visibility than the day before. We were given the opportunity to inspect the course as a group, so after analysing the turns, it was time to head up to the start gate.  

As the sun started to peer out, we collected our bibs at Cry d’Er Bar, and before long, I was gearing up for my run. Wearing bib number 2 meant I was second on the course, a quick warm-up was necessary before being thrown into the deep end. An easy cruise down the slope and a return via the Arnouva chairlift helped prepare mentally and physically for the course ahead.  

My run clocked in at 1 minute 33 seconds, placing me 39th out of 57 competitors. While it wasn’t a podium finish, I was super pleased with the debut result. Pete, our Marketing Manager, was on track to secure a spot in the top 10 before spectacularly crashing into the timing hut at the final gate. Though officially listed as a DNF, he staggered away with a 0:00 time, proving he was clearly too fast to be timed. 

Next, the press team went head-to-head in an exciting dual slalom race, with the teams divided by gender. The knockout rounds were intense, filled with fierce competition as we battled for the title of the top press team. As the fourth and final racer, I had a clear advantage, my opponent was on a snowboard, giving me an edge. The odds were in the girls’ favour, and we couldn’t help but feel a little bit smug and delighted by our victory! 

Post-race celebrations kicked off with lunch at Amadeus, where we compared race times over a rewarding, hearty meal. The afternoon continued at Constellation Bar, where we watched England in the Six Nations rugby and enjoyed some aperitifs.  

As night fell, we took the Cry d’Er gondola up to the Cry d’Er Restaurant for the much-anticipated awards ceremony. The Ski Club representatives performed admirably, with Pete proudly receiving the Best Wipeout award. To my surprise, we also claimed the Women’s Team Championship in dual slalom. We were both over the moon with our achievements! 

The evening was filled with cheers, congratulations, and an electric atmosphere, capped off with a Revival DJ live show that kept the party going late into the night.  

A Perfect Ski Getaway 

The City Ski Challenge in Crans Montana 2025 was more than just a race, it was an unforgettable blend of skiing, great food, and fantastic company. From thrilling runs down the mountain to lively après-ski parties and award celebrations, this trip had it all. Here’s to another incredible year on the slopes, until next time, Crans Montana! 

Crans Montana is located on a south-facing plateau above the Rhone Valley, with views reaching from Mont Blanc in the west to the Matterhorn in the east. The sun-drenched ski resort offers more than 140km of pistes and plenty of ungroomed terrain. Fortunately, most of the ski resort is above 2,000m, meaning the snow is kept in good condition. The resort is found in the Valais region of Switzerland and is just 2 hours from Geneva.  

Find out more about Crans Montana.