The Wetherby Prep ski team enjoyed a tremendous week at the IAPS Ski Championships in Passo Tonale, combining hard racing, plenty of skiing, and a great deal of camaraderie along the way.
Monday began under bright skies with the slopes alive with colour as schools arrived in their team kit. The Wetherby boys proudly wore their red and black colours, adding to the kaleidoscope on the mountain and, most importantly, looking every bit like a team. After a morning of race training – with the teachers also attempting the slalom to varying degrees of success – the group headed up to the glacier for free skiing in the afternoon. The day ended with the boys tackling an hour of schoolwork (fuelled by snacks from the local Spar) before an entertaining hotel quiz in the evening, where the boys enjoyed themselves immensely and the Wetherby Prep staff managed to sneak into first place.
The following day brought the time trials, where more than 220 racers competed for championship qualification. The fastest times on the course were around 44 seconds, and several Wetherby Prep boys produced excellent performances, placing strongly within the field. The results helped shape the teams for the Plate competition and the head-to-head Parallel event later in the week. The evening concluded with card games and a screening of the classic Cool Runnings, while the boys reflected on the importance of resilience in competition – learning that racing alongside faster skiers is the surest way to improve.
Wednesday's Parallel slalom delivered high drama: after an earlier racer from another team suffered a fall, the course was shortened for safety. The Wetherby Prep team skied superbly, but missed an early gate, resulting in disqualification from the next round. Despite the setback, the boys’ performances across the day were outstanding. The evening brought pizza, karaoke and a strategy game which, to my surprise, the boys had mastered well enough to defeat our Head of English, Mr Thorne!
The week concluded in spectacular fashion with the Championship race. In a highly competitive field, the Wetherby Prep U11 team produced a superb performance to secure Championship Gold, skiing brilliantly and showing exemplary sportsmanship throughout. Bravo to Cameron, Harvey and Sasha who are now U11 champions. It was a proud moment for the whole team and a fitting reward for their effort and determination across the week.
Each year group played a vital role in the success of the trip. The Year 7 boys were excellent role models, the Year 6 boys will long remember their championship triumph, and the Year 8s were fantastic mentors and supporters for the younger skiers. After the awards ceremony, the celebrations continued with an impromptu trip to Ponte di Legno for ice cream – the perfect way to round off a memorable week in the mountains.
Trips like these are always special. For the staff, it was a privilege to accompany the boys and share their enthusiasm for skiing and competition. The success of the trip was also thanks to the tremendous support of the staff team throughout the week.
With the success of the 2026 WPS Ski Team now etched into Wetherby lore, the boys returned home with medals, memories, and plenty of stories to tell from their time in Tonale.
