Tonight:
8°c
Skiing the lino slopes of Surbiton
Emma Rowley18.09.09
It rarely sees a flake of snow and is better known as the backdrop for TV sitcom The Good Life than Ski Sunday.
But next month, Surbiton will bid to become Greater London's first ski resort with the launch of "suburban skiing".
A band of street skiers plans to travel through the streets of the suburb near Kingston on skis made from ice. Linoleum will be laid over the tarmac.
It boasts: "Say 'No' to Aspen in Colorado and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France and say 'hello' to Surbiton - the home of suburban skiing."
The sport was devised by a cheese club, Homage de Fromage, which meets monthly at The Lamb pub in Surbiton.
Organiser Robin Hutchinson, 50, said of suburban skiing: "Surprisingly, it works. Once you get over the initial, 'This seems like a lot of rubbish,' people get quite involved. When you say, 'I want to do something stupid,' some people look at you askance and others say, 'I want to get in'."
Surbiton Ski Sunday will boast a 32-metre run, named a "springle" in honour of Dave Springle, a Kingston councillor who won permission for Surbiton Parade to become a ski slope. Competitors will be able to try out a straight run and a slalom.
Sponsorship will raise money for the Shooting Star Children's Hospice in Hampton. Members of the public are welcome and medals will be awarded for raising the most money.
Surbiton Ski Sunday takes place on 18 October between 10am and 1pm.
Reader views (3)
I'm a Surbitonian myself and have to take my hat off to Robin Hutchinson and his merry band of helpers for coming up with such a novel idea for passing away an Autumn Sunday morning and raising money for such a worthy cause at the same time.
It's great to see a fresh version of the Good Life return on our doorstep.
- The Rock, Surbiton, Surrey
Presumably the accident and emergency department at Kingston Hospital are on red alert!
- John Jones, Westminster
As a former 17 year resident of Surbiton, can I just point out a couple of things to Emma Rowley.
Surbiton had a shedload of snow some months ago.
Chemmy Alcott, Britains top female skier, was a pupil at Surbiton High School.
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey
