Frostbite ski challenge

Frostbite 2011 - Steve Graham, Simon Binks, Geoff Watson

The Frostbite ski challenge is on the 4th of December this year at 11am. So far there are about seven teams entered but there is still room for more. There should be a good mix of ski boats and ribs out on the water. The challenge is nowadays for competitors on a pair of skis only and a circuit of 3 laps, although in the past entrants ran on racing skis aswell as pairs of skis.Some people have used jump skis in the past which are forbidden. Names cannot be mentioned for fear of allegations striking the very highest ranks of club officialdom. Even when I hid his skis he managed to find them and use them! Last year was particularly challenging with the weather conditions. However this was certainly not the first time the Frostbite has been run in snow and ice! The temperature was approximately 1 celsius, however with the windchill added it was about -1.5 celsius. Despite this three skiers had a go and ran a time trial around bird island. Steve Graham was raising money for his Middleton in Teesdale church and managed to top £5000 thanks to a generous donor. This year sponsorshipis going towards the RNLI. Donations can be made online:

RNLI fundraising page

So far the list of entrants (not including observers)

Skier / Driver / boat

Allan Dyer / Mike Walker / Rib
Andy Llewellyn / Ian Carveth Marshall /cadet Rib
Simon Binks / Neil Mackechnie / Bernico 19' "Bullet"
Mathew Cant / Ian Lynch / Rib
Dave Owens / Jimmy Gilderoy / Reiver?
Steve Graham / ?? / Phantom 21 "Fall Guy"
Geoff Watson / Dave Jordan / Phantom 20

Frostbite 1985 /86?  -  Dave Jordan & Jaqueline Grufferty

The Frostbite event has been going for some years now, the trophy dates back to 1971. Last year was certainly not the first time the race has been run in freezing, snowy conditons as the photos show. These photos opposite are from around 1985 or 1986. The photo's are at the top of the old ramp which is now part of the scrap dock next to the new RNLI station. The frostbite trophy, I am reliably informed, was donated by Bill Beattie who was a member of the club ski section and owned a sports shop in Stockton. Most of the past winners are still skiing and boating!

The previous winners are:

2011 G.Watson
2004 M.Cole
2002 I.Lynch & S.Armstrong
1998 G.Watson
1997 G.Watson
1996 G.Watson
1995 G.Watson
1994 G.Watson
1993 ??
1992 D.Hughes
1991 T.Richardson

John Berry's Phantom 16

1990 J.O'Connor
1988 D.Richardson
1986 P.Grufferty
1985 M.Berry
1984 W.Moore
1983 S.Graham
1982 W.Moore
1981 C.Featherstone
1980 C.Featherstone
1979 P.Berriman
1978 P.Berriman
1977 C.Featherstone
1976 C.Featherstone                               
1975 C.Featherstone                                                   
1974 P.Berriman
1973 C.Featherstone
1972 P.Berriman
1971 C.Featherstone