What's New in Chamonix?

And so it has been and gone... the 19th annual Boss des Bosses season worker's bumps competition...

RESULTS JUST IN:
1st: Zermatt
2nd: Chamonix
3rd: Val d'Isère
4th: Méribel
5th: Verbier
6th: Courchevel

Today heralds the 19th edition of the Boss des Bosses event at Les Grandes Montets in Argentière. One of Chamonix’s most exciting dates on the winter calendar sees teams from Zermatt, Val d’Isère, Méribel, Courchevel, Verbier and, of course, Chamonix battling it out to prove which resort has the best skiers and boarders. Alas, regular competitors Engelberg and Val Thorens were unable to get a team together in time and therefore couldn't put in an appearnace this year. The teams comprise of seven male skiers and two female, plus two boarders and two télémarkers; the ethos of the contest has remained inclusive at both ends of the skills spectrum. Nowhere else could you find international legend Glenn Plake and former mogul world champion Jurg Binner skiing alongside the likes of some plucky have-a go seasonaires giving it their best shot.

The day's events got off to a sunny start at 11am this morning with two groups kicking off the action: Group 1 consisted of Zermatt, Méribel and Courchevel, while Verbier, Val d’Isère and Chamonix made up Group 2.

The second round was supposed to set the 1st place winners from each group against the 2nd place winners and vice-versa, but time constraints meant that we had to skip straight to the two 1st place winners competing for overall 1st and 2nd position, and the two 2nd place winnners battling it out for 3rd and 4th place. There was some impressive skiing and boarding on display, and not only over the bumps – each run ended with a kicker over which you could gain extra points by throwing in a few airborne tricks. Some of the ‘big finishes’ showed incredible guts and skill – although some of the landings evidently didn’t go quite as planned. There were plenty of the usual antics: members of team Zermatt dressed as giant chickens and Glenn Plake’s artistic display of ski ballet were particularly memorable.

Points were awarded not only on who passed the finish line first but on finesse over the bumps and style/height coming off the kicker, which meant that even if someone was not destined to finish first they could still claw back a few points for the team by pulling off a show-stopper at the last minute.

Zermatt and Chamonix were the star competitors of the day coming in at 1st and 2nd place with 7 ½ and 5 ½ points respectively. Following in their wake, but still holding their end up, were Val d’Isère in 3rd place (represented by Valdinet.Com Video Snow Reporter James Fisher), Méribel in 4th place, Verbier in 5th place and bringing up the rear, Courchevel in at 6th.

Chamonix was honourably represented by some well-known faces: Dax from the Vert, Orjan from Chambre Neuf and the inimitable Plakes - Glenn and Kimberley, to name but a few.

The weather was interchangeable with some nice sunshine in the morning smiling down on the contest ground, turning a little cloudy later on but bringing with it a welcome smattering of snow. With live DJs, a BBQ and plenty of drink on offer the crowds were kept more than happy until the end. Although their were some distinctly wobbly looking punters seen making their way down the Pierre a Ric come hometime...

While the cerebral pairing of Chamonix novelist (and Chamonet.Com Video Snow Reporter) Jonathan Trigell and artist Adam Johnston provided the commentary, the boys from The Vert, DJ Jimbo and others, played sets on the horizontal hubcaps to get the crowd and the teams jumping. And jump they did, flying off the final kicker were backflips, numerous smooth spins, Lincoln loops, mute grabs and even the occasional old school flavours of back scratchers and spreads.

The prize giving will be held, as ever, on balcony of La Terrasse at 6pm over a packed Place de Balmat; the carousing sure to continue long into the night. This will be followed by Juggernaut of Rock doing what they do best. The Vert will be hosting the official after party, kicking off between 7-8pm and many of Chamonix’s other bars will have special Boss des Bosses events going on, so it’s sure to be a messy night! The Chamjam may have departed, but the spirit of the party still lives on strong in Cham.... roll on next year!

Check back soon for our updated photo gallery with some action shots and don't forget our Video Snow Report, coming soon, for some exclusive footage.

Event History

The Boss des Bosses is the longest running season worker’s comp in the Alps. Its roots go back to a gauntlet - doubtless luminous - flung at a Val d’Isère fop who impudently suggested that Val’s skiers were better than Chamonix’s.

A team bumps competition settled the matter in Chamonix’s favour and now, seventeen years later on, the comp is still moving from strength to strength. Most of those original competitors - once hard drinking, powder skiing, all-in-one wearing, bums for life - are likely living in suburbia, worrying about the implications of the new one way system to house prices and saving money for their off-springs’ university fees. But still at the helm is the man who rose to the challenge so many years ago: Mr Tom Banfield; sporting, as always, his trademark battered tan ski suit and a beard to make Gandalf feel inadequately whiskered.

Along the way the Boss des Bosses – ‘bosses’ being French for bumps – has snowballed. First Verbier and Zermatt joined the contest, then Méribel, Courchevel and finally Val Thorens. Prior to this year’s racing Chamonix and Zermatt have dominated, at least since the departure of Verbier, who haven’t entered since 1997. For several years it formed the core event of the Chamjam music and snowsports festival, before that was unfortunately ended by excessive regulation.

For more information see this website or send an e-mail enquiry