Dear Member
Snow in the Engadine and the Dolomites - Bobsleigh and Skeleton action from the brand new ice track (100 million euros) in Cortina have galvanised my pen as we are less than four weeks away from The Bartley Bear 2025.
In Cortina, Matt Weston won Gold in the skeleton and Brad Hall drove his Bob into 6th; all are clearly learning their way on the twisty replica of this infamous track. The Winter Olympics beckon in February, seventy years on from Cortina 1956 when the legend Eugenio Monti could only manage silver in both Bob events, whilst Toni Sailer from Austria achieved a skiing grand slam.
Back at home the Cresta spirit was on fire at an unforgettable revolutionary Banqueting Ball, hot on the heels of an Halloween excursion to Madrid. Meanwhile, the less said about the cricketing affairs in Australia the better!
Your Club’s heart is too great for its own good. As promised, we have seriously curtailed Beginners and SLs this Season, so please bear with if your last minute friend struggles to get a ride. Members must always have priority. We have now closed Beginner Bookings on the website, but there are still spaces on limited days available for Members to book for their friends. Please contact Tilly MacDonald to check availability.
Members, it is your Club, so please remember if you wish to bring guests to the Clubhouse you must sign them in. We are not a zoo and are trying to keep our special place as exclusive as possible for all our enjoyment.
Can I urge those of you thinking of easing into less riding, maybe even Gentlemen from Stream, please hand over your locker (and toboggan slot) to a young blade. Matteo will take care of your gear and arrange for a beautiful plaque to be affixed in your locker for eternity.
Lastly, the farewell ceremony in honour of Adolf Haeberli, happy and colourful, will take place on Saturday 10th January 2026, starting at 3 p.m. in the Theater Hall of the Hotel Reine Victoria in St. Moritz. All Cresta friends are welcome to attend and we are encouraged to dress colourfully Cresta.
There is so much to look forward to this Season I simply cannot wait!
All good wishes,
James
