Cannonball's Winter Challenge

New event combines driving with plenty of winter sports

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 3 August 2004 / Loading comments

The organisers of Cannonball Run Europe have announced a brand new event for 2005, the Cannonball Winter Challenge.

The event, set to take place in France between the 8th and 16th January 2005 begins with a drive through on challenging roads and mountain passes and is combined with on-event sporting adventures that include skiing, boarding, ice-karting, tobogganing and rafting on piste.

The base for the Cannonball Winter Challenge is Val d'Isère.

Tim Porter, Managing Director of Cannonball Run Europe explained: “This event is a dedicated multi-sport endurance test and will include ten Cannonball challenges. Points will be awarded throughout the field for each event with the winning team walking away with the coveted Winter Challenge Trophy but more importantly the full bragging rights. Believe me, this is not for the faint hearted.”

There will be three separate timed Cannonball road stages, which will take place on the drive-down to Val d'Isère. The winner of each stage will be the vehicle that completes the course the closest to an average speed of 61 mph and not the first to arrive in Val d'Isère.

Tim explained: “In the first three road stages it is not the speed but the navigational skill and spirit behind the wheel that counts”.

The other Cannonball Europe Winter Challenges include:

Kart Grand Prix
Where teams of two battle it out in a wheel-to-wheel in race karts. Nothing unusual here, except the circuit is made from pure ice, the ultimate in power is nothing without control.

The Slalom
Take to the slopes; a marked out course and the first to the finish takes victory. Against the clock and there are no rules! Skis, snowboard or bare-naked butt!

King of the Mountains
The Winter Challenge mountain road stage lays out an epic route heading up to 7000 feet and beyond – a driving adventure cannonballers will remember forever.

The Midnight Run
After dinner, forget the After Eights and head straight back up the mountain. Equipment for this challenge is a head torch, a helmet, a sledge and some very best wishes. The mission is to get to the bottom of the slopes before the rest of the chasing pack.

Night Safari
A pure adrenalin surge, this night challenge is set leave cannonballers guessing after they set off onboard snowmobiles on a 25km Safari across the mountains.

Ice Driving
Switch on your engines and rev up for an unforgettable driving experience literally on thin ice. Drivers will battle it out in Peugeot and Golf GTIs and when the cars slide around, that’s when the fun really starts

The Mountain Challenge
Teams of two will head off in a vehicle to a secret mountain destination. Upon arrival at the destination there will be one set of skis or a snowboard for each team. The skier/snowboarder clips in and takes the fastest route back to the resort. The driver gets on the road and does the same. The first “reunited” team back to base takes it.

The entry fee for the Cannonball Winter Challenge 2005 is £1,095 for one car and two people and includes all sea crossings, 4-star hotel accommodation, breakfast, inclusive entry to all 10 Cannonball Winter Challenges, the use of a support van to transport skis & luggage as required, VIP entrance to party nights at some of Val d'Isère’s coolest clubs and much much more.

Link: www.cannonballruneurope.co.uk .