The Ultimate Short Break BOBSLEIGH EVENT with SYS

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Contact Flora Phillips

Direct Line: 020 7386 4643
Telephone: 020 7386 4646
Fax: 020 7386 8652
Email: flora@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk

Tour Leader: Tony Wallington

Lt Col (retd) Tony Wallington OBE was a soldier for 30 years enjoying a unique Army career combining global military service with international sport. He is an Olympian having competed in two Olympic Winter Games as the Team Captain of the British Bobsleigh Team. He has had a support team role in further five which includes being the Performance Director in the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games, when the bobsleigh team were the only British medallists. He is currently a Vice President of the British Bobsleigh Association. Tony has designed and delivered corporate and media events to promote ice track sports and support sponsors. The most notable being the BBC 2 documentary 'Ice Cool in Japan', Lyndford Christie in 'Record Breakers', the very popular Don't Try This at Home' and Tony also played a key role in facilitating the BBC Holidays 2005 and Top Gear Bob v Rally Car programmes.

Detailed Itinerary

Lillehammer, Norway is globally renowned for hosting the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, which has provided an exceptional legacy of facilities for Winter sports. It hosts many international winter sporting events including bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, World Cup skiing and ski jumping. In 2006, 'BBC's Top Gear' broadcast its own "Winter Olympics" special in which the SYS bobsleigh competed against Norway's leading rally driver. The city centre is a late 19th century concentration of wooden houses, which enjoys a picturesque location overlooking the northern part of Lake Mjøsa and the river Lågen, surrounded by mountains.

The short breaks in Lillehammer gives the opportunity to take parts in an 'Ice Experience' you will never forget! During an action packed 48 hours, you will be given the chance to experience; Bob Raft, Bobsleigh, Bob Skeleton all on the Lillehammer Olympic bobsleigh track under the expert tuition of Tony Wallington OBE - a bobsleigh Olympian from 2 Olympic Winter Games. Beginners in Bobsleigh and Bob Skeleton can expect to experience an adrenaline rush at the very top end of the scale; followed by an equivalent endorphin high! If that is not enough, we also include, weather permitting, a toboggan slalom at the Lillehammer Olympic Park.

The Molla Hotel / Lillehammer Norwegian mountains

Day 1: Thursday London / Oslo/ Lillehammer

Afternoon departure from London Heathrow on a British Airways flight to Oslo Airport.
On arrival in Oslo, after you have cleared customs, you will board the Norwegian State rail from Oslo Gardermoen airport directly to Lillehammer. On arrival you will be met by SYS, and transferred from the station to the Molla Hotel in the centre of Lillehammer.

The Molla Hotel

This traditional and charming hotel was converted from a Mill for the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and retains the Olympic ethos, with pictures and memorabilia of Winter Olympic events and personalities. The Mill, dating from 1863, has a unique character, where the rooms, restaurant and bar have been recently refurbished providing excellent accommodation. ‘Egons' restaurant has retained rustic charm and the history of the mill. Molla Hotel contains 58 intimate rooms, with a distinctive interior combined with modern comfort. Its renowned ‘Toppen' bar at the top of the Hotel offers an incredible panoramic view over the city and landscape of Lillehammer, and a great environment to relax and have a party! It is also walking distance to the shops, restaurants and bars in the centre of town.
In the evening enjoy the Ice Track / health and safety briefing and film show with Tony Wallington. As an Olympian and Performance Director for the British Bobsleigh Association - when they won the Olympic Bronze medal in 1998, Tony's enthusiasm and experience will bring to life the challenges that will be encountered the following day. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Friday Lillehammer

After an early breakfast at the Hotel you will transfer to the Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh track where you will enjoy exclusive hospitality. Following a ‘refresher' health and safety brief in the track's ‘Hunters Shelter' by a log fire with hot refreshments - you will have a conducted track walk with your event leader, which includes views of the ‘Race Track' where the SYS Bobsleigh competed against Norway's leading rally driver in the now famous: ‘BBC Top Gear Event'. On reaching the top of the track this will be the first opportunity to experience ‘ice' with a bob raft ride! At the end of the run you will return to the ‘Hunters Shelter' for a bobsleigh skills briefing with refreshments. It is then time to move to the ‘Junior Start' for on track coaching before taking the second of the ‘Ice Experiences' the 4-man bobsleigh; often referred to as the ‘Formula One' of Winter sports. Now you will really begin to realise why this is such an exhilarating sport; the track has 16 curves and is 1700 metres long, on the fastest curve; number 13 - you should be pulling 5G+! Anyone riding the run in a qualifying time will be eligible to join the exclusive 5G Club - certified with an exclusive 5G pin certificate and the chance to purchase 5G branded clothing.

Bob raft / Bobsleigh

Then it is time to take part in your ultimate ‘Ice Experience' bob skeleton! Bob skeleton is a dynamic and challenging sport that has been developed from the oldest of the ice track sports - the 'Cresta'. The Cresta Run is the home of the exclusive 'St Moritz Tobogganing Club' where 'Cresta' riders compete on a unique 1200 metre long ‘natural ice track' that is constructed annually. Other than those who ride traditional toboggans - ‘Cresta' riders are on skeleton similar to those used by Bob Skeleton athletes. The main difference being; Bob Skeleton riders' use Bobsleigh tracks for their runs; otherwise the sport is very similar to the ‘Cresta riders' event.

Bobsleigh / Bob skeleton

Lunch will be under your own arrangements. After lunch you will be taken to the Olympic Park freestyle area to take part in one of Lillehammer's most popular winter activities - tobogganing. Having been equipped with the necessary safety equipment, you will ride the specially adapted draglift up the mountain and descend the Olympic slopes, as fast as you dare in preparation for the ‘Toboggan Slalom' where both skill and a strong nerve are required! Please note that we are only able to include this great addition to the programme if the snow conditions are right.

Return to the hotel to pack and check out. Transfer to Lillehammer train station for a return train to Oslo Airport for a British Airways evening flight to London, arriving London Heathrow late evening.

Tour Price

COST PER PERSON (based on a total minimum party of 10):

Package Cost: from £998 per person sharing a twin room

Single supplement: £11 per person for the one night stay

The tour cost includes:

• 1 night accommodation at the Molla Hotel
• breakfast daily; 1 dinner (including 2 courses and half bottle of house wine)
• Insurance (including travel, track events etc)
• 1 x ride bob raft
• 1 x rides bob skeleton (second ride is optional and can be paid for locally)
• 1 x ride taxi bob
• Tobogganing
• Equipment and body armour
• Instruction and training
• the services of your tour leader throughout
• All ground transfers as stated in the itinerary

The tour cost does NOT include:

• International flights
• items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
• drinks (other than those stated above)
• gratuities in restaurants
• gratuities to driver/s;
• porterage

Exchange Rates

The price of this tour is based upon exchange rates published in the Financial Times on 11/10/10 - namely $1.6 / €1.14 / NOK 9.2 per £ sterling.

Changes to the Itinerary

Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control.

Optional post-tour extension

Day 2: Friday Lillehammer

(After the rest of the group has gone) Dinner at the hotel / local restaurant.

Day 3: Saturday Lillehammer / Oslo / London

After breakfast you will have the time to go skiing, whether it be alpine skiing or cross country, it will provide the opportunity to see some of the natural beauty the area is famed for. There are 5 ski centres available, and all are within easy reach of Lillehammer. With some 45 lifts and over 100 pistes, the choice is excellent whether you prefer downhill skiing, snowboarding or cross country skiing.

Lillehammer town / Skiing in Lillehammer

Lunch is under your own arrangements, and an additional cost. Return to the hotel and check out. Afternoon transfer from the Molla Hotel to Lillehammer train station for a return train to Oslo Airport for a British Airways evening flight to London, arriving London Heathrow late evening.

Extension tour cost

COST PER PERSON (based on a total minimum party of 2):

Supplement Cost: from £630 per person sharing a twin room

Single supplement: £11 per person for the one night stay

The tour cost includes:

• 1 night accommodation at the Molla Hotel
• breakfast daily; 1 dinner (including 2 course meal and half bottle of house wine)
• Insurance (including travel, track events etc)
• Alpine Ski equipment / cross country ski equipment / snowboard equipment hire
• Ski pass
• the services of your tour leader throughout
• All ground transfers as stated in the itinerary

The tour cost does NOT include:

• items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
• drinks (other than those stated above)
• gratuities in restaurants
• gratuities to driver/s;
• porterage

Exchange Rates

The price of this tour is based upon exchange rates published in the Financial Times on 11/10/10 - namely $1.6 / €1.14 / NOK 9.2 per £ sterling.

Changes to the Itinerary

Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control.