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St Moritz, Switzerland

The Ultimate Short Break Bobsleigh Event with SYS

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Contact Flora Phillips

Direct Line: 0207386 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

St Moritz is one of Switzerland's exclusive winter resorts, being both glitzy and fashionable and offering exceptional winter sporting facilities, excellent hotels, restaurants and bars. It is particularly famous for its Ice sports - in particular 'Cresta' and bobsleigh - both sports originated in St Moritz and the Cresta celebrated its 125th anniversary in the 2009-10 season. It is a cradle of winter tourism situated in the beautiful Engadine valley. St Moritz is one of the oldest and most famous winter resorts in the world. It has hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice and it has hosted European and World Championships (bobsleigh, bob skeleton and luge) a record 21 times.

Through the special relationship fostered with St Moritz over 25 years, SYS are able to offer exclusive short breaks by providing the opportunity to take part in a unique 'Ice Experience' you will never forget! During an action packed 72 hours, you will be given the chance to experience; the Bobsleigh and Bob Skeleton on the St Moritz Olympic bobsleigh run 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, the exciting Muottas Murgal toboggan run.

Baren Hotel, St Moritz / Train to St Moritz

Day 1 London / Zurich / St Moritz

Depart London Heathrow on a British Airways morning to Zurich. On arrival at Zurich airport, after you have cleared customs, you will board Swiss Rail train to St Moritz via Chur. The train journey is approximately 3 hrs and 50 mins. The journey is rated as one of the most spectacular train journeys in Europe - in particular the section from Chur to St Moritz. Once you have arrived at St Moritz Bahnhof you will be met by an SYS representative and transferred to the Baren Hotel where two nights are spent.

Bären Hotel

Bären Hotel is situated in a sunny and quiet location amidst breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled scenery in the heart of the stunning St Moritz. And it is in walking distance from the Cresta Run and St Moritz Olympic Bobsleigh track. This traditional 4 star hotel offers the highest standards of hospitality with spectacular mountain views. Bären Hotel has 60 guestrooms and has a range of facilities including an indoor swimming pool and steam bath, sauna, solarium, fitness and aerobics centre. There is also a cosy bar with an open fire and a separate a la carte restaurant.

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 St Moritz

After an early breakfast you will walk 5 minutes to the Olympic Bob Run. The morning will be spent doing the bob skeleton from Monti's Bolt Start. You will be provided with coaching and equipment, and have access to the club house and facilities. 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' events. You will be doing your bob skeleton events on the St Moritz bobsleigh track - the original and only natural bob track in the world!

Then it's time for your Guest Bob on the St Moritz bobsleigh track. The 4-man bobsleigh; often referred to as the 'Formula One' of Winter sports. Now you will begin to realize why it's such an exhilarating sport. The track is 1722 metres long and the bobsleigh can reach speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and a maximal centrifugal force of 5G.

Guest Bob / Bob Skeleton

After lunch under own arrangements - a good choice is the Bob Club Bar in the World famous Dracular Club - you will be transferred from the hotel to Muottas Muragl Valley Station. Here you will collect your toboggan and take the railway up to Muottas Muragl Summit Station. The run starts at 2,456 metres above sea level and the 20 bends and high-speed, straight stretches along the route guarantee varied and exciting rides through powdery-white pine and larch forests. After you have finished tobogganing, you will be transferred back to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel (alternatively we can organise dinner in a mountain restaurant where you will be transferred in a horse sleigh up the mountain at a supplement cost).

Muottas Muragl toboggan ride /  St Moritz

Day 3 St Moritz / Zurich / London

After breakfast at the hotel you will have the option to head to the infamous and extensive ski slopes that St Moritz has to offer for some alpine skiing, snow boarding or cross country skiing*. If you wish to get the most out of the time you have to ski - Tony Wallington is always on call to guide you. Alternatively there is also the option for a morning's curling lesson at the St Moritz Curling Club.

You will then head back to the Bären hotel to check out and head to St Moritz train station to take the train back to Zurich airport for a British Airways evening flight back to London. (Please note that there is special Gourmino car on the 12.05 train (subject to change) that offers culinary lusciousness from fresh, regional products and select Swiss wines and the finest distillates. Please let us know if you would like us to make you a reservation (subject to availability).

*Please note that you will need to get a later train from St Moritz to Zurich and a later return flight back to London if you would like to do the skiing option.

Tour Price

COST PER PERSON: (based on a group of 10) from £1,395

Single supplement: £20

The tour cost includes:

• 2 x nights accommodation in the Baren Hotel
• breakfast daily; 1 lunch; 2 dinners (including 3 courses and half bottle of house wine)
• Insurance (including travel, track events etc)
• 1 x rides bob skeleton (a second ride will be optional and is to be paid locally)
• 1 x ride taxi bob
• Equipment and body armour
• Rent of sleds from Muottas Muragl
• 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

Optional extras:

• low cost ski boot and ski package + 1 day ski pass** - from £78 per person
• standard ski boot and ski package + 1 day ski pass - from £87 per person
• premium ski boot and ski package + 1 day ski pass - from £95 per person
• Curling school - Private lesson (50 mins) - prices from £45 per person
• Group Curling lesson (8 people maximum) with instructor (optional) (50 mins) - prices from £15 per person
• Dinner in a mountain restaurant on your second night - prices TBA
• Lunch in the Gourmino car from St Moritz to Chur. Prices start from £30 for a three course meal or from £20 for just the daily special.

** Please note that the travel insurance does not cover you for loss / damage of ski hire equipment or loss of ski pass

Please note that the prices for the optional extras are just a guideline and will need to be confirmed upon request.

Events:

St Moritz has numerous exciting events scheduled throughout the winter season including the Cartier Polo World Cup, the Winter Raid, St Moritz Gourmet Festival, Cricket on Ice, International horse racing on snow and many more. If you would like to organise your SYS experience in conjunction with one of these events please let us know.

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 / CHF 1.53 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.

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