Trophée des Derbys 2008

The season has had a good start, snow had fallen in abundance since mid November and it is time to get your application in for the mythic Derbe de la Meije. However you may not realize that there are also 13 other Derby’s that form part of the season long Trophée des Derbys, now in its fourth season.

The Derby, taken from an English horse racing term meaning an “open race” is the ancestor of today’s freeride. The competition is over a time course open to everyone, licensed or not. The principal is simple. Everyone together at the top of the mountain (for reasons of safety riders are normally dispatched in groups) and the first one to arrive at the bottom , by whichever route, wins. The slopes are avalanche controlled and certain dangerous sections (such as the Trifides at la Grave) marked as off limits. The Derby Trophy has 2000 competitors over the season.

To be classified in the results competitors must take part in at least three legs of the Trophée des Derbysover the season. Each leg has a certain number of points depending on the placement and discipline: skiing, snowboarding, telemark and monoski. The 2008 edition has 14 races in the Alps, Pyrénées and Jura starting next weekend at Orcières 1850.
- Derby du soleil, Orcières Merlette, 12/13 January
- Derby des Posettes, Vallorcine, 19 January
- Derby Imotep Cup, La Chapelle d’Abondance, 26 January
- Derby du Mont de la guerre, Champagny en Vanoise, 2 Febuary
- Derby de la Combaz, Les Contamines Montjoie, 9 Febuary
- Derby du Monrond, Métabief, Jura, 16 Febuary
- Derby de la Toudray, L’Alpe du Grand Serre, 8 March
- Derby Transcendance, Vaujany, 9 March
- Derby Da Fat, Verbier, Suisse, 15 March
- Derby des Pyrénées, Piau, 22 March
- Derby de la Chauffe, St. Sorlin d’Arves, 23 March
- Derby de Serre Chevalier, 30 March
- Derby de la Meije, La Grave, 4 April
- Derby du Pic Ombière, Névache, 12/13 April
For more information visit the website : http://www.tropheedesderbys.com