Crestaran: First woman to run Grand National in 103 years

“It's exhilarating, dangerous and addictive. It's even crazier than downhill skiing.” Four-time Olympian and Ski Sunday host Chemie Alcott describes the iconic Cresta Run. did.

The St. Moritz Toboggan Club (SMTC) in Switzerland is home to the world's oldest and most feared natural ice chute.

And after a 103-year ban due to fears it could cause breast cancer, women are allowed to compete again, with the Cresta Run Ladies Grand National race taking place last month.

Although he did not participate in the race itself, Olcott wanted to experience tobogganing head-first down the sophisticated track that covers 1.2km from St. Moritz to Cellerina.

“I don't give up too much control of my life, but Cresta demands it. It demands that I stop fighting, find my flow, and let go,” the 41-year-old said. She achieved a top speed of 55 mph in 75 seconds on an ice track with 10 turns.

It was an experience that left her “holding my breath,” “bearing it to death,” and “churning.”

“I really love being a learner who challenges myself both mentally and physically to execute a plan. And I knew I had to slow down.” Olcott said.

“If you get excited from fear or push yourself beyond your limits and find your limits, it’s a great experience.”

Alcott was riding Cresta to highlight a “milestone” in winter sports: the first women's race since 1921.

“For the women who are changing the future of this sport, I salute them,” she said.

“For them, this may be nearly a minute of high adrenaline and speed, but the reality is much more than that.”

Karina Evans' name will go down in history as the first female Grand National winner in over a century. She won with a time of 57.76 seconds with a top speed of 111.35 miles per hour.

The last woman to win before Prohibition was Mrs. Bagley, who finished in 64.9 seconds in 1921.

“This was the best thing I've ever done. I'll never forget that feeling,” Evans said.

“This race has been in the spotlight for years. It took a lot of determination and planning to get here.

“It represents more than our individual hopes and dreams. We were collectively competing for all the women who came before us.”

Cresta was built in 1884 and SMTC was founded in 1887 by British military officers. Until the 1920s, women and men competed equally in the annual Grand Nationals.

Chairman James Sunley said, “Concerns that the blows of tobogganing could cause breast cancer were cited as reasons for the ban on female racers in 1921 and their expulsion from the club in 1929.”

“But the reality is that it is now widely agreed that their progress has been too good and too fast.”

In December 2018, members voted to overturn the long-standing ban and allow women to ride again.

Evans was the first woman to ride a truck when the ban was lifted and has now ridden the Cresta 139 times.

However, since the restart, only 13 women, including four Britons, have qualified to ride from the front of the course, or the 'top', meaning they can tackle the full course.

“The full course is so extreme that riders need to be able to consistently set fast times on the downstream banks and qualify to pass the ‘rake test’,” explained executive director Martin Greenland.

“This proves they can perform dead stops at high speeds. It usually takes multiple seasons to get to the 'top.' ”

By the way, 2002 Olympic skeleton rider Sir Clifton Lottree won the men's Grand National, also held last month, in 51.90 seconds. He has a record of 17 consecutive wins and is the best Cresta rider of all time.

But taking on Cresta comes with real risks. Five people have died while on the run, most recently in 2017. Evans himself crashed on the course.

Her passion for Cresta Run comes from her father, the late Commander Digby Willoughby. A former bobsledder and chief executive of his SMTC, he was made an MBE in 2002 in recognition of his contribution to the sport.

“Cresta is in my DNA. I grew up with Cresta, I grew up watching my dad. I lived and breathed Cresta,” Evans said.

“I've been participating in children's races since I was eight years old and loved beating the kids.

“Dad was a key instigator of the women's fan race and one of our biggest champions. He was doing cartwheels in the air.”

And this year's historic race was also a family affair, as Evans' 18-year-old daughter Isabella also competed, making her the second mother and daughter to take part in the Grand National.

“Bringing women back is the greatest thing to happen to the club in modern times,'' club general secretary Martin Greenland said. [Evans] There could not have been a more deserving winner. ”