Slippery slope to a top trip

The ALMR's annual ski trip is fast becoming one of the best industry networking opportunities of the year - for those who survive the slopes .

This year, Snifter joined the sojourn to St Anton , Austria, to delight on lookers with his imp ression of Bambi on skis.

There was a distinct lack of snow and icy conditions prevailed at the start of the week. When the snow finally arrived on the last day, Snifter managed to fall over in spectacular style no fewer than four times in a single hour.

A much worse fate awaited Snifter's colleague Mark Stretton who collided with the one slope so spectacularly that immediate surgery was needed to pin his injured shoulder. Sky head of

business Iain Holden joined the injury list as well at one stage with a torn ligament . Unusually, this year's trip saw its first wedding, with SA Brain's retail director Phillip Lay marrying Kirsty Leo. The couple's stag and hen nights took place on the Monday evening with St Anton's marvellous apres-ski providing a terrific backdrop.

Other highlights included a gala dinner with a tour de force speech from Thorley Taverns boss Philip Thorley. Mentioned in dispatches was Crown Awning boss Tony Holman who, it seems, suffers ski-based "wardrobe malfunctions" more regularly than Janet Jackson.

The trip, now in its third year, is growing quickly in popularity . Credit goes to Niki Robinson and Nick Culverhouse, together with Jason Wollington, of Captiva, for such faultless organisation. Thanks to Wells & Young's and Scottish & Newcastle for sponsoring the trip.