Surbiton swapped traditional sporting grounds for an unlikely ski slope as residents took to St Mark’s Hill for Ski Sunday on the 11 October.
This event, hosted by The Community Brain, was developed by director Robin Hutchinson in 2009 and has grown in popularity ever since.
The event invited participants to strap blocks of ice to their feet and bathtubs, and attempt to ski down a makeshift slope.
Anne Hutchinson, volunteer member of The Community Brain, said: “It was created just to make Surbiton a bit of a happier place and make people appreciate where they live.”
Participants competed in two races, the first of which saw individuals race against the clock with blocks of ice taped to their feet.
The second race involved four ice blocks taped to the four corners of the bathtub and participants were pushed down the slope, where as many as three people could go down at once.
The event offered a light-hearted alternative to traditional racing, with participants competing for fun as well as the fastest time in the skiing races.
Participant Rob Page said: “When we saw that Surbiton Ski Sunday was happening, we dusted off our ’80s-inspired ski outfits once more and strolled down to the high street with no plan other than to bring some additional ski fun to the event.
“It’s fair to say that it definitely brought life back to sleepy suburbia.”
Borough of Kingston mayor Thay Thayalan and deputy mayor, Jane Lim attended the event to show their support for the community, and presented awards to the fastest participants in the skiing race.
Even police officers were drawn to the chaos, taking part in a luge-style descent in a bathtub, while the deputy mayor joined in on another luge style event on another run.
The event also raised funds for The Community Brain, with donations welcomed from participants and spectators.
Hutchinson said: “We’re purely a community interest group that tries to put a little back into where we live.”
The festivities extended beyond the ski slope with The King’s Soup, a folk tale written by Robin Hutchinson about a selfish king who learns the value of generosity through a meal prepared by villagers, hosted at Claremont Gardens.
Local businesses set up stalls where they showcased and sold their goods in, while a live re-enactment brought Robin Hutchinson’s book to life.
Attendees were encouraged to bring a potato or leek to contribute to a shared pot of soup, as featured in the book, which was accompanied by live music.
The book conveys the message that small contributions can bring people together and strengthen a community.
Robin Hutchinson said: “We’ll find a thousand reasons to hate each other, but we need to find the big reasons to smile and talk.”
The Community Brain is a non-profit community interest company which works with different organisations and partners to bring people together.
Its project coordination, Himali Patil, said: “It grows every year. More and more people find out about these events, bringing more people to Surbiton.”
Feature Image: Oliver Monk
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