US Edition 
The season's best amateur ski races
Fancy more of a challenge this season? Then why not take part in an amateur ski race? Yolanda Carslaw selects the season's best.
January 11-13: The BVC 24-hour Race, Villars
Founded by F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve, this charity relay-race in Switzerland celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008. Teams of up to six - a total of around 900 racers - compete to get the highest mileage on a blue slope at Bretaye, skiing the run again and again, ascending each time by four-seater chairlift, for 24 hours.
Each team has a bib and a timing belt (it beeps as it clocks each run), which must be transferred to the next racer at every changeover. There's a pop concert in full swing next door as floodlights illuminate the piste at night.
Who goes? Mainly Swiss, with a few French, Germans and British. A range of ages and abilities, from confident piste skiers to catsuit-clad experts. There's also a well subscribed disabled category and, new last year, a children's section.
The lowdown "It's not steep, but the gates are set so that you can pick up a lot of speed," says Amanda Pirie, a PE teacher from Scotland whose team came fifth earlier this year. "It's a sprint, then you race for the chairlift, because there's a 10-second gap between each chair. The ride up lasts about four minutes. Changeover tactics are crucial: teams can decide how often to swap - we skied 40 minutes each - and serious contenders change quickly by using every team member to help transfer the belt and bib to the next racer."
Further information www.bcv24hvillars.com.
March 9: Engadine Ski Marathon, St Moritz
Up to 12,000 racers on skinny, lightweight cross-country skis propel themselves 42km along the beautiful Engadine valley every March. The race, first staged in 1969, is run with military precision by the Swiss army, which even sets up a temporary railway station at the finish to transport racers home. Racers can opt for "classic" or "skating" style.
Who goes? In 2007, 30 different nationalities took part, from Swiss and German to British, Russian and Japanese. Competitors must be at least 16. Racers are divided into Elite A and B (some of whom finish in less than 90 minutes), Main Groups A and B and Volksläufer, or "people racers", the slowest of whom take six hours.
The lowdown British participant Michael Liebreich, a former Olympic moguls racer, says: "I took up cross-country because I was getting fat, and each year I take a group of 30, some of whom have never been langlaufing. On race day the sun is just rising over the mountain when you're at the start. You cross frozen lakes, then go into the forest by the old Olympic ski jump, pass St Moritz, then climb into the national park.
"There's a lethal downhill section lined with mattresses, then you ski through gorgeous medieval villages. People dread the uphill sections, but they turn into bottlenecks and you get a rest. You need a thin hat, light tracksuit and long underwear, sunglasses, a long-sleeved t-shirt and a windcheater, but not ski-wear."
Further information www.engadin-skimarathon.ch. To join Michael, visit www.liebreich.com.
March 27: Verbier Challenge Cup
Around 200 skiers and boarders race in this giant slalom in Verbier's Savoleyres area, organised by the Ski Club of Great Britain. Emphasis is on taking part and having fun; categories include children, families, various age groups, boarders, telemarkers, resort workers and instructors. Just a few catsuits make an appearance, and helmets are not compulsory.
Who goes? Around 70 per cent of entrants are British, many Verbier regulars; most of the rest are Swiss or Scandinavian. Almost half are children, the tiniest of whom can be accompanied down (though not led) by parents. Ability ranges from near-beginner to hotshot and age from four years to veterans.
The lowdown "The majority try to go hell for leather, smashing through the gates," says Ski Club rep Gerry Aitken. "But it's fun for children, and quite a few adults who have been complete beginners at the start of the week take part and love it. I'd advise racers to inspect the course first - it has 20 to 30 gates - and just to go for it. For spectators, the best view is from the top."
Further information www.skiclub.co.uk.
April 2-4: Derby de la Meije, La Grave
The Derby, in which racers tackle the wild terrain of the off-piste French resort of La Grave, has grown into a cult event. Racers enter in teams of three, with at least one female, and each member competing in a different discipline (ski, snowboard, telemark or monoski). Some also take to the snow on beach-lilos, blades, sledges and snow-bikes. Helmets are compulsory, catsuits forbidden and fancy dress strongly encouraged.
Most people use giant slalom skis, and the fastest boarders use "fish-boards" (a large, shaped design). Ten racers set off every minute from the 3,550m start. Snow-permitting, it's 2,150m of vertical to the finish.
Who goes? Most racers are French, although last year's race drew 24 nationalities, including a dozen or so Britons. You have to be 18 and a competent off-piste skier, but standards vary: last year's winner made it in 4min 57sec (on skis), but some racers take more than 30 minutes and some even sit down for a rest on course.
The lowdown Jonathan Trace, a financial consultant and the fastest British boarder in the 2007 Derby, says: "It's a serious race, but you could be in the start gate next to Batman and one French guy went down head-first, face-down, on a lilo. You line up with nine others at the top and every minute a marshal yells "Go!". You schuss the only groomed section and cross a flat stretch that's a killer for boarders - although the lilo carried a lot of speed. The race is harder than it looks - I had to stop for 30 seconds even though I was determined to get a good time."
Further information www.derby delameije.com.
April 16-20: Patrouille des Glaciers, Valais
A biennial high-mountain hike across the glaciers of the Valais, in Switzerland, following part of the Haute Route, either from Zermatt to Verbier (53km; a total of nearly 4,000m vertical climb) or, for the "short" course, from Arolla to Verbier (26km; about 1,900m vertical climb).
For uphill sections, touring ski bases are fitted with skins, and boots are unclipped from the bindings, which allows skiers to climb easily. Compulsory equipment includes avalanche transceiver, head-torch, survival blanket, rope, shovel and harness.
Who goes? Seasoned and the seriously fit touring fans, nearly half less than 30 years old. Mostly Swiss with 15 per cent foreigners and 10 per cent women. The 3,700 participants, who race in groups of three, set off in waves of 50 every half hour from 1am, or later for the short course. The record time for the full course, set by a French-Italian team, is 6hrs 48min 18sec. The female record, set by a Swiss team, is 8hrs 15min 15sec.
The lowdown Caroline Ogi, from Bern, says: "I did the short course in 2004, setting out from Arolla at 4am. The first climb is steep, and unless you get to the Col de Riedmatten checkpoint within certain time you're not allowed further - we had 10 minutes to spare. Then you can take your time, and you ski across glaciers and cols, until you reach Verbier, where you run about 10 minutes to the finish - downhill, luckily. It's a race, but it's about spirit - you almost cry at the end because you're so tired and proud of yourself."
Further information www.pdg.ch.
April 19: the White thrill (Weisse Rausch), St Anton
Places are limited to 500 in this 9km end-of-season dash from Valluga (2,650m) to St Anton village centre (1,305m), but the mass start - at 5pm - is quite something. The course covers piste, off-piste and an uphill stretch and racers run 100m through the streets to the finish. Most are on skis, but there are categories for snowboards, telemarks and short skis (up to 1m), too. Helmets compulsory.
Who goes? The competition's hot, with a good contingent of local ski instructors and other resort workers. Racers come from all over Austria, too, as well as France (a Frenchman holds the record of 7min 52), Switzerland and Germany, and a few Britons take part. The minimum age is 17.
The lowdown Dieter Leiter, a ski shop worker from St Anton who came third in 2006, says: "To get in a good position for the start, you need to be at the top an hour before the start. It feels pretty dangerous when 500 people set off together, and you have to be careful when it gets narrow. Quite a few people fall over. When I did it, the top part was powdery, but it was icy low down. The steepest bit is the Eisfall, around half way. You take off your skis for the climb, which takes about 30 seconds but is knackering. Most people use off-piste skis, about 180cm."
Further information www.stantonamarlberg.com
January 19, 2009: The Inferno, Mürren
Founded in 1928 by the British, this is now the world's biggest amateur downhill race. 1,800 skiers take part, setting off every 12 seconds from near the summit of the 2,970m Schilthorn down a pisted course that takes in thigh-busting schusses, gullies, hairpin bends and at least one uphill slog.
If there's enough snow, it's 15.8km to the finish at Lauterbrunnen (and 2,000m of vertical). Helmets are compulsory, catsuits common and the odd eccentric cruises down in fancy dress. Skis only; some click into 220cm planks; most just add 10 or 20cm to their usual length. For true punishment, do the Inferno Langlauf (cross-country), too - three gruelling circuits of the cliff-edge village.
Who goes? Racers must sign up as a member of a ski club, such as the Kandahar (www.kandahar.org.uk) or the Ski Club of Great Britain (www.skiclub.co.uk). Taking part are Swiss, Germans and Austrians, around 200 British skiers - mostly members of the Kandahar Ski Club - and the odd Czech, New Zealander or Spaniard. You have to be 18, but there's no upper limit - veteran racer Peter Lunn took part aged 90 in 2005. The standard varies - last year's winning time was 4min 26sec (on a shortened course) and the tail-enders clocked around 24 minutes.
The lowdown Mürren-bred Oliver Feuz, a past winner, advises: "Stay within your limits, don't go too fast and watch out for other racers. Keep warm and calm at the start and remember, even the fastest guys get nervous."
Further information www.inferno-muerren.ch. Entries for next year's race closed in September. to enter in 2009, join a club - or form your own.