A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DRAGON SKI CLUB

Dragons have been going to Davos almost every year since 1962, but the first Dragon presence there goes back to Hum Lynam, who was a regular visitor in the 1930s.

Skipper Lynam’s younger brother, Hum was headmaster of the Dragon from 1920-42. As with many early visitors to Davos, his reason wasn’t to ski, but because he was suffering from TB. Those that came with him, however, soon took to the skiing. His daughter Audrey came, along with the Brown family: “Bruno” who taught at the Dragon, his son David (sadly killed in the war) and June (later to be a Dragon Mum as June Soper).

“Bruno”, “Hum” and David Brown skating, with the Derby Hotel in the background.

Early stylish ski kit.

Audrey, who broke her leg on the Parsenn in 1936, remembers the early years:
"I probably first went there in the mid twenties.... I supose the real connection with the present Dragon skiers was when I took Leo Domhill out there for the Christmas holidays as he had no home in this country to go to. That was in 1930 I think."

The Parsennbahn in 1935.

Church at Sertig in 1935.

Proper Dragon ski trips, however, were a post-war phenomenon. Mike (“Putty”) Barrowclough took a trip to Verbier in 1956, including a young Gil Woods, who is still a regular Dragon ski tripper today. Following trips to Kitzbuhl (1957), Galtur (1960) and Leysin (1961), they decided to try out Davos in 1962. A party of 17 boys and 8 staff (including both Mike Gover and Bev MacInnes) had a good time, although progress by today’s standard seems to have been slow. “Putty” noted as a highlight that “The best three… went from the Weissfluhjoch to Hohenweg.” all (were) becoming quite proficient by the end of the week, and on the last afternoon we were able to take down the Parsenn run any who wanted to go.” Hotel Lohner was a great success and they determined to return the next year.

Apart from 1967 and 1970, the Dragon School continued its patronage of Hotel Lohner until 1997. The hotel was supposed to be for a maximum of 60 people, but somehow expanded its waistline in order to take up to 90 Dragons. From 1982 onwards more and more parents were included. By the time “Guv” (Mike Gover) retired from the school in 1989, we were spilling out into surrounding flats and hotels.

Senior Management! (Guv, Bev and a bottle of wine).

Sam Temple – Dragon ski trips (1982 & many others), British Freestyle Ski Champion, Winter Olympics (1998 & 2002) ~ click image to enlarge

1997 saw two major developments. The school were less and less happy with the idea of being involved in the trip and there was a danger that it would cease altogether. In order to secure its future, a group of staff and parents set up the Dragon Ski Club as a sports club totally independent of the school. Its stated aim is to introduce Dragons to skiing in general and Davos in particular.

At the same time our base, Hotel Lohner, was sold. Edward Lohner (the son of the original owner) and Peter Frei (whose family ski shop had again supported us since the beginning) came to our rescue and introduced us to the Club Hotel, where we have been ever since. Since 2001, the DSC expanded to organising two trips per year – the January trip for Old Dragon families, and the February half-term trip for Dragons and their families.

There is now also a additional week in January for adults only.