The Cresta Club, nestled in the heart of St Moritz, stands out not merely for its racetrack or picturesque setting, but rather for its distinctive members. When David Yarrow embarked on his project to capture the essence of this club, he knew that the true challenge lay not in depicting the sport or the location, but in capturing the unique “Club” atmosphere.
Founded in 1887, the St Moritz Tobogganing Club, or the Cresta Club as it is popularly known, is one of the most exclusive institutions in St Moritz, a town already noted for its elite venues. The Club exudes a distinctly British vibe, reminiscent of an old boys’ reunion at Harrow, yet it is welcoming to people from all nations and walks of life. Contrary to what might be expected of a traditional golf club culture, the Cresta Club is characterized by its lack of stuffiness, a place where people of all ages come to have fun and embrace a youthful spirit.
Yarrow faced a creative dilemma: how to authentically capture this fun-loving, storied club in a single photograph that told a story about its members. He needed to include the track and a rider, but also the faces in the crowd, a challenging combination given the safety constraints.
The ingenious solution was to position himself down the track, secured like a mountaineer to avoid sliding down the icy course with his cameras. Having slipped during an early morning reconnaissance and lost a tooth, Yarrow was well aware of the Cresta Run's dangers, a treacherous 3/4-mile stretch of downhill ice.
The Club members were amused by Yarrow's chosen vantage point and obligingly secured him in place. This unique angle, possibly a first for a camera at the Club, was made even more remarkable by the presence of Frida Aasen on the skeleton. The members in the background were captured doing what they do best – enjoying the day, embodying the spirited essence of the Cresta Club. This photograph by Yarrow is not just a visual piece but a narrative of joy, camaraderie, and the enduring charm of St Moritz’s Cresta Club.
Read what David Yarrow says about his new picture: CRESTA
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