In our new feature we take extracts from King Frog’s memoirs ‘Tales from a Frog Pond’ and share them with you.
Please remember: King Frog is a fictional character and any association with anyone else is on you.
I read that my old boss Tardozzi has been blabbing about me again. Can’t blame him really as to be associated with me (like beef monster munch) is always good press. David sees me as the son he never had, although he does have sons it’s just that he prefers me. So it’s like ‘father – better son relationship’. However since I also have a higher level of technical expertise (this includes knowing first time which way to turn the dial on the steering column for wipers and or screen wash to front or rear) David has always looked up to me. Think of it like an unemployed dead-beat father who’s son has somehow come good despite their own massive character failings and is now head of the family.
There is some truth in his suggestion that I was ready to quit at the end of 1998. It had all become too easy in World LillyBikes and I needed a new challenge. I had considered doubling up and riding in the World LillySports as well as LillyBikes. This would have had the added benefit of upsetting Ruben ‘capacity advantage’ Xaus.
During the off season between 98-99 we had the press launch for the new bike up in the Italian Alps – a bike I’d technically built. At that point I’d not actually skied before. However I could tell it wouldn’t be that hard so thought I’d give it a go. I observed the mountain like an eagle – only more popular and with higher cornering speed. I nursed myself in with some black slopes and as predicted the King of the Mountain had little bother in taming the best the Alps could throw at me.
And then the thought hit me. The nagging thought. I’m was pretty sure I’d left the water on to the garage. “I really hope the pipes are OK” I thought. Eventually I convinced myself they would be okay and if not I could always ask Whitham to go round and check for me. From memory Mrs Frog gave Jamie a key for things like this when I am out and he even has some spare trousers in the closet. “Yes that’s what I’ll do” I said to myself “I’ll text him when I get back”.
Thoughts once again turned to doubling up. If Rueben Xaus was so adamant that I couldn’t ride in the LillySports then maybe, just maybe an off-season challenge could be the answer? I would enter and win the Alpine World Cup!
Pretty soon word got back to Swiss skiing big cheese Pirmin Zurbriggen. Seems though old Permers couldn’t sleep for thinking I might be bringing my good looks, easy going manner and extreme lean angles to the slopes. It was so bad in fact that I heard he forgot to VideoPlus+ Ski Sunday and missed Martin Bell finishing a career high 42nd and last on the Hannenkamm.