The side of a hill just outside Edinburgh is not the ideal place to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon in November but throw into the mix some dendex, 2000 students and a banging sound system and it becomes an altogether more inviting environment.
Welcome to BUDS (British Universities Dryslope Champs)!
For those that do not know, BUDS is the world biggest dryslope event taking place annually at the Midlothian Ski Centre (aka Hillend) in Edinburgh. It is a two day event kicking off on the Friday (5th Nov-2010) with the ski slalom, snowboard giant slalom and slopestyle before culminating on the Saturday (6th Nov-2011) with the giant slalom (skiers), boardercross and big air. Of course, no student experience is complete without a nightlife to outmatch anything that happens during the day! The eponymously-titled Friday Night party plays out at the City nightclub – one of Edinburgh’s largest après-ski venues with “top DJs, dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness.” Entertainment on the Saturday night purports to be an altogether more refined affair with the BUDS Ball, a black tie event and awards ceremony but, more often than not, it too descends into an evening of drunken debauchery!
BUDS 2010 was no different. The skiing and snowboarding were of an exceptional standard and the evening entertainment was...vibrant(!)...which made the standard of the skiing and snowboarding the following mornings, even more exceptional!
Well done BUSC – great organisation, great parties - and thanks to the Midlothian Snowsports Centre!
For more information:
BUSC – http://www.buscevents.com/
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