11th March 2006  was a perfect weekend for winter sports lovers - bright blue skies, crisp snow and more than 20 of the biggest names in professional snowboarding reunited in a charity competition organised by eight EDHEC students.

The competition was organised as part of the Entrepreneurship Projects that all EDHEC students have to undertake and in which they have the chance to mount and bring to a conclusion a team project using the theory they have learned in the classroom.

Ride 4 us is a snowboard competition patronized by Johann Gregoire, French world champion skier of 1999 and finalist in the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in 2002. It is an event that enables participants and spectators to enjoy a day in the mountains with competitions, demonstrations and of course good food. However, it is not just another extreme sports competition. What makes this event so special is the fact that half of the money raised is donated to a regional association of the Cote d' Azur that helps paralyzed people discover the joy of winter sports.

The event was held  in Isola 2000, a ski resort just one hour from the city of Nice. Hundreds of spectators marveled at the impressive jumps and figures performed by professional team riders. Winter sports fans had all day to watch the demonstration and the competition, test new equipment and of course practice their favorite sports (skiing and snowboarding).  Even those who weren't motivated enough to ski, enjoyed themselves at the Ride 4 Us event, spending their time visiting the sponsors' exhibition tents or even better sampling the local traditional meals and mulled wine on hand at the resort's numerous bars and restaurants.

The competitions finished at sunset after the distribution of raffle prizes where scores of happy spectators left with prizes of new skis, snowboards, ski and snowboard equipment, sportswear and other prizes.  The event itself continued well into the early hours in a local nightclub where the prize-giving ceremony was held and a cheque was presented to the French Association for the Disabled.  The showing of a film on the event made by EDHEC's film association Cyclope crowned the evening's entertainment.

Who says that doing charity and having fun can't go together?