The CRESTA is a unique design, awarded to members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Winter Sports Association on successful completion of the famous Cresta Run. With special permission from the Royal Navy we are now able to offer this iconic guernsey for general sale.
Naval contestants have worn the competition guernseys - a navy guernsey with a cream stripe across the chest and sleeves - since 1930, with Le Tricoteur supplying them since 1999.
What is the Cresta Run?
The Cresta run is a Mecca for Adrenalin enthusiasts and the birthplace of skeleton tobogganing.
Founded in 1884 by Major William Henry Bulpett of the British Army they’ve maintained a military mindset. Three types of riders commonly attend - the privileged, the aristocracy and the armed forces. The presence of the Military brings a certain discipline and punctuality but you can ride as a member of the public too, however the ice-run is not for the faint hearted.
The individual rider lies head-first on the toboggan with rakes on the end of special boots to brake and steer. Reaching speeds of up to 140km per hour, the course is inherently dangerous and the risk of falling (and injury) is high.
Women competed on equal terms to men until 1921, when they were banned and after a ban lasting 103 years (imposed because of fears it would cause breast cancer) women were allowed to compete once again in 2024.
A unique ice run is built each winter since 1884 in the town of St Moritz. The Cresta Run is made to an identical design each year by generations of the same family involved in its engineering from the very start. It is operated by the St Moritz Tobogganing Club Ltd, a private, British amateur club upholding the centuries-old tradition.
Cresta is one event in the UK Armed Forces Winter Sports Association’s annual competition programme. The specially designed knitted guernsey from Le Tricoteur is only ‘earned’ once the rider has proven they can achieve the whole length of the run, with a ceremony each year to award the official riders.
The Royal Navy & Royal Marine’s Charity
On the recommendation of Admiral de Saumarez and Lord Nelson, navy guernseys have been used as pieces of working kit in the Navy for centuries and Le Tricoteur is proud to be continuing the tradition of supplying garments to British servicemen.
We coincided the launch of this new style with the British Armed Forces Interservice Championships on the Cresta Run which takes place at the end of January every year.
As a mark of our respect and gratitude, we will be making a £10 donation to the Royal Navy and Royal Marine’s Charity for every CRESTA guernsey sold. The charity supports sailors, marines and their families, also distributing millions of pounds annually to military charities caring for children, families and veterans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
View the CRESTA guernsey here.
