Photos: First woman to conquer Cresta Run toboggan track

Will Webb from Oxford photographed Carina Evans as she hurtled down the deadly Cresta Run in Switzerland, becoming the first woman to take on the ice track since a 'men only' rule was scrapped.

Mother-of-two Mrs Evans, a 41-year-old Army reservist who lives near Henley, hit speeds of more than 70mph as she raced head-first into the history books.

Mr Webb landed a job as the Cresta Run's official photographer in December, and was there to document her speedy descent the week before last.

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The 19-year-old, who lives in Summertown, said: "It was really cool, there was a great atmosphere.

"There was a crowd around her - it's a tradition when someone goes off the top for the first time."

Mrs Evans was the first woman in 90 years to conquer the full course since the ban on women was lifted last year.

The retired athlete, who represented Great Britain in the Skeleton World Cup, is now chief executive of a pet products company and part of the 7 Rifles Army reservists, based at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon.

Mr Webb, a former pupil of St Edward's School in Summertown, bagged the professional photographer job after seeing an advert on Facebook.

Picture: Will Webb/Roving Images

The run is split into two halves - beginners can try out the lower section called Junction, and once they are fast enough they can qualify to go to the top.

Before this season, Junction had only been open to women on the last day of the season, and the full run had been completely out-of-bounds.

Mr Webb has tackled Junction many times himself, and is working his way up to the top.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail from St Moritz, he said: "To get to the top you have to do two runs at 46 seconds but my fastest is 52 seconds.

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"I had been skiing before I got here but hadn't done anything ice track-related - if it's a quiet day, hopefully I'm able to ride as well."

The photographer described the feeling on the run as 'amazing', adding: "You get a little bit nervous but it's definitely an adrenaline rush.

"There are metal spikes at the end of your boots called rakes that help you grip, you use them to dig into the ice to slow down.

"As you get more experienced you use them less and less - you're deliberately trying to make yourself go faster.

"There is a corner called the Shuttlecock and if you don't steer correctly and have your weight in the correct place, you'll fall out."

He described how Mrs Evans was cheered on as she pushed off into the icy path, and a tannoy announced as she hit the finish line: "You are now a Cresta rider."

The Cresta Run was hacked out of natural ice during the 1870s and has seen five fatalities, the most recent of which was in 2017.

Dozens of women have now braved the track in celebration of the ban being lifted, but Mrs Evans - whose late father was a record-breaking bob-sleigher - will remain the first.