Pippa Middleton - 88th Vasaloppet cross country ski marathon in Mora - 03/04/12 (HQ) adds

I write : Impressive Pippa : not only her bod' but her achievements too !

Source : By Katherine Faulkner, Deborah Arthurs and Nadia Mendoza / the dailymail.co.uk :
Finally, a voice to match the face! Pippa Middleton speaks for the first time on camera after cross-country ski race --- Duchess of Cambridge's sister takes a tumble as she learns the discipline --- Pippa finished in position 412 in the women's race

Kate Moss is said to be so famous because she created an air of mystery by remaining silent. And Pippa Middleton was fast re-creating a devoted army of fans based on enchanting looks alone. However, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge has finally spoken on camera after completing one of the toughest cross-country skiing events in the world yesterday.

The 28-year-old – who had never done any cross-country skiing before – braved sub-zero temperatures during the 56-mile (90-km) challenge in Western Sweden. When she was quizzed over her efforts, Pippa told the reporter she found the race 'tiring'. Ms Middleton, who engaged in a series of last-minute training sessions to brush up on her technique said she simply prepared 'over a couple of weekends'. She also refused to rate herself out of 10, saying she was an 'average' skier. When she was asked what time she had planned to complete the race in, she rather sarcastically replied: 'To get round in time'.

Arriving in Sweden a week before the race, Pippa and her brother James got kitted out with skis and poles and hit the snow to get to grips with the discipline. Already a keen skier, Pippa was at ease with the equipment - but nonetheless struggled to keep her balance on some of the course's more challenging parts. She looked determined to master the art, spending her time ahead of the race practising the rhythmic swinging of the arms and smooth leg movements necessary for the kind of efficient and high-speed skiing style needed to earn her a decent place in the pecking order.

The arduous training more than paid off in the end, as Pippa managed to secure an impressive 412th place out of 15,800 racers when the race went ahead on the weekend. After the race, one local who hands the winner a wreath, proved the envy of many men when he planted a kiss on her cheek at the end of the course.

Kate's younger sister joined 15,800 other skiers for the race between Salen and Mora, including her brother James. But sweating it out on skis did not mean her exacting sartorial standards had to slip. Miss Middleton, who turned up with immaculate hair and make-up, started the race with a white hat but ended it in a fetching orange one, which she co-ordinated with her sunglasses and shoes.

She crossed the finish line after 7 hours, 13 minutes and 36 seconds – described by veterans as a ‘very impressive’ time. When asked if she minded finishing 26 minutes behind her brother, she replied: ‘No, that was probably fair.’ The party planner explained she had ‘never really skied cross-country before’, but said she and James, 23, had done ‘lots of fitness training’ in the UK to prepare for the race, as well as two weekends spent skiing in Switzerland.

During the race – much of which was uphill – Miss Middleton stopped to drink the local blabarsoppa, or blueberry soup, a drink handed out to racers which is said to boost energy. Per Strid, a spokesman for the Vasaloppet race, one of the oldest events of its kind in the world, said: ‘I must congratulate Pippa – she had a fantastic performance. What she achieved was really impressive for a first timer. She was obviously very fit and in very good shape.’

The Middletons were raising money for the Magic Breakfast charity, which provides a pre-school meal to poor inner-city children in the UK. So far they have raised nearly £7,500 for the cause.

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