There was a time when customs needed officials who could get around on mountain terrain in summer and winter to control the Jura, Alps and Pyrenees borders and stop contraband. On 29 December 1908, the customs administration published a circular to create units that could combat “fraud during the snow season”. This gave birth to the mountain units and the tradition of skiing customs officers.

 
The first patch worn by the skiers customs officers on the pull of mountain .
Morzine, les Rousse customs ski academy metal breast badge ( 1950 ).
first skier breast badge (1950/60 ), manufacturer : Drago
Second skier breast badge ( 1960-70 ) manufacturer : Drago ,old issue.
variation of the breast badge above,manufacturer : Drago, new issue.
The pennant of the skiers from Chambery

 

 

 

 

 

In 1951, the Swiss customs administration contacted its Italian counterpart to suggest holding an international ski meet for their skiing officials. The very next year, the Italians proposed extending the competition to the other Alpine nations of Germany, Austria and France. The main event in the early days was the patrol race, run over a course in everyday service conditions carrying a load and a rifle. A giant slalom was also held, and alpine combined was added to the programme in 1956. In 1997, Slovenia became the sixth Alpine nation to take part in the competition . The events are all listed on the International Ski Federation calendar. They cover nordic skiing – freestyle cross- country and the patrol run (four competitors including two biathletes) – and alpine skiing with the slalom and giant slalom. .In the 1950s, customs launched a drive to make their officials high-level athletes, taking on first-rate skiers on the French ski teams to train their officers, in the 1960s, customs started recruiting top skiers as auxiliary public employees. In 1967, thirty-five contract jobs were earmarked for top-level skiers as part of a proactive assistance policy to recruit and pay staff made available to the French ski team in the winter season. This system of support evolved over time to meet changes in training methods, as the French Ski Federation athletes found themselves almost constantly in training. This development was underpinned and made official in 1984 by an agreement signed between Customs and the Ministry for Youth and Sports, in which Customs undertook to reserve 40 jobs in its budget for top skiers in the form of renewable annual contracts. Major champions have benefited from this policy: Léo LACROIX, Jean- Claude KILLY, Franck PICCARD and many others.Now the competitors are all top-notch sportsmen and women under contract to the customs administrations of their countries.

 

 

France has hosted the competition twelves times: in the ski resorts of Revard in 1954 and 1959, Megève in 1964, 1988 and 1995, Val d’Isère in 1969, Alpe d’Huez in 1974 and 1979, Méribel – Les Allues in 1984 -Val Cenis in 2000 and Méribel in 2006.A great number of patches and badge were especially manufactured for these events.

 

the first patch (42x50) worn by the french team

variation (52x67 ).
the ski certificate of hiking ratified by the French Ski Federation passed by first customs officer
patch like the metal breast badge of the watching landing branch.
shoulder patch worn in the years 90.

thermo-sticking patch for ski overall

the skiers' patch worn on the right hand side of the ski suit in the 95s.

thermo-sticking patch like the shoulder patch of the watching landing branch.

The last skiers patch.

Mont Revard 1954 (medal)

1954, the 3rd Mont Revard event in Savoie,

1959, 8th tournoi Chamonix event (Haute-Savoie).

1964, 13th Megeve event Haute-Savoie.
1969, 18 th Val d'Isère event ( Savoie ).
1974, 23th Alpe d'Huez event ( Savoie ).

1979, 28th Alpe d'HUEZ event ,Savoie.

1984, 33th Méribel event ( Savoie ).

1988, 37th Megeve event ( Haute-Savoie).
1995, 42th Megeve event ( Haute-Savoie ) .
2000, 47th Val-Cenis event ( Savoie ).
   
2006 , 53th Méribel event (breast badge )
2006 , 53th Méribel event (shoulder patch)
patch like the shoulder patch of the watching landing branch.

 

 

 

 

1952, Italy ( Passo Rolle) first event.
1953, Switzerland (Andermatt)
1954 Le Revard France

1955 Austria (Insbruck)

1956 (garmisch-partenkirchen) Germany.
1957 (Predazzo-Passo Rolle).Italy
1958.Switzerland (Grindelwald)
1959.LE REVARD CHAMONIX France
1960.ZEEL- AM- SEE Austria

1961.OBERAMMERGAU

Germany.

1962 Cortina d'empezzo Italy

1963 ZERMATT Switzerland

1964.MEGEVE France
1965.BADGASTEIN Austria

1966 GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN .Germany.
1967 PASO ROLLE Italy

1968.SAINT MORITZ Switzerland

1969.VAL D ISERE France
1970 BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM Austria
1971 FISCHEN BOSTERLANG Germany.
1972.PREDAZZO Italy

1973.SAINT MORITZ Switzerland

1974 ALPE D HUEZ France
1975.SCHLADMING- RAMSAU Austria
1976.SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA Italy
1977.PFRONTEN OSTALLGAU Germany.
1978 CRAN MONTANA Switzerland

1979.ALPES D HUEZ France

1979.ALPES D HUEZ France
1979.ALPES D HUEZ France
1980.LIENZ Austria
1981.BODENMAIS Germany.
1982 PASSO ROLLE Italy
1983 LENK Switzerland
1984 MERIBEL France
1985 PASSO ROLLE Italy
TOURNAMENT CANCELLED ( no enought snow ).
1986.berchtesgaden Germany.
1987 LENK Switzerland
1988.megeve France
1989.GOSSAU Austria
1990 PASSO ROLLE Italy
1991.PASSO ROLLE Italy
1992 RUHPOLDING Germany.
1993 LENK Switzerland
1994 FIESCH-GOMS
1995 MEGEVE France
1996 Austria
1997 PREDAZZO Italy
1998 Germany.(Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
1999 GOMS Switzerland
2000 LANSLEBOURG France
2001 SEEFELD Austria
2002 BLED (1er tournoi des six nations avec l'arrivée de la Slovénie ).
2003 passo rolle Italy
2004 GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Germany.
2005 GOMS Switzerland
2006 MERIBEL France

2006 MERIBEL.France
2007 Hoch-Pustertal Austria