THE PROOF, THE PICTURES...

23rd of January 2004		First outing at the Monster sales conference in Boston
This was followed up with a Windsurfing collection, taken on the 4th of February, 400 metres above sea level in sub zero conditions...it was very cold
However, secretly on the snow covered mountains, Emma had invited the Press to capture the Royal RND on vacation in the Alps...		...and surprise -this was snapped on the 3rd of February.
Meanwhile, still during February, at Le Chatelard at Bourg Saint Maurice in the French Alps, Eric had taken a youth potion and travelled back in time to the second world war...or is that Maxime entering the challenge as substitute for his father...
		Emma strikes again, obviously determined to take the prize with April's challenge to the crown....taken on crossing from Gosport - Cherbourg - Yarmouth - Cowes - Gosport. 3 days, 190 nautical miles. 2nd April

In order to celebrate the end of a fantastic first quarter at Monster Germany, Kai and Thomas hosted a BBQ party. Unfortunately the resident cocktail manager forgot his RND uniform, however Kai proudly sported his sartorial chef's T, introducing this killer brand to the Monster crew.

OK, enough posing. David S, gets married in June, so off they go to the other side of the world and go for the prize....
Helicopter required... ...and the pictures say it all!

The French hit back: Anyone know where Rumania is on a map? Well our intrepid challengers went from monuments to mountains to monasteries all over Rumania and here's the proof.

Southern Spain in August: beaches, sun, sand, relaxing...	No, No No... First of all hijack your hosts immaculate Jeep and then drive it up streams and through jungles...	The long way to the shops
Would you mess with this man? Especially if you met him at the top of a Spanish mountain.
''Polo Sport'' never heard of them - what sort of a brand is that??? Get your mountaineering RND t-shirt on!

What did you do this Summer?

Challenge squared.

Early August: Pedro shaved his head, throws away his razor and in the South of France begins his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in this holy year of 2004.

The Facts:

Full distance walked: 740 km

Time taken: 21 days

Biggest day: 56 km

The Highs: Getting to the end of the pilgrimage, phone calls of support

The Lows: Coming down from the highs...

David S, seems to have found an addiction to flying... His birthday treat, flying a jumbo jet from High Wycombe, over Silverstone race track and (fortunately) back.

Paul E enters the 2004 challenge on the last day of the year with this fantastic RND view, along with the mountains in the background at St Anton, Austria; at the top of Fang.