The Ladies' Ski Club

Jasmin Taylor - Season Update

This season has been one of the toughest to date! The racing started, or rather didn’t start with the British Championships in Rauris, Austria. I was supposed to travel over in mid January but had to cancel my travels and races due to a severe chest infection. I was gutted and focused all efforts into recovering in time for the World Junior Championships.

The World Junior Championships were in Chamonix and Les Houches (my home resort) so in one aspect I had an advantage! I finished the Sprint (Chamonix night race) with 5th and a 9th place overall. (It’s both the Junior Champs and an ordinary World Cup) The second day was the Classic in Les Houches and I had a better day of racing finishing 4th in the Junior race and 10th overall. I was really disappointed because I felt I’d skied well, the classic is physically very tough, so I was still not well enough to really push it – the timing was very unfortunate.

I was feeling really down after this set of races, having got a 3rd position the year before – I returned home for a few days rest. I then went back to Les Houches feeling recharged and ready to continue training in preparation for the next set of races in Norway.
I travelled to Norway in mid February, ready to begin the biggest block of races I had ever done. The tour began with World Cups in Rjukan where I finished 5th (Duel Sprint, qualified 8th) and then moved on to Geilo for World Cup Finals where I finished 5th again. This felt like a massive achievement as my goal has always been to reach the top 5 in World Cup.

Straight from Norway, everyone went to Spain (Espot) for the World Championships. I was exhausted even before having started racing! Aching limbs, high resting heart rate, constant nose bleeds – all big signs of over-training, but when you’re racing in such important races, there’s nothing you can do! This was my first World Championships, so I was so excited to even be there – I didn’t ski my best, but still managed an 8th place in the Duel qualification which meant I would race the World Champion! I didn’t win, but it was great experience and it meant I finished, again 5th overall.

My best result of all didn’t come from the World Cup series though! In between World Cup races, we also have a French Cup series where the French National team always compete as well as the Swiss, American and the British National Team’s. After podium’ing at every race but one this season, I had clocked up enough points to take the Overall League Champions Cup! I’m the French National Cup Champion. I also raced in the French Championships and won the Junior Duel Sprint race, I can’t claim to be the French Junior Champion though, as I am not French!

Well, that’s everything I think! Now for some rest before starting my summer training!

Thank you to the Ladies Ski Club for all their support, it’s made such a massive difference.

Skiplex - Improve your technique
Special Members Offer

Skiplex is offering members a 50% discount on instruction between 10.00 and 12.30 in the morning. Caroline went along to try it out…..

The session lasts “one hour”, which is divided into two 15 minute sessions on the slope, with a 15 minute rest in between, so technically the session last 45 minutes but allow an hour as it is quite useful to watch the session before you. When I arrived, there were two children on the slope who were on their fourth ever session. They were snow ploughing confidently and beginning to work towards parallel turns.

Perhaps I should describe the ‘slope’. It is a moving carpet, at a guess about 4 ski lengths wide, and perhaps 8 to 10 long. There is a bar at the bottom, and you start off holding onto that, in snow plough, until you feel confident to let go, at which point, by slowing up (increasing the edge pressure in the plough) you can move up the slope away from the bar. Having achieved a steady position in the middle of the slope, you start turning ‘on the spot’ by using your edges. I found this bit really easy and, if I am honest was itching to get skiing properly, but in fairness when I attend coaching sessions on artificial slopes, we are often made to take things right back to basics and do an ‘active plough’, which this certainly was. Despite not having to stop to get on a lift, 15 minutes passed remarkably quickly, and I then had a 15 minute break to watch the youngsters trying to get to grips with parallel turns.

Back on the slope, and assuming that I would be demonstrating how parallel turns should be done (ha ha) I was in for a bit of a shock. The instructor explained to me that if I didn’t get my weight distribution exactly right I would get spat off the side of the slope very quickly – he wasn’t exaggerating!! It was far more difficult than I was expecting, but the great thing was that with a mirror in front I could see exactly what I was doing wrong and if I leant into the turn I just about had time to see that for myself before the green matting at the side of the slope beckoned once more! For those who are now getting alarmed, it all happens quite slowly and doesn’t hurt (other than ones slightly over inflated ego). I did fall once, but the instructor was very quick to hit one of the numerous emergency stop buttons.

Again, 15 minutes went awfully quickly, although having worked quite hard I was definitely looking for a nice chairlift, or even a poma, to have a quick rest on! I came off feeling that my technique had improved and that I definitely wanted to have another go soon to try and crack those turns properly. It is not a substitute for hours of effortlessly cruising down beautifully groomed pistes, not least because instead of beautiful scenery you get to look at yourself for 30 mins (!), but it is excellent if you want to focus on your technique before, or even after, visiting the slopes, and I would most definitely recommend sending any beginners along so that they can hit the ground running, with good technique, before hitting the slopes for real.

See the 'Members' section for details of this and other members offers.

Visit www.skiplex.co.uk to find out more about how it works and for locations

Chiswick call 020 8994 3314                  
Reading call 0118 9977790 
Basingstoke opens summer 2013

Ellie Koyander - Season Update

It has been an extraordinary season this year. My skiing has really developed, been the best it’s ever been and I had a number of major breakthroughs throughout. Every World Cup race was an opportunity to qualify for Sochi and whilst my coaches and I had to make a tough decision about leaving out some Olympic Qualification World Cups competitions (simply due to the huge costs of competing) it has been awesome to be supported by the Ladies Ski Club. Even as an Olympian I have had to self fund my programme towards the next Olympics in Sochi 2014 and I finished the season having met the IOC Olympic qualification criteria and also the BOA’s in the single run of the dual moguls event at the World Championships in Voss, Norway. There’s always a competition within a competition and I now need to ensure I stay in the top 30 in the World when the qualification window closes two weeks before the games next season and the complicated task of figuring out all the nations quotas is complete.

For the meantime, I’ve now begun the Olympic year and am working hard on my training and building on this season where I have improved my scores in all elements of my skiing and also competed my backflip at every competition. Thanks again to the Ladies Ski Club for everything!

Ellie
Ellie Koyander
TeamGB 2010 Olympian

June Bailey

Longtime member June Bailey (nee Crosthwaite) sadly died on 2 March 2013.

A skier all her life, she competed in events such as the Lady Lunn slalom in 1949. Her photograph alongside other British women competitors in that event (including Fiona Campbell, Sheena Mackintosh and Hilary Laing) was featured in the Tatler and Bystander on 26 January of that year.

She continued skiing up to the age of around 75, when she would regularly be seen skiing along the tops of hedges near her home in Devon when everyone was snowed in, taking ‘vital’ supplies (usually bottles of gin or whisky and cigarettes!) to all her neighbours. June will be sadly missed.

End of Season Update from Natalia Harte

Looking back on the season overall I am pleased with how it went. We spent the winter out in the Aosta Valley, Italy again this year but a few changes were made since last year. Unfortunately, we have not had a full time coach this year as our previous coach had work commitments that were unable to be changed, leaving us without a coach for the winter season. Arriving in Pila, we were not sure how things would turn out but luckily the Aosta ski club were very welcoming as we had been with them so many years before.

The first half of my season did not go to plan and I was very disappointed with how things had turned out. December and January races I struggled to obtain the maximum speed out of my skiing in the race courses and didn’t feel like I was getting full speed out of my skis either. We spent a lot of work on this during those months and by the time February came around things were staring to improve rapidly. I received some good results this season and a few wins, but I am really happy with the way my skiing has developed over the season and my tactical skiing has been the biggest improvement this year.

By the time the British races were starting I felt confident in my skiing but I wasn’t expecting anything to happen. I knew that I had to focus on what I have been doing all season and since the Championships were held in Meribel, I was just looking forward to skiing speed on that hill! I was disappointed with the way the speed races went in terms of results; with a big mistake in the first super G and the Downhill not being a fast as I had hoped to go. However, I still managed to obtain the British Junior Downhill Champion title and I had the best time yet again on that course but I was devastated that they didn’t go down the stade again this year! For me the speed disciplines are the best ones but I enjoy the technical disciplines as well. As we moved on to them I wasn’t sure what was going to happen after 5 days of speed skiing, so to have received 2nd place in both slalom races was a nice result. However, a mistake on in the second race coming into the flat section of the course cost me the win and I was a little disappointed with myself for letting that happen. The GS race did not go well for me as I was on the 9th day of racing and the fatigue was settling into my muscles nicely but I still gave it everything I had and unfortunately it wasn’t anywhere near of what I am capable of.

Now it’s back to England for dry land training for the summer and back to work for me, I would like to say a huge thank you to Marks and Spencer’s for continually employing me for the 8 months of off season training and to Ladies ski club for continuing to support me.

Natalia

Got any Ski's?

Conditions in the Cairgorms over the Easter weekend were fantastic, as shown by member Anna Lee, her friend Jan and Jan's dog Keira.

Jade Etherington Visually Impaired GB Ski Racer

Since January I have been on a national guide hunt, looking for a guide to train and race with for the Paralympics. I have now found Caroline Powell an ex GB team racer who has committed to working with me from August 2013 until the games, which is fantastic news agin puts my focus back on ski racing.

I still needed to race at World Cup level this season so I met the team and part time guide John Clark (ex GB coach). John offered to guide me so I could keep competing.

World Championships: La Molina, Spain 18th - 26th February 2013. After two days training we enter into the Super-g this was to be used as a trial race run, however, the racing bug caught up with me and by the second gate in the course I was right behind John skiing fastetheo we finished and won a Bronze World Championship medal in our first race and 4th in the Slalom after two races ending in DNF.

World Cup finals: (Paralympic test event - Sochi, Russia 5th - 12th March 2013. The World cup squad of The British Disabled Ski Team went to Russia where the games will be held next March. This was to compete in the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup finals being used as the Paralympic test event. John Clark was my guide again and we competed in my first World Cup event and first Downhill winning Silver and a 4th place the week continued with a Bronze in Slalom and finished with a 2nd place in the Overall World Cup speed standings.

It is now the end if the ski racing season so my focus is an off snow training programme consisting off rest, reviewing, equipment testing, administration, fundraising and gym work.

Sarsfield Meets Olympic Qualification Criteria

Emily Sarsfield, Britain's number one ski cross athlete and Olympic hopeful, has met the BOA qualify criteria for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia.

A few days ago Sarsfield, self-funded and 29 from Durham, posted her best ski cross World Cup result of the season, finishing 18th in Are, Sweden. This result, along with run of good form since the ski cross World Cup Olympic test event in Sochi has seen Sarsfield move up the World Cup standings and FIS Olympic Winter Games points table, placing Sarsfield within the qualification criteria set by the BOA and British Ski and Snowboard.

The BOA and British Ski and Snowboard have set tougher Olympic selection criteria compared to the IOC, where BOA and British Ski and Snowboard stipulate at least three top 24 World Cup results (which can also include a top 24 in the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships), be within 4% of the time of the fastest qualifier with these results and be in the worlds top 32 at the end of the Olympic qualification criteria in January 2014.

In the last four Olympic qualifying races Sarsfield has finished well within the top 24, including a top 17 finish in the recent Freestyle Skiing World Championship and she currently has a world ranking in the top 32.

"I knew I was capable of finishing inside the top 24 [in ski cross World Cup races] and my recent run of results has reinforced that belief" said Sarsfield.

"Now I have achieved the BOA [Olympic Winter Games selection] criteria, my focus is to continue to improve my results, consistently place top 16 in World Cup races and maintain my place within the worlds top 32.

"Meeting the selection criteria makes up for the heart break of missing out on the 2010 Vancouver [Olympic Winter] games and puts the cheery back on top of the cake. "I'm so excited about heading to Sochi!" added Sarsfield.

Sarsfield sustained a horrific knee injury in February 2009, snapping all four ligaments in one knee, but battled back to fitness in time for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver Canada. Unfortunately she narrowly missed out on those games to her team mate at the time, Sara Sauvey, now retired.

Sarsfield won't have to wait long for her next race and target a top 16 finish. She will compete in the season finale; the FIS World Cup Finals in Sierra Nevada, Spain this Sunday, where she will be joined by team mates James Wood, competing in Slope Style and Zoe Gillings competing in Snowboard Cross.

Ski cross is where four racers race head to head downs a course with burms, rollers and jumps.

Season update from Natalia Harte

This season has gone really fast for me and i've really enjoyed it so far. The first half of the season didn't go as well as we had hoped for it to go with a variety of different issues making themselves present. I have really focused on my technical skiing going into the season changing to tactical training beginning of january.

Working with the Aosta ski club we have learnt so much and it has been really useful to my training this winter. Things really started to improve in the block of races in Febuary where I obtained a couple of podiums in Slalom and GS. Competing in Morzine I recieved a first in a Slalom Citizen race and two 2nd places in Les Gets Giant Slaloms. Then we moved on to speed races where I won a Downhill race. This was the best podium of the season as the speed races are my favourite type of races! We moved on to some more speed in Megeve for two Super G fis races, these went well but a couple errors on my part stopped me from doing as well as I had hoped too. We haven't done as many speed races as I would have liked to compete in this year but the next few races are Super G and downhill at the British Championships so I am looking forwards to these.

Things are finally improving but there is still a lot more come from my skiing in the next couple of weeks.

The podium photos are from Morzine Slalom and Valtournenche Downhill and skiing photo is from Les Meniures Fis race.

Best wishes

Natalia

Fantastic Results at the Sochi World Cup Finals - Congratulations Ladies!

Kelly Gallagher guided by Charlotte Evans won their first gold of the season in the women's slalom visually impaired class on Sunday (10 March) at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals in Sochi, Russia.Jade Etherington took the bronze. Great to see three of our athlete members on the podium.

More Great Photos of Jasmin Taylor

Jasmin is currently in Espot Spain for the World championships, wishing her good luck and a report will follow in due course.

Update from Anna Turney

I’ve had a good start to the season, winning 2 gold medals, 3 silvers and a bronze in Europa Cup and IPCAS races. I finished 3rd overall in this season’s Europa Cup series in Super G.

I’m currently in Sochi, Russia for World Cup Finals and a recce for the Paralympics

My website has been redone thanks to Formation Designers and looks fab, I hope you like it!

Recent Results

World Ranking: 7th (Downhill), 9th (Super G), 9th (Giant Slalom)

News Update from Rachelle Rogers

Podium in Garmisch!

I have had mixed results so far this season: some good ones and some DNFs! But on the whole my first half has been a lot better than last year's. I have had 4 international podiums this year. In December, I podiumed in the Junior 1 category at two slalom races in Kreuzberg (Italy), coming 2nd and 3rd respectively. At the beginning of February, I achieved my 2nd FIS Citizen race victory (but my 1st in GS) at a FIS Citizen race in Garmisch (Germany), which was a great confidence boost and made me realise that I am not just a one trick pony! In Bormio at an international slalom race, before the English Champs, I gained my 4th podium of 3rd place in Junior 1. Regarding my FIS points, I have improved my slalom points by 10 since the beginning of the season, dropping them from 66 to 56. Equally, I have improved my GS points by 14, dropping them from 80 at the start of the season to 66 now. This is the best they have ever been by quite a bit and I feel I certainly have more to achieve before the season is over, in both Slalom and GS! I even managed to improve my Super G points by 33 the other week, even though I hardly ever train it!

Rachelle

Top Result for Telemark at World Junior Champs

Jasmin Taylor, who trains in les Houches, was racing in the in the Telemark World Junior Championships (WJC) on her 'home' turf of Les Houches and Chamonix on the 9 and 10 February 2013. The event comprised of 2 races, the first being a night-time Sprint (SP) on the Les Planards slope in Chamonix. The second race was a Classic (CL), a longer race of nearly 60 gates and a long skate, with a run time in excess of 2 minutes 30 secs for the best racers.

Jasmin reports that: "This year the World Junior Telemark Championships were held on my home ground in Les Houches and Chamonix. The first of the two races was the Sprint, a night race on the Planards in Chamonix. I felt I skied well but after the loom (giant banked turn leading into the skate) I fell briefly and lost all my speed into the skate. The second run, I tried to forget about my mistakes and ski my best but when I flew off the jump, I landed wide and was running a late line on an already rather turny course set by the Swiss. Despite my mistakes, I took 5th place in Junior and 9th in the full World Cup standings. Day 2, we had the classic race in Les Houches - I really enjoyed the course and felt my GS skiing was not too bad. However, fitness was unfortunately lacking (due to chest and throat infection earlier in the season) and the skate was not so fast! In the Classic, I was 4th Junior and 10th in the World Cup".

Jasmin will continue to race this season with the World Cup races and finals in Norway and the World Championships in Spain. In amongst this she continues to race on the French Cup as well as recently winning the Les Houches Freeheeler Tele-cross. More details can be found at taylorjasmin.com

Diary of an Inferno Virgin

I finally got the chance to tick 'The Inferno' box off my 'to-do' list. Here is a brief synopsis of a very eventful, tiring but extremely enjoyable week.

From my arrival in Murren I barely have a moment to get settled into my hotel before the events start; heading up the Almenhubelbahn for fondue, providing the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a yummy meal. A little while later full of cheese, wine (and possibly some schnapps), we toboggan down the mountain to the gondel-bar for an exciting game of hammerschlagen.

The next two days are early mornings setting the Kandahar GS and Slalom courses, racing and then up to the top of the mountain for a look at the Inferno course (with great tips from veterans of the race). Evenings are also full, I attempt Curling for the first time and I am in luck and have some great teachers and sweepers in the form of Ed Pirie, Cleeves Palmer, Nick Morgan, Nigel Fawkes and Sir Steve Redgrave. Evening three is the Inferno Langlauf, and as I cannot compete in the Inferno GS without first competing in the Langlauf, I don a pair of shoes and skis twenty minutes before my start and attempt langlauf for the first time. I push out of the start in front of some cheering members of the Kandahar and treat them to a lovely Bambi-on-ice spectacle around the first turn. Nick Morgan is heard to utter 'she's learning the hard way that those skis have no edges'. After I pull myself together I manage to get around the track 3 times with only 3 falls, one unfortunately was after tripping up a fellow K member (sorry again Will) and falling into the tree beside to avoid him, accompanied by raucous laughter from on-lookers. I was very happy with my result, which would not have been possible without the long line of cheering friends at the top of the climb, although I think I prefer skiing down the hill.

The next morning I compete with bib 367 in the Inferno GS, therefore I have a long wait between inspection and my run, giving me time to have another look at the Inferno course. The GS is very bumpy and I am all the more pleased when I place second, and grateful to all of the K members for cheering for me on the podium.

The following day consists of a free ski of the Inferno course top to bottom. Looks good, and I love the air onto the kanonenrohr. Tonight we burn the devil! Proceeded by a procession through the village holding torches with clanging bells, drumming and music, the intense cold makes mulled wine necessary to help chase away the devil.

Inferno Day: As I am not racing until after 3pm (Bib 1743) I make my way to the hogs-back section of the course to cheer on our first racers Kit Nisbet and Richard Fawkes who lay down some impressive runs and show us some great overtaking techniques! This gets the adrenaline pumping too early for my run, so a very nervous 6 hours pass by until I am at the start, luckily with my new friends helping to calm the nerves. Pushing out of the start when you can see the person in front snow-ploughing to the first gate is admittedly a little strange for me but I stay behind, due to the bumpy condition of the course, until I can pass safely. The tucking sections go by easily, although some hairy overtaking on the steep and a scary turn that I am not sure I will make as I lose control (luckily I stay on my feet) shake me up a bit. I do manage to pull out a good turn where I know people are spectating, and I hear familiar voices cheering me up the climb which is much needed at this stage; the bottom section after Winteregg is icy although less eventful and I pass Ed Hodges crashed out at the side of the course (who manages to finish with a wrist injury).

Through the finish the tiredness from the week, the hairy corners and the day’s constant adrenaline take me over and I’m only fit for lying at the side slightly traumatised! We soon head to the bar at Winteregg for a well deserved beer, leaving us only 30mins to shower and dress for prize giving. Kit and I are awarded the prestigious Jimmy Riddell medal; I cannot effectively put into words how honoured I feel to receive this. Such a successful week and I place 5th woman in the Inferno combined. The week ends with dinner and a rather late although very enjoyable evening of dancing, both on tables and the more traditional dance-floor. What a fantastic week!

Kirsty

Fantastic offer

Save over 55% on Skizmo - the ultimate boot remover

A very generous supporter has kindly donated a stock of Skizmos to the Ladies Ski Club for us to sell in aid of the Athletes fund.

Never bend over or fight to get your boots off again! The Skizmo allows you to step out of your boots without straining your back and is also excellent for removing other types of boots. Click on the picture to see a demo

£19.95 (RRP £34.99) inc p&p or collect yours in person for £15. There will be a limited stock of Skizmos at the British Ski Championships (see Anne Taylor in the race office), but pre-order (by emailing benefits@ladiesskiclub.org) to be sure of securing yours.

All proceeds will be going to LSC

To see more fantastic offers, click on the members section above!

Update from Alex Tilley

My season so far has been really quite exciting. It took me a while to find form at the beginning of the season but after a break at Christmas I came back skiing much faster and more consistent.

January has been pretty packed full of races and some new experiences too. I had my debut World Cup start in Maribor and also my first Europa Cup starts in Melchsee Frutt. Although I was dissapointed to not make more of them, the experiences were amazing and I enjoyed them immensely!

Since then we have also been racing in some National Championships. First was the Austrian Junior Championships where I unfortunately crashed out in the Giant Slalom but managed to equal my best result of 24 points in the slalom finishing in 5th place. After these races we travelled to Liechtenstein for their National Championships. First was the GS and with a lot of fresh snow they did a great job to run the race and the piste ended up being almost perfect. The course was set incredibly turny and with very slow speeds making it very difficult for the racers on the new regulation skis. This was good news for me as I was on the old skis, and after two solid runs I managed to finish in second place with my best ever result of 9.7 points. I have to be realistic and understand that this is not a result that I will make consistently and maybe not for a while to come yet, but it was incredibly exciting for me to get, and is nice payback for my hard work this season.

I look forward to the rest of the season with great anticipation and hope to make some more P.B results before the end of the year!

Alex

Scottish Ski & Snowboard Cross Championships 2013

Scotland's premier Snowsports competition has a new sponsor for 2013 - Premier Oil plc (Premier) has teamed up with Aberdeen Snowsports Club to deliver the 3rd Scottish Skier and Boarder-cross Championships on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March 2013 at Glenshee Ski Centre. Premier is a leading FTSE 250 independent exploration and production company with interests in the North Sea, South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and the Falkland Islands.

Organised by Aberdeen Snowsports Club and supported by Snowsport Scotland a dedicated team of volunteers are quickly becoming the force in British Snowsports. Over 100 competitors from all over the United Kingdom are expected to descend upon Glenshee and race head to head in an adrenalin and action packed knockout race along a course consisting of man-made and natural rollers, jumps, kickers and banked turns.

Aberdeen Snowsports Club's Jen Surma and Chief of Competition for the event said "We were delighted with the success of the 2011 event and were so disappointed when we had to cancel last year's event because of poor snowfall. With Snowsports in Scotland started this year already we are thrilled to run it on our local mountain. Officially voted Scotland's best competition by Snowsport Scotland, with the support of a great company like Premier Oil I'm sure Aberdeen Snowsports Club can deliver an even greater and outstanding competition"

Mike Skitmore, Premier's UK Business Unit Manager, said "Premier is delighted to support this Scottish snowsports competition and hopes that competitors and supporters alike will make this the most exciting championship yet."

This year's competition is going to be bigger and better with top athletes from the British Ski Cross and Boardercross teams expected to attend as well as first timers. An action packed weekend, not to be missed!

An update from Charlie Guest

When looking back over the past few months and trying to condense everything that has happened into a short review, it seems almost impossible. With great training through November and December, I was more than ready for the racing season to start, and by the time that Christmas came, I had managed to put a good few results away lowering my world ranking by almost 200 places in slalom with 4 podiums in Kranjska Gora and Strobl.

Since the Christmas break, I have been back out in Austria and spent the first half of January preparing for my first ever Europa Cup races alongside my FIS World Cup debut which came less than a week later at the Flachau night slalom. Even if I did lose my pole coming out of the start, I made it down, and cannot wait for when competing at World Cup level will be a regular occurrence. Being able to compete in these races against the best athletes in the world was an incredible experience, and really has given me a new focus for where I will need to be if I am to achieve any of my long term goals.

Charlie

Schoolgirls' Races

Once again the annual BSR races were held in Flaine on the 28th & 29th January. They were a great success and a good time was had by all with the added bonus of great snow conditions. I think it only right to thank Anne Taylor and her organising team, Sue, Sarah, Gill, Janine, Maud, Ali, Derek and Tony for their hard work leading up to and at the event. Also many thanks to the many sponsors, some of whom attended the races for their support this year. Next year will be the 55th anniversary of the races. Details of the event will be posted in the coming months on the BSR website. Do click on the BSR link above or go directly to www.britishschoolgirlsraces.co.uk to view the fantastic photographs taken by Nick and Amanda Bottomley who generously gave up their time to attend the races. It was my first visit to the races, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope to return next year.

Best wishes to you all Kay

Latest news from Kelly and Charlotte

Charlotte and I started off racing in Europa Cup races before Christmas, in the bitterly cold climes of Pitztal, Austria and Lenk, Switzerland.

We achieved 5 podium finishes, 2nd in GS and slalom in the opening races in Pitztal, and two 2nd place finishes in Lenk's demanding GS races, with another 2nd place finish in slalom and a DNF.

Both Charlotte and I love slalom, so it can be frustrating when I straddle, both of us know that our skiing form is coming along nicely and patience is needed. I can't wait to be writing the email saying how we've produced two clean runs in slalom and won the race.

We came home for Christmas tired and ready for a break, excited for the simple pleasures, family, warm, dry feet, good Internet, and our own bed!

January has been a busy but really fun month! We've competed in World Cup races and Europa Cup speed events. We've trained hard all over Austria, Zell am See, Steinplatte, Kaprun, and at the race venues of Sestriere and Tarvisio in Italy. We've really enjoyed ourselves this past month, the super-g block was really productive and we're bringing that confidence and technique from speed into GS.

In our races we achieved two 3rd place finishes in World Cup GS and were proud to achieve 2nd in downhill behind the current world champion. We have a feeling speed is going to be a discipline we really progress in. Skiing fast in downhill is such a rush, it's something my tummy is not quite used to yet! I'm enormously greatful that I'm lucky enough to experience DH. It's solely due to charlotte's considerable ability to prioritise our safety above results, this conscientious attitude means that I can trust that she'll guide me down the mountain safely and the quickest way possible.

We achieved a 3rd place finish in super-g th so we're building next day, so good foundations in speed and our confidence is coming back just in time for world championships.

Our next races are in tignes, France, then a quick World Cup in rogla, Slovenia, before arriving in la Molina, Spain for world champs from 17th-27th February.

We will compete in all 5 disciplines for the first time, and we're hoping to improve on our performance from 2011!

Most importantly we're planning on having fun and skiing to the best of our ability, we're lucky to be able to pursue ski racing full-time, so we're aware that to not enjoy this would be the worst.

Kelly G and Charlotte E

Update from Anna Turney

I'm currently doing speed training with Charlotte and Kelly and the rest of the team, heading to Trevisio, Italy then Tignes, France for Europa Cup speed races (Downhill, Super G and Super Combined).

I'm pleased with my training, enjoying working with the new coach, Tony McAllister, and looking forward to competing in the World Championships in La Molina, Spain in which I will be competing in all 5 disciplines and hoping for a medal.

Anna

Natalie Beattie's season to date

I have got up to a good start this 2013 season. I started of by two Giant slaloms in Zinal where I scored my personal best in GS at 47 points. After that I did a lot of training and some Citizen races, where I won a SL in Orciere, before scoring my first sup 35 in SL. Indeed, I finished in 4th position last week in Chatel scoring 33 points. I am very pleased with my results and am looking forward to seeing what the future brings.

My next races are next week where I will compete in SL, GS and even Super G. I hope to do well and get my points in all disciplines as low as possible.

Natalie Beattie

An update from Jasmin Taylor

Here are some pictures from the last French National race I went to.

I finished 2nd Junior behind the French Junior Champion and in front of the USA Overall Women's Champion. The World Champion was also present at the race and she (a Swiss) won the race overall. I didn't compete in the British Championships in Rauris or the first set of World Cups due to a nasty chest infection and I hope to be back on full form as soon as possible... Very disappointing though.

Jasmin Taylor

First two ski cross world cups complete

I've just returned from North America following two good results in my first two Ski Cross World Cups of the season in Nakiska, Canada and Telluride, USA. I was really please with my 29th in Nakiska, only two seconds off top 16; one of my best starts to the season. The next race in Telluride was tough, with big jumps and features. My knee took a bashing, so has flared up again, but I decided to race following training as it is Olympic qualification season and every race counts!! I managed 26th, even though I took it easy to protect my knee, so again I was pleased with the result. That's two Ski Cross races with World Cup points scored in both! A good start to the season.

So where am I now? I am in Val Thorens, France for my next Ski Cross World Cup on Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday 19th December. This is the closest I get to a ‘home' race as I spend much of my down time in my parents apartment in Meribel. Meribel and Val Thorens are part of the Three Valley's, the worlds largest interlinked ski area. If you are in the area, it would be great if you came and watched me and my team mates compete!

Just to make things more interesting for Val Thorens, British Airways not only charged me excess baggage for my trip to North America, they also lost my kit bag and race skis on the return journey! Thanks BA!! Fortunately I have spare skis which I picked up in Meribel last night (benefit of being at a ‘home' race) and my team mate Pam (Thorburn) has kindly lent me her spare poles and helmet. By the way I took my all important boots in my hand luggage; something I learned to do a long time ago! Wish me luck for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Take care and ski safe!

Em x

Fundraising in aid of the ParalympicGB squad for Sochi 2014

A new Xmas Single has just be released: 'True Colors', The British Paraorchestra plus the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf & Hearing Children plus athletes from ParalympicsGB (inc Ellie Simmonds, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Martine Wright etc)

Please tell your friends to buy it - all proceeds go to help fund ParalympicsGB at the Winter Paralympics Sochi 2014, as well as the ongoing work of the Paraorchestra

Buy on iTunes

Here's the video:

View video on YouTube

The first voice you hear is Lyn Levett from the Paraorchestra. She has cerebral palsy and cannot speak. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology she sings through her computer in True Colors, for the very first time

Pauline Sitwell Memorial and Exhibition

Pauline Sitwell was a keen member of the Ladies Ski Club who died at the end of 2010. She was a talented Artist, Writer, Poet, Skier, Dancer & Campaigner. Just a few days ago, on behalf of the LSC, I attended a Memorial Reception and Exhibition of paintings by Pauline Sitwell and her husband Peter Stebbing at the Royal Academy in the Restaurant and in the country's oldest purpose-built life drawing studio. It housed the muscled model of a horse from which George Stubbs drew many of his horses. Pauline won a scholarship to study at The Royal Academy Schools when she was just 16. She bequeathed her house in Bayswater which has sold for over £1.2m which will sponsor two RA Schools students. The RA so grateful that we were invited to join the Patrons' evening and invited to become Patrons of the RA (Platinum membership is £10,000 pa). Her funeral brought together people who's lives she touched and many again attended with such a mix from Bayswater, a curator of Perivale Woods where Pauline would go to draw trees and plants, to some from Deal where she maintained her mother's house to the Catholic Church and the distant connections who manfully sifted through the writings, paintings and clutter in her house after her death. Truly a fitting memorial to a colourful personality.

Joanna Milner Percy

Get yourself ready to rumble with Emily!

Emily Sarsfield has shared her expert tips for an article on Cooler on getting yourself fit and ready to rumble for the new ski season.

"Lift openings have swept the glaciers and with the O'Neill Pleasure Jam that went down at the Dachstein last weekend, the snowboard season has official started. And while the pros (and some lucky locals) have obviously already started their 100-days-on-snow count already, we know that most of your – and our! – poor souls are still looking forward to their first flakes over Christmas – or even later. But worry ye not, as the good news is that this still leaves you enough time to get in shape to truly rock the trees / kickers / rails this year!"

View original article from Cooler

Apartment to Rent: Courchevel

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Email Karen

Email Annick

Sonia Madam Hunter of Hunterston
1930-2012

It is with great sadness that we have to let you know that Sonia passed away peacefully in hospital in Paris on November 20th at the age of 82. A cremation service is to be held for family and friends, in Paris, on December 12th at 2.30 p.m. (French time) at the crematorium Pere Lachaise.

Family flowers only, but if desired, donations to the RNLI quoting 4725012.

Enquiries to Mrs. Lisa Pérez can be made here

A memorial service will be held in Andorra in late January or early February and memorial services will be held in London and Scotland in the Spring.

Information will be available shortly at www.soniahunter.org

News update from Rachelle Rogers

Last night I attended my local annual sports awards (Godalming Sports Awards) where we had a few guest speakers, one of them being Adelle Tracey who was one of the athletes who lit the Olympic Caldron in London, and it was great to hear of her experience, especially as a local athlete to my area. I came 2nd in the Senior Sports Personality of the Year award, which I am really pleased and surprised about because I was in a category with some high level athletes and wasn't expecting to be a runner up. I have a week left back in the UK before I head out to Austria for my first races of the season.

Congratulations to MPI

Congratulations to MPI, Good Friends and long time Supporters of both the Ladies Ski Club and British Schoolgirls' Races. MPI have recently won 'The Best Specialist Insurance Provider' at this year's World Snow Awards. Yet another reason to buy your insurance from MPI!

Jasmin Taylors training in Stubai with the Germain National Team

Original post from taylorjasmin.com

Day#1 Travel

Last Thursday I flew to Munich airport where I was greeted by Johanna Holzman (World Junior Champion and member of the German Telemark Ski Team) and we traveled back to her hometown oberstoft. When I arrived it was late and everything was dark – we went straight to sleep ready to rise bright and early the next morning.

Day#2 Munich

We got up at 4am and drove to Munich collecting various members of the team as we went. On Friday the German Telemark Team were kitted out with all their brand new clothes for the season and I got the chance to visit Munich!

Later that day we traveled to Stubai Glacier ready for some SKIING!! the next day. The new german team clothing is orange and then everything else after that seemed to also be orange!

Day#3 Stubai Glacier

We got up at 6am and headed up the glacier for some free skiing and gate training. I was so excited to ski again and at first my legs felt a bit shaky but after a run or so I felt all the same Telemark feelings I had from the season before.

Day#4 Stubai and Oberstoft

The second (and final) day of skiing and after a long day we went back to Oberstoft and had a very traditional German meal which was very different for me! It was very tasty though.

Day#5 Scooter!

Johanna showed me around her hometown (the first time I had seen it in the light of day) on her scooter! I have had such a nice time, too short but still it reminds me that the season is nearly here!

Ladies' Ski Club Annual Awards 2012

Part of the Club's work is to raise funds for racing members. Fundraising is becoming more and more difficult every year, but I am please to tell you all that once again the Club have been able to make a number of financial awards. The athletes who will recieve awards are listed below.

The Penny Mabey - Awarded to the best racer/s with Olympic Potential - was jointly awarded to Charlie Guest and Darcie Mead.

The Isy Mabey Award - Best Junior in Slalom by September FIS points was awarded to Alex Tilley

BARSC Champs Club Award - Best British Overall CH2 racer calculated on aggregate points - was awarded to Anna Henderson

British Champs Club Award - Best Overall CH2 racer calculated on aggregate points - was awarded to Honor Clissold

Clare Hantrais Award - Best British Junior in Super G by September FIS points was awarded to Alex Tilley

LSC Award - Best British Junior in Giant Slalom as by September FIS points was awarded to Alex Tilley

LSC Presidents Award - This award was shared jointly between Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans

LSC Club Award - Emily Sarsfield

Further Athlete Awards
Imogen Taylor (Alpine),
Rachelle Rogers (Alpine),
Natalie Harte (Alpine),
Natalie Beattie (Alpine),
Charlotte Davies (Alpine),
Alice Maculay (Alpine),
Helen Nelson (Alpine),
Elena Pocock (Alpine),
Kelly Gallagher & Charlotte Evans (disabled Alpine),
Jasmin Taylor (Telemark),
Ellie Koyander (Moguls),
Anna Turney Walford (disabled Alpine),
Emily Sarsfield (Ski Cross)

New member Jade Etherington needs a Guide

JOB - Guide for visually impaired Ski Racer (Male or Female)

Ex-racer ideally National Team level needed urgently for Jade Etherington member of The British Disabled Ski Team she is 21 years old and classified as a B2 (less than 5% vision in each eye) she is qualified for World Cup slalom, super - g and downhill and IPCAS giant slalom. She is seeking a new guide who can train and compete with her until the 2014 Winter Paralympics as part of a 20 week world class programme.

Being a guide you will also receive medals, at each competition, including the Paralymics and be an integral part of the British team. The purpose of a guide is to ski in front of the visually impaired athlete and via headsets on helmets dictate to the athlete when to turn around the gates guiding the athlete down the race course. A guide is also required off snow for example: travelling to and from training and racing camps i.e taking the same flight. Therefore, a great amount of trust and a strong relationship is needed between athlete and guide on and off snow. Jade has worked with a range of guides and can easily adapt to someone new. The guide will also be classed as an athlete and the guides costs are covered through sponsorship and fundriaisng, so the guide is required to be involved with any fundraising. There is some funding available but Jade and the new guide now need to raise a further £10,000 in order to complete the full season and qualify for Sochi 2014.

If you want to find out more or interested in skiing with Jade please contact her on: 07714170416 or email: j_etherington@yahoo.co.uk

Emily Sarsfield's latest update

Just a quick update to let you know I will be on Jazz FM tomorrow morning Sunday 18th Nov at 9am, you can listen on 100.4 or www.jazzfm.com or sky tv 2020.

I will also be featuring on Radio 5 Live on Dec 6th ... I am yet to know the time, but will try to keep you posted.

I'm back off to Austria for more training on Monday before I return to Meribel to settle in for the winter then fly out to Canada on 4th December ready for the 1st world cup of the season.

Last training camp went really well and ended with a little comp where I made the top 4 ... With over 12 World Cup riders in the race ... A nice little start to the winter!

Roll on winter,

Em x

Kelly Gallagher & Charlotte Evans Interview: Ski and Snowboard Show 2012

Emily Sarsfield Interview: Ski and Snowboard Show 2012

Emily Sarsfield , the British no: 1 Ski Cross team athlete who was recently supporting the LSC stand at the Ski and Snowboard Show would like to share with you all her press interview:

Emily's news

Out in Stubai, Austria this week where they have built a Ski Cross track, so I am getting some great training. Back home next week to finalise my packing and record a Radio 5 Live winter special programme.

LSC Ski Show Raffle Results

The Vintage Skis and Poles, donated by Bartletts
Winner - Anne Freund of North Hampton

The Set of Three Ski Bags donated by Snow + Rock
Winner - Amanda Hovell of Kings Lynn

Congratulation to both of the lucky winners!

Jasmin Talyor: London Ski & Snowboard Show

This year The London Ski & Snowboard Show took place at Earls Court in London from 31st October until (today) 4th November. I went up yesterday and was with the Ladies Ski Club of Great Britain. Early this year I was so happy to be invited to join the club and it was so nice to finally meet our president, Kay Whelan and everyone else.

After selling our raffle tickets to the crowds (to raise funds for the club), I met up with a few more familiar faces and found the roller-skiers too (www.rollerski.co.uk)! Here's me and Pam Thorburn (British Skier-Cross Champion) having a little practice and pose for the camera!

It was also lovely to see team-mate Jack Harvard Taylor (Male British Telemark Champion), Hugh Long (ex GB Telemark team) and Cameron Fisher (coach of the Hemel Telemark Club).

Myself and Jack were interviewed for Skiing-Blog where we spoke about Telemark, making it Olympic and our coming plans for the season. Here's a picture of the stand, the back ground includes photos, poster and leaflets from all the female athletes supported so kindly by the Ladies Ski Club. All our profiles can be visited here on the Ladies Ski Club website.

Anna Turney Back on Snow: TV and Training

Just got home from a British Disabled Ski Team training camp in Hintertux, Austria with former able-bodied Team GB coach, Tony McAllister. The day before we arrived, there was 40cm of fresh snow which set us up nicely for great GS and Slalom training and media training.

Sky Sports spent the first weekend filming and doing interviews for a 30 minute piece next month - thanks Anna and Lynsey!

The BBC was also out filming GB freestyle ski team so Nick Hope also did a few interviews as well as starring in our promotional video for the clubnight - more on that later.

Paralympics GB came to check out our camp for a couple of days, fortunately before the cold snap (-35C with wind chill). It was a shock to the system after such summery weather but I wrapped up well in my excellent Icebreaker base layers and boots thanks to Two Seasons, and avoided frostbite, plus the snow was exceptional so we got some great training in.

Both Elite and Development teams trained together and I'm excited about working towards Sochi 2014 with Coach Tony.

I flew home Thursday evening to work at the Ski Show on Friday, selling raffle tickets for the Lady's Ski Club, who support female ski racers, and promoting the British Disabled Ski Team Send Off fundraiser at Aura, Mayfair friday night, which was a riot and raised over £2000 - all team goals achieved (have fun, get publicity, hotties, raise £2k for the team). A pretty successful start to the season.

My next trip is to the biggest indoor slope in Europe, Snow World in Landgraaf, Holland, for training and races and then the Europa Cup begins in December.

Original post by Anna Turney

Emily Sarsfield fights back from injury and targets 2014 Winter Olympics

Original article from Metro

Winter Olympics hopeful Emily Sarsfield talks to Metro about the moment she suffered multiple injuries in a horrific injury on the slopes and how she's hoping to battle back to compete in the Sochi Games.

Sarsfield suffered fractures to bones in both her legs after a fall in a test event before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Britain's top ski cross athlete still remembers the incident with shocking clarity and said: ‘My nerve endings were damaged so badly the pain disappeared and I thought I wasn't as badly hurt as I had first feared.

‘My legs were pointed in funny angles and I told a doctor who arrived to tend to me that it was because I was flexible as I had been a gymnast when I was young. He soon put me right.'

Sarsfield, 29, from Durham, fought her way back to full fitness after her 2009 crash but was controversially overlooked for a place in the Great Britain squad which competed in Vancouver.

That setback is driving her on to represent her country at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

‘My goals are to consistently be in the world's top ten and to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics,' added Sarsfield, who will be raising funds to meet training costs at the Freeze Festival at Battersea Power Station which takes place on Friday and Saturday.

‘I don't intend to miss out again.'

Emily Sarsfield will be that the Ski and Snowboard Show at Earls Court from 31st October.

Skiing and Snowboarding fitness effects on your body - Pam Thorburn

Article originally from Fitness First

Which is your sport skiing or snowboarding, or do you do both?

I am most definitely a skier, I would love to say I can do both but I am not very good on my board.

How did you get into this? Was it mainly to get into shape?

I have been skiing since I was 3 years old, my whole family ski so I was brought up on it. I am very competitive so it made sense that I did my first race when I was 7 and have been racing ever since.

How have you found the sport to change your physical shape?

It has made me a lot bigger but not in a bad way, I have a lot of muscles, especially in my legs. These keep me upright when I am competing so I work hard on them. I like being athletic and having curves.

What effect has it had on your fitness health?

I am strong, especially my legs. Working at altitude (which I am at when at the top of a mountain) has had a great effect on my cardio and I feel good.

If we were to take up the sport how can we expect it to change our body?

It will give you muscles in places you didn't know you had any, especially around the glutes and thighs. It will tone your stomach and increase your cardio.

Do you stick to a strict diet?

I eat a lot, I constantly eat small portions throughout the day to keep my energy up. I take in a lot of carbs like pasta and eat plenty of protein, also as much fruit and veg as I can take!

What diet tips do you have?

Eat regularly, always eat breakfast and minimize the sugary fizzy drinks. I like to drink hot water with a slice of lemon to start the day and limit my caffeine intake. My absolutely favourite snack is gluten free oat cakes with hummus.

Pam Thorburn will be at the Ski and Snowboard show at Earls Court from 31st October. For more information on the show go to www.skiandsnowboard.co.uk

Music meets Friends of Skiing

Article by Linda Fawke

Ingrid Christophersen MBE – Ingie – hosted two wonderful musical evenings in her Bentley home on Friday 12 and Saturday13 October. The aim was to raise funds for British Alpine Ski Racing, all monies going to the Skiers Trust of Great Britain for the British Children's team. A champagne reception was followed by a musical gala and a buffet supper.

We were welcomed into the lounges of the elegant house, sipping our champagne and eating canapés in areas the public are normally only allowed to look at, before going into the ‘Bird' lounge for the performance. The walls are decorated with 96 pictures of duck and wildfowl (Ingie – note I didn't say ‘ducks'!) Ingie thanked us for coming - we were the select few as only 70 could be seated each evening - and suggested, as only Ingie can, that the gentlemen might prefer to water the roses rather than encounter her dog, Charlie, who appeared to be guarding the upstairs loos.

The entertainment was superb, an excellent mix. We went from Bach to Puccini to Novello to Beethoven. Lazlo Poth, not only a superb pianist but an ex-ski racer himself and father of GB skiers Robert and Daniel, started us off with three Preludes by Bach. LSC member and charismatic soprano Georgia Kellen followed, singing for the first time in public for around twenty-five years. As she said, the longest career-break ever! It was wonderful – you must keep on singing, George! The highly talented, prize-winning violinist Anya Bereiter followed with pieces by Mascagni and Massanet. She also has skiing connections – her husband is a TD. The fourth musician was Stefan Holmström, a well-known baritone who sings occasionally at the church Ingie attends. He amused us with Mozart's Don Giovanni and his 1003 lovers in Spain. He and Georgina also sang a duet from Don Giovanni ‘La ci darem la mano' which, judging by the applause, everyone loved. Another highlight in the second part of the programme was Anja's playing of Wieniawski's ‘Polonaise Brillante'. Brilliant was the word! The concert concluded with Lazlo playing Freddie Mercury's ‘Bohemian Rhapsody', when everyone was invited to join in. In such company, some of us sang very quietly! A well-deserved standing ovation followed.

During the interval, the raffle was drawn, with exciting prizes ranging from a week in Verbier to Norwegian glassware. The evening was rounded off with a delicious Salmon en Croute with Eton Mess to follow.

Many thanks to Ingie for hosting such a great event – please do it again! The Skiers Trust has benefitted and I'm sure everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Ellie Koyander shares her fitness tips

Original Article posted on Female First

1: Plan Progressions

If you have a trip booked, it's important to make sure you are fit and healthy. You want to make the most of it. Start early with your planning and respect that your body needs gradual changes over time to get fit. A burst of last minute training a week before you go will not achieve very much. So work backwards from your trip, build your fitness in stages starting from your current level and getting progressively more and more challenging the closer it gets to your trip. The week before your trip lower the intensity again! This should guarantee good energy levels when you get away and avoid any last minute injury! This is how I plan my training around World Cup competitions to ensure I can compete at my optimum level and it will really make a difference to your holiday if you have a plan in place.

2: Quality over Quantity

Don't think you need to spend hours and hours in the gym or working out. Think more quality over quantity. This allows your body to advance quickly and leaves time for it to recover in between sessions too.

3: Balanced mixture of workouts

Comment on this Article

Remember not to focus completely on one thing such as strength. Strength work is important but you also need some cardio vascular work too, especially if you're headed for higher altitude. A nice range of impact free workouts such as cycling, swimming, free weights and core work outs, will help to ensure your body is ready for anything!

4: Little and often

Do your exercise ‘little and often' to ensure you are working towards quality over quantity. Find out what works best for you, maybe 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins in your lunch break. Everyone works to different schedules but ‘little and often' is the way forward. Increase the intensity the closer it gets to your trip and then back off again the week before you go away.

5: Strong core is essential

All movement is controlled by our core muscles which include the lower back. It's important to make sure you have a strong core so that you are in complete control of your limbs on your skis and can dominate the mountain! My favourite exercises include a simple plank, Russian twists and cycle sit ups- all great exercises that can also be performed in a hotel room as I travel on the World Cup Circuit.

6: Eat a Rainbow

Recovery food is really important after a full day of exploring the mountain. Protein ( fish, meat, eggs, dairy products) is the building block for repairing muscles and you should try to ‘eat a rainbow' with lots of different coloured fruit and veg that are packed full of vitamins and minerals which will keep your immune system high and help you to stay fit and healthy!

7: Eat within 15-20 min after exercise

Eating in this zone helps to prevent fatigue and allows your body to recover quicker after exercise. My favourite snack after exercise is a banana ;)

8: Protein before vigorous exercise

Eating protein before a hard training session can again help your body to recover faster. When you fatigue your body it uses protein in your muscles. Eating Protein beforehand will give your body something to replenish your stores quicker and help to keep your recovery time lower.

9: Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is really important, especially high up in the dry-aired mountains. Keeping hydrated will help to keep you focused and enable you to ski for longer.

10: Don't forget to rest!

Finally…rest is important too! Make sure you give your body enough time to repair and recover. Sometimes if you're feeling exhausted it's better to take a step back and do an easier workout so that you can easily take three steps forward again next time!

Ellie Koyander will at the Ski and Snowboard Show with The Ladies Ski Club at Earls Court from 31st October.

British Disabled Ski Team Winter Send Off

www.justgiving.com/britishsendoff

Friday 2nd November

Doors Open from 7pm

Canape & cocktail reception

Tickets £10 online or £15 on the door

AURA Mayfair
48-49 St James's Street
London
SW1A 1JT
www.auramayfair.com

2012 AGM Notification to Members

AGM & ANNUAL DINNER

Oxford and Cambridge Club, 71 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5HD

Thursday 15th November 2012 at 6.30pm

After the AGM there will be drinks followed by a Buffet meal as in previous years. We would love as many of you as possible to join us.

To book yourself a place, please complete this form and return before 05th November 2012.

Ski Bartletts and LSC

Dear Members

I think it would be fair to say that the majority of both racing and recreational skiers have visited the Ski Bartlett shop in Hillingdon or the familiar stall at dry slope racing meets and possibly a stand at ski shows around the UK over the years, if not to buy something to ask for advice which is always freely and warmly given, I certainly have!

Ski Bartletts have been supporting British skiing for over 45 years and recently have become a friend of the the LSC. With the exception of sale good Bartletts are offering a 10% discount on purchases to the membership. This is a wonderful opportunity to renew your ski gear or skis this season. As proof of membership you will need to take along your enamel badge.

On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Terry for his support of the club.

Regards Kay

Discover Heli Skiing in Canada!

Pure Powder's CMH Heli Skiing UK Tour - November 2012

Tue 6th Nov // London City

Thurs 15th Nov // Winchester

Wed 14th Nov // Edinburgh

Tues 13th Nov // Central London

Wed 7th Nov // Manchester

Join us at one of our evening drinks receptions and find out all you've ever wanted to know about heli skiing - the ultimate skiing experience...

For more information and to book your free place visit: www.purepowder.com/CMHevents.cfm

View Event Flyer

DSUK Winter Sports Football Tournament

The inaugural DSUK Winter Sports Football Tournament takes place on the 30th October 2012, with teams from across the winter sports industry and beyond competing against each other in a 5-a-side football tournament at Goals, Wembley. Held in a competitive spirit, but with the emphasis on fun, players of all abilities are invited to enter a team and take part, with the tournament kicking off the evening before the London Ski Show, from 6.30 - 10.30pm.

The tournament is run in partnership with Crystal Ski, a long time supporter of British winter sports, who are providing the winning team of 7 players with a ski holiday to the Alps. Additional prizes will be up for grabs throughout the event.

Entry into the tournament is open to all members of the winter sports community and beyond, with teams welcome from ski & snowboard brands to holiday companies, shops to media, past and present athletes to winter sport enthusiasts. Teams should consist of up to 7 members and are expected to provide their own kit, refreshments and transport.

Places in the tournament are limited to 24 teams and subject to a first come first serve basis.

For more information, download this PDF

Can you help Kelly and Charlotte to find some much needed sponsorship?

Kelly is the first person from Northern Ireland to ever compete in the Winter Paralympics and the most successful British alpine skier at the Winter Paralympics since the early 90s, achieving 4th place in Giant Slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Games.

As a team, Kelly and Charlotte represent Britain at the highest level of competition. In 2011, less than three months after beginning their skiing partnership, Charlotte and Kelly achieved Britain's best result to date at World Championships, competing in slalom and giant slalom, bringing home silver and bronze respectively.

Charlotte combines guiding Kelly full time with her degree in Sports Science at the University of Brighton.

Charlotte is an ex-England alpine ski team racer. And, in what little spare time she has, coaches alpine ski racing with Kandahar ski club.

Kelly graduated with a 2:1 in Mathematics and is studying for her Masters. She is currently on career break from her job as a statistician for NI Civil Service. Kelly trains off-snow 5 days a week at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland and is an ambassador for disability sport issues.

Their ultimate goal: To win gold at the next Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi 2014. And with your help they an achieve this goal.

Read this powerpoint presentation to find out more about Kelly and Charlotte, and how you can help them.

Vist kelly-gallagher.co.uk to see the latest news on how the girls are doing.

You can email Kelly directly by sending an email to admin@kelly-gallagher.co.uk Or you can call her on 07746083361

News and a member offer from Chatel

It is a lifetime -well the lifetime of our younger daughter Kirsty- since we decided to make Chatel our winter home, on the basis that it is right at the heart of the World's largest interconnected ski area, at over 750kms of pistes with endless off-piste (size being everything in ski areas, we don't know why the Portes Du Soleil doesn't boast more).

Being in the ‘snow shadow' of Mont Blanc the snow often falls about 400 metres lower than on the southern side so matches or surpasses the Tarentaise resorts and has more tree lined runs for good visibility and less wind blown conditions.

In the summer Chatel is surrounded by verdant pastures, forests and streams, metamorphosing into a charming farming village proposing all the summer sports you can think of. It's proximity to Geneva airport puts the final tick in the box. We love it.

Over the years we have moved home three times within the village; worked for the ESF french ski school, run our own residential ski school for 13 years, managed our daughters' race training programmes and more recently come full circle returning to work for the ESF. After all that we are still discovering new delights, winter and summer, yet Chatel is keeping one step ahead, with new lifts to create extra links around the vast ski domain and a new indoor/outdoor pool/spa complex for après-ski both imminent.

Not left behind by the local advances we have completely refurbished the two bedroomed apartment which is available for rental at La Corniche- creating two ensuite bedrooms, a modern well equipped kitchen and comfortable dining and sitting areas. Pretty traditional woodwork throughout completes the inside and a big outdoor hot-tub with an amazing view enhances the whole experience, especially for relaxing hard worked muscles après-ski.

The location is we believe the prime spot in the valley, close to the lifts and the village yet tranquil and best of all in our private chalet so not entoured by other apartments.

We would love Ladies' Ski Club members to enjoy this wonderful area which has captivated all of our family, and so we offer you 10% discount off all rental prices winter or summer, by simply quoting LSC offer when you contact us.

If you would like to see more please visit skidiamond.com or contact me on skidiamond@hotmail.com

Bertie Greenhalgh at the Olympics

Committee member and member Bertie Greenhalgh was a 'Games Maker' throughtout the whole two week Olympic event and more besides. Having asked Bertie how things had gone I recieved this short note:

Olympics were brilliant but exhausting. I never realised what a huge time committment it would be. Drumming in opening ceromony was brilliant and certainly one of life's highlights. Made it on TV so added bonus. Marshalling with all the athelets also amazing to be among so much talent. Closing ceromony was like being at a giant party but being sober and trying to make sure no one jumps on stage or jumps in front of all that traffic! Looked a little silly in those blue bowlers with flash light on top! Games Maker at Wimbledon was also interesting and such an amazing feel good factor everywhere.

Congratulations and Well done Bertie!

Hope everyone enjoyed the Olympics as much as I did.

Regards Kay

Dr Jenny Shute MBE

It was announced this week in the Queens Birthdays Honours list that former LSC President Jenny Shute (2002-2005) has been awarded an MBE for her 20 years of service to skiing.

Jenny is perhaps best known to you all in her role as co-ordinator for the British Children's Ski Team developing and managing the team for over twelve years. Jenny's total devotion to the British Children's elite skiing and advancement of British Children on the International stage make her unique in one of Britains largest participation sports.

Jenny has excelled in her voluntary service to UK and International Sport. She has helped advance Skiing in a variety of ways. She has also played a major part in rebuilding the National Governing Body, after the previous organisation went into administration in February 2010. She plays a key role in focusing on the youth of British Ski and Snowboard when discussing issues on the BSS Board.

Jenny also represents Great Britain on several of the FIS Committees: FIS Youth and Children's Alpine subcommittees and FIS Youth and Children Experts' Working Group (Alpine): Secretary FIS Youth and Children's Coordination Committee and is a member of the FIS Medical Committee. In addition Jenny is a member of the Joint Snowsports Child Welfare Working Group.

On behalf of the club I would like to extend to Jenny our heart felt congratulations.

Kay Whelan - President

SSBX Cancelled

Due to unseasonably warm temperatures and a subsequent lack of snow, the Premier Oil Scottish Skier and Boarder Cross Championships has been cancelled for 2012.

Aberdeen Snowsports Club would like to thank all sponsors, competitors and supporters of the event for their assistance and hope to welcome everyone back on board for next year's event. The proposed date for the 2013 Championships is 2nd & 3rd March; details will be posted on the Club website as they become available www.aberdeensnowsportsclub.org/Competitions

DHO Manager Vacancy

The DHO are currently looking for a new manager for Wengen, Switzerland to take effect as of December 2012. The salary is negotiable and there is a one bedroom apartment included to the successful applicant free of charge. Please contact Sarah at www.downhillonly.com for further information.

Nik Zoricic - RIP

It has been a tough season for me with results not going my way after a strong pre-season, but it doesn't get any tougher than seeing one of your ski cross family tragically killed in an accident in the first of two scheduled Ski Cross World Cups in Grindelwald, Switzerland. I was in the race finish area on Saturday 10th March and saw Nik's crash... It was awful and so distressing. The staff at the race and the hospital did everything they could to save Nik, but tragically his injury's took his life. I left Grindelwald shortly after hearing the news of Nik's passing as it was too distressing for me to stay. The race was abandoned and the final race on the Sunday was cancelled. In it's place on the Sunday, a number of the ski cross family and Nik's team mates skied down the course in jeans (Nik's first ski cross race was in jeans!) and laid flowers where he crashed. I saw it on TV... It was beautiful, heart breaking and a fitting mark of respect for Nik.

On reflection, Nik's accident may have been preventable, but as ski cross racers we inspect the courses at every race and have training runs. I enjoy the excitement of Ski Cross racing and appreciate the risks. When Nik came over the last jump of the course he didn't appear to have done anything wrong other than go wide to try and overtake and unfortunately there wasn't a landing spot... none of us thought there was any danger on the last jump when we did the course inspection. All I hope is that we learn from this tragic accident and improve the safety at ski cross races. I'm sure Nik would want us to continue racing and push the boundaries of our exciting sport!

For now my thoughts and prayers are with Nik's family and the Canadian Ski Team. Nik, you will be sorely missed... RIP.

Also, lets not forget Australian, Brooke Dunleavy who crashed heavily in a Europa Cup race in Sweden this weekend just gone and is in intensive care... my thoughts are also with Brooke and her family.

Stay safe and continue to enjoy your skiing!

Em

Well done Ladies' at the AICC

Joanna Milner Percy did the club proud once again by captaining an excellent LSC team at the 5th AICC event which was held in Gstaad on the weekend 8th – 11th March. The LSC team finished in 4th place. Team members were Janine Erdal nee Conner, Marguerite Nice, Elaine Davis nee Kent, and Caroline Brown nee Gough Cooper.

Other club members skiing under the Kandahar banner were Paula Boyagais (2nd), Edwina Palmer, Anna Griffin, Anna Silvia Dooley and Joanna.

The 6th AICC will take place in Zermatt.

National Skiathon 2011 – 11th, 12th and 20th June 2011

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to take part in Disability Snowsport UK's National Skiathon 2012 – The Olympic & Paralympic Challenge, a unique event now in its fourth year. All your team has to do is ski or board your local ski slope together with skiing celebrities, the British Disabled Ski team and some of the UK's top freestylers and help raise money for skiers with disabilities.

The event was really successful in 2011 with participants making a huge fundraising effort and bringing in a fantastic amount of just over £27,000. This makes a massive difference to people living with disability who want to experience the thrill & excitement of the slopes just like everyone else. We've set our sights even higher this year with a fundraising target of £35,000 and we need your help to do this.

Teams of 6 are invited to take on the challenge of skiing 2012 runs in 6 hours taking place at 6 indoor Ski Slopes across the country. So get involved at your nearest slope! The twist this year ……..…the more money you raise before end of May 2012 reduces the number of runs you have to complete. See table below for details:

Participating slopes include:

• SnowDome, Tamworth – 11th June
• SNO!zone Braehead – 11th June
• SNO!zone Castleford – 11th june
• SNO!zone Milton Keynes – 11th june
• The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead – 12th June
• Chill Factore Manchester – 20th June

Entry fee- £66 per team
Minimum Sponsorship required - £666 per team

What will you receive in Return? You will receive entry to the slope, support from us in undertaking the challenge & fundraising, as well as an event t-shirt and goody bag. There will be fun and frolics on the slope and prizes for the team who raise the most sponsorship money. There will be opportunities for teams to win runs using their mental agility and general knowledge as well as physically so you don't have to be a world class skier!

We had some great celebrities taking part last year including Steve Redgrave OBE, Graham Bell, Craig Phillips (TV presenter and Big Brother star) and Eddie the Eagle Edwards. The British Disabled Ski Team and The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team also entered.

Limited spaces are available so entries are on a first come first served basis so don't delay, get your place today! For further details please contact us on 01479 851 272 or email fundraising@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk

If for some reason you can't take part in the Skiathon 2012 please help us by spreading the word to your friends, family and work colleagues!

War and Piste

Going skiing? Then take War and Piste!

It tells the tale of Poppy Connors who, between jobs, decides for embark to the Austrian Alps for the ski season and work as a ski rep.

It chronologically highlights the season's hilarious ups and downs of Poppy and her alpine friends and their adventures on and off the piste. Anyone who has spent winters in the mountains will have witnessed the fall and rise (quite literally!) of a many chalet girl (and boy!) and there are several sections we can all relate to, even if you have never done a season.

A much recommended and fun read.

War and Piste is published by Traudl Publishing and is available on www.amazon.com

1st Winter Youth Olympic Games

Rachelle Rogers

In January 2012, I had the honour of representing Team GB in the first Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG), which were held in Innsbruck, Austria. No one really knew what to expect, as these were the inaugural WYOG, and I had no idea what it was going to be like either. The organising committee and the IOC worked really hard to host a spectacular event, which involved the people of Innsbruck as much as it involved the athletes competing.

It was a keystone in the writing of Olympic history, as it was not just the first WYOG, it also showed the introduction of new events. These included ; women's ski jumping, ski halfpipe and snowboard slopestyle. The Games also featured innovative new formats such as the mixed country doubles competition in curling; the mixed sport event cross-country/biathlon; mixed gender luge and ice hockey skills challenge.

I literally had the time of my life in the fourteen days I was there. Starting off with the official Team GB meeting at the Sofitel in Gatwick, where we had kit fitting, and ending with the Closing Ceremony on the 22nd January. I met so many new people, who I will hopefully stay in contact with and maybe even see them at future Olympic events – fingers crossed!

Although I was training or racing in Patcherkofel almost every day, I did manage to involve myself in the Cultural and Educational Program (CEP). The CEP is one of the main distinctions between the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games. The idea is to educate young people about sporting issues, different cultures and learn new life skills. I went to several displays, including those of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Academy and the IOC's Safe Sport stand. To encourage athletes to take part in the CEP, there was the Athlete's Challenge, which provided an opportunity to win Innsbruck sunglasses, waterbottle and headphones. To win these items, you had to collect points by participating in various CEP workshops and going to the stands to learn about organisations related to sport.

The WYOG also gave athletes a chance to meet the Athlete Role Models, a group of successful athletes from all over the world, as well as the Youth Olympic Ambassadors, these are athletes currently at the top of their sports. I was really fortunate to attend a Q&A session with Lindsey Vonn. I learnt a lot from this session and really enjoyed it, I couldn't stop smiling thoughout it because I just couldn't believe Lindsey Vonn was sitting, talking right in front of me! So cool!

One similarity between the Youth and Olympic Games is the concept of an Olympic Village. All the athletes and some NOC staff stayed in the village. I thought this was a really great touch to the Games because you got a real feel of Olympic spirit and experienced what it was like 'behind the scenes' at an Olympic event. Being in the village, catching the buses with athletes from all over the world also provided the perfect opportunity for pin badge exchanging and YOGGING. The idea behind pin badge trading is to try and collect badges from other countries in exchange for one of your own. And YOGGING, is something very unique to Innsbruck – let me explain! All the athletes were given USB keys called YOGGERs, by inserting it into your computer and creating an online profile, you could then use the USB to 'touch and glow' with another YOGGER, by doing this, your facebook/Skype/Twitter account information is exchanged with that of the other athlete.

I really enjoyed the Opening and Closing ceremonies as well. Walking into the stadium at the Opening Ceremony and just seeing the massive crowd cheering, with flashes from cameras and music playing, it is an image I won't forget for a long time./p>

On the snow ; my first event was Super G, being my weakest discipline, I wasn't expecting much, I just wanted to get down in one piece! The race was running smoothly and I had bib 25. But then there was a stop start because one poor girl had had a big crash. I tried not to let this get to me, although it did sit in the back of my mind and brought on some nerves. So out the start I went, and although I got my line wrong sometimes and didn't attack enough, I got down in 18th position. My final result, once everyone had gone down, was 24th, so top 25 isn't bad at all for my worst discipline. Oh and I forgot to mention, the day before, I was clumsy enough to leave my ski boots on one of the buses back to the village and so Mike Hay, the deputy chef de mission, very kindly drove to Zell to pick up my spare boots.

The following day was the Super Combined, and yes, I got my boots back. So with bib 26 and the sun shining, I was feeling much more positive than the previous day. I attacked the Super G course much more than the previous day, but sadly came to a double gate with too much speed and the wrong line, resulting in a DNF.

Next up for me was the GS, and having skied quite well in the build up to it, I was feeling quite confident, maybe overly confident, at the top of the first run I set off down the course with an extremely positive attitude. I made a lot of mistakes and I wasn't always on the fastest line, which creates a great time loss by the time you come into the flatter sections and I ended up 34th on the run. I was pretty disappointed with that because it meant I just missed out on the top 30 flip who go first in the second run. That meant I had to push quite hard in my second run and I missed a gate about two thirds of the way down, but these things happen. It's ski racing for you, if you come out, you come out.

Finally, the slalom. Up until the day of the slalom, the weather had been fantastic, but low and behold, for the slalom it rained and snowed with wind blowing the precipitation left, right and centre! Having taken Lindsey's approach to race day, I was in the start gate entirely focused, the most focused I have been in a very long time. Having got through the most tricky parts of the course, which saw so many of my fellow competitors come out, sadly in the last 10 gates or so, IDNFed. The feeling of defeat that came upon me brought tears to my eyes, the sudden change in emotion was overwhelming, and then finding out that my split time was about 1 to 2 seconds off the lead just made me feel even more annoyed.

Nonetheless, although I didn't achieve the results I had hoped for, overall, the Youth Olympics has been a really great experience and I won't forget it for as long as I live. I know now that I must learn to perform under pressure. I've also learnt so much from the culture and education programme and from just talking to other people from other countries. I've learnt what it's like being at an Olympic event and being an athlete, because on TV you only see the performances and the ceremonies, now I know what it's like behind the scenes. My future ambition is to one day compete in the senior Olympic Games.
Photo courtesy Racer Ready

LSC and Inferno

Jane Fawkes the Bulletin Editor has just returned from Switzerland where she represented the LSC in the Inferno races, here is here brief report:

Just back from Inferno week : wonderful & exhausting as ever. At the last minute the start had to be moved to Almendhubel, because it was too windy to run the Schilthorn cablecar, but the race did go to Lauterbrunnen, so the distance was reduced to 10kms instead of 15 kms. Winning time of 10'40 which averaged almost 60 kph - Racer number 1602 won the race so had to negotiate plenty of ruts & mud at the bottom! Happened to see him at the Winteregg climb but he just glided to the top - without so much as a push or skate he was over the top and round the corner, while everyone else was trudging laboriously up.

AICC 2012 News

For a third year Joanna-Milner Percy has agreed to be the LSC Team Manager and has secured a team entry place for the club to compete in the AICC (Amateur Inter Club Championships) races which this year are being hosted by The Eagles Ski Club and will take place in Gstaad on the weekend of 8/11th March

Three racers for the Ladies Ski Club team have been announced, these being Marguerite Nice. Elaine Kent and Caroline Brown will be joined by an as yet to be confirmed a 4th member.