18 Jul Isy Mabey Award
  The President and Board would like to thank Isabel Kite for her generous sponsorship of a new annual Ladies Ski Club award. The award of £800 will be made to the LSC junior with the best FIS slalom points at the end of the season.

Isy Mabey began skiing at the age of six and continued to ski throughout her school years with DHO in Wengan. During her A level year she competed in the English Schools Ski Championship where she was selected to be a British Ladies Team member and for three seasons competed on the European FIS circuit. Isy's strongest and most favoured discipline was slalom. For those of you that have noticed the Mabey link, yes Isy is Penny Mabey's daughter.
 
19 June

Picnicking on the Thames
 

On Tuesday 13th June, 20 members and guests departed on two luxury river cruisers from a boat yard in Datchet for a five hour cruise upstream along the Thames, mooring just beyond Boveney Lock for a very social picnic lunch before returning back to base.  The two self drive cruisers were in safe hands captained by two trusted sea sailors who both enjoyed the challenge of ‘getting to grips’ with a river craft. The rain held off fortunately and although overcast this did not deter both crews from strolling around the decks to enjoy the views and of course lots of chats! The outing was enjoyed by all and it is hoped this event will be repeated again next year.  The club would like to thank KRIS CRUISERS of Datchet for their support on the day. Details of boat hire can be viewed at www.kriscruisers.co.uk
 
7 May

The Hedley Lewis Trio’s Marathon News
  Mum Penny and her two daughters Melissa and Amanda successfully completed the London Marathon last month. Penny said that the atmosphere was terrific ‘London at its best’ and a happy day for the family. Penny’s time was 4.11.04 and Melissa and Amanda 4.07.33. Congratulations and well done ladies!
 
7 May

Mammouth Historian Meeting Report by Elisabeth Hussey

  The meeting of ski historians which I went to in Mammoth, California from 29th March to 3rd
April was great.   There were about 140 people interested in the history of skiing and about 40 of us had been asked to give 20-minute talks about various bits of history.   

 I am glad to say that Arnold Lunn's contribution was well recorded.  Halvor Kleppen (a Norwegian whose books have been translated by Ingrid Christophersen) talked about the development of the slalom, ending with Arnold's contribution at Murren;  Christoph Thoeny of St Anton talked about the development of the Arlberg Kandahar;  John Fry of the US talked of the way Arnold related religion and mountains.   I had intended to talk about the way Arnold made alpine skiing as important as nordic, by developing slalom and downhill.  But as the others came in with their ideas, the organisers of the conference asked me to talk about Arnold's personality, which I enjoyed doing.  
 
7 May Elizabeth Hussey 's history with LSC
  Elizabeth has been a member of the Club since 1968. She received the Lady Blane Award in 1978 for her outstanding contribution to ladies skiing and was made and Honorary member in 2000
 
2 May LSC Ski Instructing achievements by Mark Birch
  Now that the season is drawing to a close I feel it necessary to report some mile stone achievements for the Ladies Ski Club Instructor membership.

Firstly, congratulations to Emma Carrick-Smith for being selected as a trainer for the elite training body – The British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI).

 Secondly, to Sophie Fraser-Hafter and Bella Seel for their remarkable and successful performances in the European Speed Test in Oberstdorf  and Alpe D’Huez respectively. The Euro Test is a module of the International Ski Teaching Diploma (ISTD) certified by BASI and recognised world wide, it is a giant slalom race against openers calibrated to zero FIS points, the criteria is to be within 24% of their time.

The ISTD requires numerous skills that include the completion of several modules testing the strengths of the candidates across a broad range of disciplines. The most challenging of these modules (with only a 30% pass rate) is the technical exam which comprises of skiing bumps (moguls), off-piste, steeps, short and long radius turns to a set criteria. Three members of the Ladies Ski Club completed this module during the course of the season.  This is a fantastic achievement, congratulations to Bella Seel, Lara Crisp and Amanda Pirie.

(Top image is Bella Seel and Amanda Pirie and bottom image is Lara Crips and Amanda Pirie)
 
28 Apr Trin Head's marathon report
  Hi everyone,
I just wanted to write a short email to thank you all for your incredible support. I completed the marathon in a time of 3 hours 44. It wasn't quite the 3 hours 30 that I was going for, but with the heat I am very pleased to have got round as I did. It was such a great experience, and I would definitely do it all again (although maybe not today). The run in itself was a rather overwhelming experience. The number of spectators and supporters that pored onto the streets was fantastic, and it was very uplifting to have everyone shouting my name in support. It was definitely needed in the final stages!

I ran the first part of the marathon as planned. I was given plenty of advice about how to pace myself, and up to around the 20-21 mile mark, it was all going to plan. But, the last 5 miles were tough!!!! Certainly for me, by this stage it was more of a case of just keeping my legs going as I was very aware that as soon as I stopped, that would be it!!!! So i kept plodding on for the final miles as best as I could but I admit it wasn't the fastest part of my race! Nevertheless, I completed in a time that I am very chuffed with and maybe one day I will challenge it all over again!

As for all your support, I am pleased to say that I have raised close to £1,200 which I am over the moon about. Even with things as they are at the moment, everyone has been so generous, so once again, thank you ever so much.

All the best Trin
 
23 Apr Club President Jill Coke describes her first experience at attending a major British Championship
  Having been involved in many aspects of ski-ing for a large number of years, I am not knowledgeable when it comes to racing.   For this reason, Gill Head suggested I join her to go to the British Championships.   We stayed in her apartment in Flaine and drove over on two occasions.   My greatest impression was how friendly everyone was and generous in praise to racers who did well – even when it came to someone beating their own child.   I realised I was probably lucky in not being involved in any way myself – I had no children throwing themselves down the course, nor did I have any axe to grind when it came to ski politics.   I was able to watch and experience the excitement without the worry parents must suffer.

It had been suggested that I draw the tickets for our Olympic Raffle but, when it transpired that Alan Baxter was retiring from racing that day, who could possibly do it but him;  and he very kindly agreed.   I much enjoyed meeting some of the racers and also their parents.   The whole atmosphere reminded me of pony club days in this country where families get to know each other so well and remain friends for life.  

Jill Coke
23rd April, 2009.
 
22 Apr The (Unofficial) Parents Guide
  Member Jacqui Crawford and her husband Gordon have put together a Ski Parent's Guide booklet, copies of which were available at this year's British Championships in Meribel. Following feedback at the championships one or two items in the booklet will be adjusted, however if you are a parent of a ski racer and you would like to offer any useful comments for example: what is missing, what is too simplistic and what could be improved, please contact kay@ladiesskiclub.org and your comments will be forwarded on to the Crawfords.

Click here to read the booklet
 
16 Apr LSC annual awards
 

As the 2008/9 racing season draws to a close, the LSC would like to congratulate the following ladies who have been awarded three of the clubs annual awards.

Bara Stakova - Children 2 catagory winner at BARSC races, held at Petzin in January

Emily Evans - Children 2 catagory winner at The British Championships held this month in Meribel

 

 

Sarah Norton - The Kirsteen McGibbon Award - an encouragement award to help talented juniors
 
16 Apr London MARATHON, APRIL 26th 2009
  This years Marathon takes place on Sunday 26th April and four of our members will be taking part.

Penny Hedley Lewis who as many of you will know has run this gruelling race several times before will be accompanied by two of her three daughter's Melissa and Amanda, both Melissa and Amanda have competed in half marathon's in the past. Penny, Melissa and Amanda will be running on behalf of The Red Cross. If you would like to support the Hedley Lewis's please contact kay@ladiesskiclub.org who will forward on your email.

Abigail Gregory another long standing club member will in her own words 'will be embarking on a remarkable journey that is the London Marathon' and has been training very hard. Abigail has chosen to support The Children's Trust and to support Abigail please go to www.justgiving.com/abigailgregory

Good luck to you all
 
13 Apr BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
 

Here are some nice pics from the 2009 British Championships
 
April

RAFFLE DRAW NEWS

The LSC 2010 Olympic Raffle was drawn on Thursday 2nd April at the British Ski Championships in Meribel. The raffle was drawn by Alain Baxter of British Ski Team. All the winners have been notified.

Congratulations to all of the Winners

BSA week for 2 in Les Houches goes to Lizzie Briggs – London

YSE £1000 Holiday Voucher goes to  Myles Humphrey – Sussex

Basecamp Holiday Apartment in Val d’lsere goes to Campbell Beaton – Edinburgh

AlexiSki Luxury Gloves goes to Christine Linacre – Surrey

Reflexology Session with Liz Frazer goes to Robert Nearn – Surrey

Skizmo Pico Ski Boot Remover goes to Stacy Gillow – Hampshire

Racing Supplies goes to Pringle Family - Hampshire        

The total proceeds raised from the raffle will be published in due course.

 
 
March LSC at Amateur Inter-Club Races.
   
 

Whilst repping for the Ski Club of Great Britain in Wengen and Mürren LSC members Marguerite Nice and Joanna Milner-Percy decided to form a team for the Ladies Ski Club to compete in the 2nd Amateur Inter-Club Championship again in Mürren and organised by the Kandahar Ski Club. Through Anna Griffin, Janine O’Connor joined and then the search was on for a 4th member. We were able to compete in the GS and Super G with three but needed a 4th for the Parallel Slalom and LSC member Carolyn Morgan, stepped in.

It was clear early on that Marguerite and I would be greatly helped by the inclusion of Janine in the team. She clocked the fastest times and certainly secured us the Bronze Team medals.

Mürren put on excellent courses for the GS, Paralll Slalom and Super G on the Winteregg and the organisation was faultless. The sun shone and temperature was a bit high but the snow was in great shape and the courses were enjoyed by all. Socially, it was a really fun long weekend: some of us arrived on the Thursday which gave us very little advantage for Friday’s training as the party in the Blumental carried onto into the early hours with dancing in Blümikeller. Friday night Captain’s briefing and more inter-club socialising. By 9 am on Saturday competitors from all the Clubs had arrived, bibs had been collected and we were out inspecting the GS course then with ladies over 45 first to go, I was number 3 – the lowest number I shall ever be given.

The Clubs that sent teams included 5 from the DHO Wengen, 7 from the Kandahar, Meribel, Eagle Ski Club from Gstaad, 18 from Cortina, SAS, Lauterbrunnen and Murren Ski Clubs.

Next year 18 host the event in Cortina and we can fly to Venice and it all sounds very inviting. Just how many teams can we take? Anna and Janine are sure to make up a hot shots team and Marguerite and I will be very happy to go with two other LSC ladies over 45

Pictures: Joanna Milner Percy, Marguerite Nice and Janine O’Connor and Carolyn Morgan.

President of Kandahar, Beat Hodler presenting prizes

Other teams in the pic on the podium:

1st Ladies Senior 11 – Kandahar Ski CLub

Paula Boyagis (Capt.), Caroline Stuart Taylor, Miranda Collins, Judith French

2nd Downhill Only Club

Liz Moore, Sheridan Killwick, Sally Ireland