telemark-skiing.co.uk

Having just returned from the seering heat of Golfo Aranci in the North of Sardinia… it was great to discover a new trailer for some great skiing starring amongst others Will Cardamone and Nick Devore of PW fame!!!

Follow this link

To see the trailer of HAND CUT!!! Looks cool and with some cool tunes to set the mood - I am already looking forward to getting out to Norway in December…… for further details about skiing in Hafjell from the 5th - 12th Dec with yours truly give me a ring on 07813268124.

Happy Skiing!!

Matt

PS Don’t forget the Northern Telemark Skiing Event at Xscape Castleford on the 27th September - ONLY 65GBP!!!

Check out TTips fro the lowdown on the NEW Powderwhore Productions film for the coming season AND the forthcoming TOUR.

This 4th film from the Powderwhores sure looks like it is going to be a HIT - the cast includes all of the usual suspects - with great footage from various locations around the world.

Let me know what you think.

Matt Higginson

Sport should play a bigger role in the workplace - Sport England

Employers can play a key role in getting the nation playing more sport, a new study has revealed.

Findings from the Well@Work pilot programme, the first of its kind in the UK, showed that workplace health programmes can have a big impact on levels of sports participation, fruit and vegetable intake and staff morale.

Led by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and funded by Sport England, the Department of Health and the Big Lottery Fund, Well@Work reached up to 10,000 employees in 32 workplaces across England over two years.

Activities people took part in included football, badminton, cycling, squash, running, rock climbing, rowing, dodgeball and golf.

The project involved a wide range of both public and private workplaces including a factory, a hospital, small and medium-sized companies, voluntary organisations and a call centre.

The research found that:

• Over 80 percent of the projects led to some increase in sport and recreation participation
• Popular activities included team-based events, competitions and ‘come and try’ sessions

Mihir Warty, Sport England Director of Policy and Performance said:

“Sport England was delighted to invest £647k in the Well@Work project and we welcome the positive findings in the report.

“Sport has an important role to play in creating a healthy and active workforce. We would encourage all employers to consider including sport in any healthy workplace initiatives for their staff. Innovative projects such as these can help to make sport a key part of everyday life for more people.”

Sport England recommends that employers contact recognised national governing bodies of sport for advice and information about particular sports.

From http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-7GTCUV

Matt Higginson

SSE/BMCCSA Roller Ski Course and British Series Race

Hayes, London, 9^th – 10^th August 2008

Just as one successful roller ski event fades into fond memory, another one looms on the horizon, and the SSE/BMCCSA roller ski training weekend at the Minet Cycle Circuit, Springfield Road, Hayes, on Saturday and Sunday 9^th – 10^th August, will surely be as much fun as the recent event at Hetton Lyons.

This event will start at 13:00 on Saturday and end at about 16:00 on Sunday. Everyone is welcome, from beginner through improvers to advanced technique skier. The event will cater equally for all levels of ability; all skiers can benefit from improving their technique using roller skis, whether tourer, downhiller or budding racer.

This year our coaching team is Mr. Mike Dixon, who has raced at 6 Winter Olympics and numerous World Championships, taking the advanced technique group, Dr. Adam Pinney, who has wished that he had gone to 6 Winter Olympics and numerous World Championships, taking the Intermediate group, and Gerard Evans (who received rave reviews from Hetton in June) taking the Improvers group. All coaches will enable you to hone and perfect your technique in both skating and classic, while motivating you to leave the course with a burning desire to go away and practice what you have learnt. Video analysis will be available.

On Saturday afternoon, starting at 4:00 pm, there will be the sixth race (of 10) of the British Roller Ski series, this being a pursuit, 6 laps of classic (rollers will be Start Combis and will be supplied by the organisers) followed by 6 laps of skating on any rollers permitted by FIS rules (total distance 18.6 kms). There will also be another pursuit race for all-comers/juniors, being 2 laps classic followed by 2 laps skate.

Roller skis will also be available for those who do not have them.

No hotel will be booked in advance for this course but there are several hotels in the immediate vicinity of the circuit. We will find a local restaurant and eat together on Saturday evening, although this is not included in the price.

The circuit is off the A312, between the A40 and M4/A4. From the M4, leave at Junction 3 and head north. At the roundabout with Sainsbury’s on the left, turn right then take the first right (Springfield Road) at the traffic lights. The entrance to the circuit is about 300 metres on the right.

Further details contact: Adam Pinney, 01582 602995, E-mail: aapinney@tinyworld.co.uk

Mica Heliskiing uses New State of the Art Avalanche Equipment for Backcountry Skiing and Boarding
Revelstoke, BC Canada June 18, 2008 – Mica Heliskiing completed a full season (December 2007 to April 2008) using the new ABS Freeride Airbag and the new Barryvox ‘Pulse’ Avalanche Transceiver.

At Mica Heliskiing, a safe and enjoyable experience is our No. 1 priority. Our professionally trained and certified guides make every effort to reduce the risks associated with back country skiing. The new ABS Airbags and Barryvox Digital Transceivers are state of the art avalanche safety equipment and have added another level of safety at Mica Heliskiing.

ABS Packs:  Each of our guests is now provided with an ABS backpack to wear during the ski day. The ABS Freeride is a lightweight dual balloon pack with room inside for an avalanche probe and shovel. In the event of an avalanche, the ABS pack helps a person stay on the surface of a moving avalanche, thereby dramatically decreasing the likelihood of becoming buried.

Barryvox ‘Pulse’ Avalanche Transceivers:  Mica Heliskiing upgraded to a fleet of the new Barryvox ‘Pulse’ Avalanche Transceivers for our guests to use while skiing last season. The Barryvox ‘Pulse’ is at the leading edge of avalanche transceiver technology. Our guests were extremely pleased with these new units, which are without question, one of the fastest and easiest transceivers on the market to use!

Mica Heliskiing Safety Program: Mica Heliskiing minimizes the risks associated with backcountry skiing in several different ways. On the first morning of your stay, each guest is required to take part in a formal Helicopter Safety Briefing and a Backcountry Safety School. These sessions include the use of standard avalanche safety equipment, including ABS Packs and avalanche transceivers. All groups are lead by professionally trained and certified guides. Each of our guides meets or exceeds the requirements of ‘a guide’ as set by the Helicat Canada guidelines and have been trained and certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and/or are members of the International Federation of Mountain Guides. Throughout the day your guide will work to choose terrain deemed appropriate for the current mountain conditions and the ability level of your group.

Mica Heli is a member of HeliCat Canada. HeliCat sets strict safety standards for operating a Helicopter and/or SnowCat Skiing area and as part of our membership we are required to have our safety systems and procedures reviewed on a regular basis. Mica Heliskiing is also a member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and subscribes to the Canadian Avalanche Association’s INFOEX. The ‘INFOEX’ is a daily information exchange between professional avalanche industry stakeholders and allows us to compare our mountain conditions and observations with those of our neighbors.

If you would like to learn more about our safety procedures, please do not hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to provide you with further detail.
Mica Heli Skiing near Revelstoke, B.C. is one of three operations in The Island Lake Resort Group; the others being Powder Cowboy Catskiing and Island Lake Lodge near Fernie B.C., For more information contact Darryn Shewchuk at  1.877.837.6191 x2002.

Sounds great…. I can’t wait until I can afford the time and money to try Heliskiing for myself.

Matt

For all of you telemark skiers / and fixed heel racers, interested in doing a little telemark racing this coming season - make sure you speak to Andrew Clarke (GB Telemark Team Captain) at the 2nd Midland Telemark Skiing Festival on the 19th July 2008. Andrew and a number of other GB Telemark team members are supporting the event and hoping to show off some of their racing skills to US mere mortals.

Andrew has a vast amount of experience in telemark skiing here in the UK and abroad… and organised what must be one of the best British telemark skiing championships in Rauris, Austria earlier this year.

It will be great to see you next month Andy. 

Matt

With just less than 4 weeks until the 2nd Midland Telemark Skiing Festival at the Snowdome, Tamworth - I am writing to let you know that plans for the day are well under way.

The day itself promises to be a great event for all freeheel skiers - from those casting off their training heels for the first time to seasoned veterans who just want to come along and ski and perhaps chew the fat with old aquaintences.

A ski pass for the day is ONLY 58GBP - please mention the Telemark Festival when booking to ensure that you are charged appropriately.

If you are intending to attend the festival and haven’t booked your telemark skiing equipment please be aware that equipment is ONLY available IF booked and paid for in advance. Please make sure that you drop me a line ASAP as equipment is limited and is available on a first come first served basis. Equipment available for hire includes boots (3 - 12UK), skis and bindings (140 - 180cm) all for ONLY 15GBP.

For those of you who cannot make it to this event I am currently in discusion with Xscape, Castleford and hope to arrange a half / full day event there towards the end of September 2008.

If you would like any further details about either of the events mentioned above or further details of how Snowsport England is promoting and developing Telemark skiing in the UK please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I look forward to seeing you on the slopes soon.

Matt

17 June 2008

Home Nations Governing Bodies for Snowsports launch new, unified qualifications pathway

The governing bodies for snowsports in Scotland, England and Wales have today launched their unified qualifications pathway covering coaching, leading and instructing awards (in all snowsports disciplines). UK Snowsports will replace all existing, and currently disparate, qualifications by December 2008.

The UK Snowsports pathway has been developed using the principles of the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC). Accreditation by UKCC is a longer term aim of UK Snowsports. Its raison d’être is to meet the needs of snowsports clubs and their members, existing and potential instructors, tutors, coaches and leaders as well as ski centres. As a guide, potential trainees should regard UK Snowsports as the UK awarding body for coaches, leaders and instructors who either specialise in race coaching, or who will work outside of the mountain ski school environment.

The combined membership of UK Snowsports is currently more than 3,000. These members comprise coaches, instructors and leaders across all snowsports disciplines.
 
Oliver Jones, chairman of Snowsport GB (the British Ski & Snowboard Federation) that trains and manages the British snowsports teams of elite athletes such as Finlay Mickel, Lesley McKenna and Chemmy Alcott, commenting on the launch says: “Snowsport GB is pleased to support the launch of this unified pathway which undoubtedly fills a gap in the market originally occupied by a wide range of Home Nations Governing Body courses which had no clear or consistent development pathway.”
 
Mark Simmers, chief executive of Snowsport GB also offers his support: “I am delighted to see the Home Nations working together to develop a unified approach to this area of the sport. It now presents GB athletes with a viable option for their progression into coaching, and provides more clarity and consistency in the development of British coaches.”
 
Current members of individual Home Nations Governing Bodies registration schemes will remain registered with their preferred body. Existing qualifications are also recognised and will be ‘converted’ to the UK Snowsports levels at annual re-registration. Home Nations re-registration dates are as follows: Scotland: 1 October; England and Wales: 1 January 2009. NB: In converting qualifications, coaches, leaders and instructors will all have the same scope of operation. No-one will be ‘worse off’.

For further information, please contact:
 
Tim Fawke at tim@snowsportengland.org.uk or go to the Snowsport England website:
 
http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/uk_snowsports-245.html
 
 

                                                                                                                        23 May 2008  

Dear Skier

Give appreciation to our junior cross country skiers and support them as a beacon for the next generation of young skiers

I have resisted asking publicly for your help for three years until our junior skiers demonstrated achievement in racing against other nations. This year to my surprise two of our junior athletes, Andrew Musgrave and Andrew Young, became eligible to compete in World Cup races, about two or more years in advance of my expectations.  Although we must remain prudent in our long term expectations of GBR junior skiers, a moment of rejoicing should be allowed for Andrew Musgrave finishing ninth in the world for his age (18 years) and Andrew Young finishing first (16 years), both in distance events. 

The two Andrews and their team members, Sarah Young, Fiona Hughes, Simon Platt, Alastair Duncan, Alexander Standen, Peter J. Barron and Simon Spencer have accepted with enthusiasm and dedication the challenge of training for about 550 hours per year; and this will increase as they move towards the senior age category. They train alongside other day to day activities, such as academic work, part time jobs and fund raising (bag filling at supermarkets being one example).  What is more they do it with a smile on their faces!

The juniors are inspirational to the younger skiers in the development squad who are showing signs of good potential for racing on snow. We are currently building a youth team for the European Youth Olympics 2009 as a step towards the World Junior Championships and beyond for these younger skiers. The older juniors have their sights set on the World Cup, World Championships, the Universiade and the Olympics over a ten year programme.

The skiers are being supported by a small band of dedicated volunteers who provide coaching, technical assistance and parental care, and who work tirelessly to raise funds. Like the skiers they are developing their expertise through experience as they follow the strategic plan to become the leading non snow nation for cross country ski racing. It may come as no surprise then to learn that progress in realising our strategic aim is being done by spending more time on snow; in 2005/06 the skiers competed in 28 FIS qualifying races and in 2007/08 this figure climbed dramatically to 220. The costs in time and money are increasing in proportion.

You might think I am leading up to asking you for money. Yes, that is true but I am asking you to think about other issues at the same time:

1.      Our skiers are representing GBR and their sense of privilege, pride and determination would be enhanced by everyone with an interest showing their support

2.      The more people show their support in numbers and the more races we can attend, the better placed we are for demonstrating to potential sponsors exposure to their names or brands

3.      Gaining a better profile for our skiers and their improving race results could act as a beacon for younger people, encouraging them to join cross country as a leisure activity or a sport.

Giving encouragement to our national skiers, improving our profile for funding and attracting the next generation of skiers into cross country should allow you to offer your support in a variety of ways. To illustrate:

A.     Cash donations large or small with personal messages

B.     Support in kind directly or indirectly through contacts e.g. equipment, transport, food, accommodation, job secondments with leave

C.     Clicking on to the SSGB website for news on cross country (we plan to set up an enewsletter) and advertising any youth events through us

D.     Referring any interested young club skier to our development squad, which remains inclusive.

Our junior skiers have a reached a milestone in their development and it is critical that we do not fail them now because of lack of support even at its most modest level.

You can get in touch with me at the SSGB office address below or by emailing me at nordicdirector@ntlworld.com if you have any ideas for helping our athletes.

Regards

George Gabriel

SSGB Nordic Director

Heartstring are the fantastic LIVE band that will be adding some REAL flavour to the evening entertainment at this years 2nd Telemark Skiing Festival on Sat 19th July at the Snowdome, Tamworth.

To find out more about what lies in store… click here

Why not send them a message and put in your requests NOW.

Remember if you need to hire telemark skiing equipment for the event this needs to be done in advance - please ring me ASAP to ensure that you get the skis and boots you need.

Matt