 Poster: A snowHead
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GrahamN, Nooooooooooo....... disaster!!  hope you don't need surgery at least.... let us know how you get on on Thursday! Be sorry not to see you at the Brits at the weekend....
Well, quick (hopefully!) report from me on this weekend's skiing adventures! Yesterday was the 5th and final installment of the rossendale summer race league - not much to play for as I was already fairly set in 2nd position in my age group so decided to race despite having had a really sore back all weekend as only needed to finish to get enough points to secure 2nd. No hope of catching 1st unless she failed to finish both individual timed runs  course was fairly straightforward, one tricky exit from a verticale about half way down but apart from that fairly regular, not too tight turns - just the sort of nice fast course I am bad at anyhew, first run got pretty good start (for me!) managed to get forward well and attack the course until the bogey gate when I had a bit of a skid and lost some speed and stood up a bit - then managed to attack the last few gates again - time 18.58 - not bad for me in race league but a few people I wanted to beat got better times 
so all out attack planned for run 2 - target sub-18seconds.... sadly all hope lost after a pathetic start and very slow first couple of gates - a shame as this time I got absolutely the right line through the tricky part and really accelerated through the bottom for.... 18.49..... aaaaaarrrrrrggghhhh...... ah well.... when the list came out I had still made it to group 9 for the HtHs- not as good as last month's group 7 and quite a few people in front of me who I had beaten last month but I did beat some others that I was pleased with! anyway, at least for the afternoon being in group 9 gave me a better chance of winning some HtH's to get good points for the team (also sadly out of the running for top spot after a disaster last month ).... and indeed managed to win 2 out of 3  despite getting a terrible start in the first race and having to make up a gate on the other guy but I just got there! Very pleased with final run against a girl who has lower points than me in the BARTS list and usually is in a better group - managed to get a decent start and then really nailed the course, accelerated all the way down and won by around 2 gates - hurrah! So a good note to end the race league season on - tho my opponent apparently disagreed, and skied straight off back up the lift without pausing to shake hands - which always disappoints me - I know it's not nice to lose but it's all meant to be fun as well and it's nice for everyone to be sporting - I know I am always happy to shake hands when beaten - even if I am a tad miffed about it!!  sorry, will stop the rant now - before I get on to how children should also be taught about queuing for practice and not walking straight from the top of the lift to the front of the queue and shoving in......
anyway, a good day overall - I was slightly disappointed with the morning times but considering last season my times were in the 20's and I was usually in groups 15-20 I think it show improvement. And I did get a silver medal for the series so no complaints there going for gold next year! Sadly no good prizes on offer like in GrahamN's region - just medals - tho the kids who won their age groups did get big trophies - only from under-16s down tho, apparently older ones don't need trophies also slight disappointment that our A team (I was in B) missed out on the team trophy by 6 points over the whole series
so on to the Brits this weekend in Norwich, slightly scared as have about 4th worst points in the females, but hopefully can take some scalps as I managed in the all englands. Aiming for not last!
PS - well done to everyone for their weekend results...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm off to uni in Norwich shortly and plan to use the Norwich dry slope they got there, i know this is a tad bit off topic but is it a decent slope for an advanced skier?
The skiing drought is haunting me
/hijack
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Timmaah, Hi, I'm a bit of a fraud on this thread as only being a parent of two racers as opposed to the real thing. (The others put up with me).
Norwich is generally recognised as being one of the largest and best slopes in the country and has a very good race club. http://www.norfolkskiclub.com/ It is hosting the British Champs this coming weekend. http://www.britski.org/07britdschinv.pdf
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Timmaah, I am an instructor at the NSC and my daughters are members of the race team if you want any introductions just let me know. Asgsb, says above we probably have the best dry ski slope in the country so good choice of uni location.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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GrahamN, I see you waited until I'd tried a couple of sessions at Aldershot before breaking that news (if you'll excuse the pun)
But seriously, very sorry to hear that. How long before you'll be able to ski again?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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GrahamN, I know people who have raced in the British dry slope champs with a cast on a hand. The pot just goes a bit soft after a while where gates have hit it.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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GrahamN, sorry to hear about the break but having seen it first hand it didnt look too good during the tele session and appeared a lot worse than a minor sprain. IMO give the race a miss, heal up first properly, there is always next time...
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rjs, thanks for that encouragement, but I'd not be able to get a glove, or my Forcefield armour over it. I may tend toward the reckless, but there's no way I'd race without either of those. And as I'd probably be propping up the field anyway, best leave it until next year.
skimottaret, I have had sprains and bruises that were not too dissimilar (and not all from dryslope skiing  ) - but I agree there was a fair bit of wishful thinking in the mix there too.
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You know it makes sense.
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GrahamN, Sorry to hear about the thumb. Certainly my main fear about dry slopeskiing.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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GrahamN, Just caught up with the thread and sorry to hear the news. Sounds like more telemarking needed as therapy.
But seriously, I am hampered by a poorly reset thumb because I tried to use it whilst broken (Sandown Park about 25 years ago). Not worth the risk IMHO.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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GrahamN, We'll miss you Sunday then ? Hope the thumb continues to improve...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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GrahamN, Bad luck... Look forward to your reports next year.
Anyway last week....  Big turnout (200 entrants !). I arrived having forgotton my helmet - so no change in organisational ability ! The car did manage to get us there on time, which is a step up from the week before at Soton.
I've noticed that, certainly in training - and at some of the races this summer, I've been getting my best time on the first run, and sometimes in training ('cos I run the session) it is actually my first run  . So this time, rather than spending 30 minutes bashing up and down the slope trying to feel relaxed, I had just one warm up run - felt OK, and left it at that.
First and second run felt good, just slow - because of overturning before the 'difficult' gate on the course - in this case a flush set just below a ridge. Attacked it more on the third run - go a couple of 10ths faster. So overall, although slow, at least I felt I skied alll three runs, and didn't ski out once 
In the afternoon, played in the scratch team dual slalom. In this event teams are made up so that the sum of everyones' fastestl time in the morning is about the same across all teams. My team had me as the fastest, and oldest, and tallest member. So we had no chance We got 3 races, and three disqualifications - which happen when a team member does not complete the course correctly. Our last race had me trying to chase down a 5 gate lead, admittedly to a much slower skier, which was fun.
So that's it for me this summer. We'll see what happens next year.
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anyone going to Brentwood on Sunday?
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skimottaret, Yes although I will only be there as ski tech and breakfast chef for my daughters.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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kevinrhead, I am just going to check out what a race is... what number will your daughter(s) be? if i keep a look out for them i am sure i could track you down to say hello..
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skimottaret, Not sure as start list has not yet been issued. I have Georgina in CH2 and Camilla in JR1 and I will be with the Norfolk team just ask for Kevin.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kevinrhead, will stop by
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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GrahamN, What's the news?
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easiski, thanks for asking: good - medical status report here.
Had a training session yesterday. Started out a bit tentative the first couple of runs, but then got into it, and finished up with the last half hour in the course not noticing any problem at all (other than having to be a little gentle when clipping in the Leki pole-straps). As I'm not now racing next week, we sort of started on the training programme for next year. I originally posted a bit of a muse on the plan for winter training here, but that would best sit with a restrospective on this season - and that would be jumping the gun a bit. The season's over for me, but there's more to come from the rest: vivski's at the 'Europeans' this weekend, and I guess Nick W at the ERSA race today, then Tri-region and ERSA championships next week.
ski It was really rough sitting out last week and looking at those results - from those times I should have been able to win my group fairly easily. Well done on getting three complete runs in - good step in rebuilding your competitive position. Looks like Tim skied a blinder - anything to do with having finally got some skis less that 10 years old?  I also see that despite your best efforts at failing to record a time all year you've actually improved your "fastest skier" rating this year - well done. Mine also improved a fair bit - just not quite as much as I wanted. It's always a good idea not to think too hard about team make up, as it can get a bit depressing: in one race there I realised that I was older than the other four members of the team put together!
I see that Mr P's rival from Bromley also turned out. This could make things even more interesting next year if he starts racing at regional level, as he comes up from your group into ours then. He's currently faster than AP, but given that AP's even more competitive than me he's not going to take that lying down and that should spur him on - I've noticed he's already started speeding up. So I expect us to be yet more competitive next year. Although if Andy Robinson comes good on his threat to start racing again we may as well all give up .
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Huge congratulations to vivski - seniors European Champion!!!!!
And that 15x points score you'd been hunting all season too.
(To Misses RA and EG....."To finish first...first you have to finish")
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well done Vivski. I'm sure you know this, points now at 167.09 according to my calc . I hope
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 24-10-07 8:30; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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GrahamN, gsb, thanks!!! My maths agrees with gsbs, so with the last races of the season have finally made my sub-175 point target!! Quite unexpected I have to say, particularly my points yesterday as with Pontypool being so long and a certain Miss Baggio in the field I was quite prepared for this to be a poor points weekend..... on that note, thanks are due to the aforementioned Miss B for skiing out in run 2, otherwise points would have been much less impressive 
Afraid I cannot present a very comprehensive report on the weekend's racing in pontypool as it has all descended into a blur in the shock! But I shall try my best .... Saturday was the "Welsh Cup" - basically a warm up for Sunday's Europeans. Both courses were easier than most of the field had anticipated and produced some very fast runs from the top racers. For once I carried off 2 runs with no disasters, first run felt very good, lacking a bit in attack and aggression (as usual!) but no skids (pleased with that as the matting at pontypool is not the best) and a reasonable time.... so on run 2 with nothing to lose I went for a more attacking run, which did result in me having a bit of a skid about halfway down the steep, but I managed not to lose too much speed so still not a bad time, not as good as I had hoped for but not the 2nd run disaster I often have! Beat a few people with better start numbers than me as well, which is always nice pleasant surprise to pick up a 3rd place in the seniors as EG was unwell so DNS'd 2nd run. So we set off back to the tent on saturday feeling that the trip had been worthwhile, prize picked up, sub-200 points on long slope with JB in the field so a good day all round. Feeling that there was little hope of anything good happening on Sunday I spent most of saturday night carefully applying 3 coats of wax to my lovely new Salomon 3Vs which had arrived on Friday afternoon as I had decided I couldn't resist trying them out on Sunday, well aware that racing on unfamiliar skis could backfire rather drastically!
Sunday's courses were more of a challenge - as befits a championship race I think.... first course was not too bad - key was being early and setting up well at the gates going over the ridge from the flat top section to the steep. After a few runs on the new skis in free practice I had decided to give them a go - not quite got the hang of them, but when I did drive them just right they felt great. Run felt pretty good - no big skids or slides again, attacked reasonably well, tho possibly not to the max as I didn't want the new planks to chuck me out of the course! After run 1 I found myself in the unusual position of lying in 3rd place but with another senior behind me.. a girl who apparently hasn't raced for a few years... so my usual tactic for run 2 of go for it and if you fall down get back up and finish - if it comes off you get a good time and hopefully good points, if not still get the place! This made me a bit more nervous than usual and felt even worse after inspecting course 2 - nasty! Top section was nice, really encouraged you to work the skis on the flat top section to get some speed and then spat you out of a verticale onto two massive offset gates coming over the ridge and onto the steep.... thi was the part that accounted for most of the 8 female and 21 male DNFs and DSQs on run 2! Not all, but most (including Miss B- to gasps of shock from the crowd, many of whom, like me, have never seen that happen before!). In the end I decided that the only way to ski the course was to attack it and try to keep a high line all the way down, the top section went fairly well and I got round the horrible entry to the steep OK, but then skidded at the 2nd or 3rd gate after that and to be honest all I remember of the rest of the run was that I was leaning far too far back and the best way to describe it is "a series of linked recoveries"! The new skis saved me a few times as when I got onto the tails they whipped me round into the next turn and as long as I didn't get thrown out the back seat I'd make the next gate!! Also sheer determination that I wasn't going to let a podium escape me on this occasion helped to keep me in the course when even the dedicated OH said he thought I was going to come out several times. So I was pleased to survive to the bottom but disappointed with the time, around 1.3 secs slower than run 1, until I realised that I had held my place in front of the other girl in my age group and that most people were around 1 sec slower than the first run so actually the mistakes hadn't cost me too much in comparison to others. Then 2nd placed senior after run 1 fell at the bottom of the course and by the time she had picked herself up and finished she ended up behind myself and the other senior and finally EG straddled the 2nd last gate to leave me in 1st place.... I had to sit down for a while after that... so for the first time I found myself on top of the podium, and also for the first time I wasn't the last finisher in my age group as the podium was full! made even better when I calculated the points from the board
so a much better end to the season than I could have dreamed of - off to start winter training now to come out next year and try and get those points down even further. I have a much better idea now of the things I really need to work and focus on and given the progress I've made this year I hope to start getting those good runs that I've had a few of at the end of this season more consistent, in which case the points should tumble hopefully!
well done to all s who've been racing this year, seems like we have all made big improvements over the year! Look forward to hearing all about how everyone's winter training is progressing - going to miss the race reports oh, and GrahamN, glad that thumb is getting better! Expect to see you out at lots of the races next year!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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vivski, congratulations!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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vivski, Congrats. !
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| gsb wrote: |
| points now at 167.09 |
Now girl, you can stop right there.....I'm on 166.58, so no more improvements please . (Interesting to see what happens when the end of season rebasings for girls and boys are taken into account).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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vivski, Brilliant result, congratulations
Miss B only managed about 3rd overall in the Hemel Champs last weekend; she must be slipping (literally). It was a good day overall and probably the last dry slope competition at Hemel unless they have a big send off charity race early in 2008. I ended up as Masters 3 champion, only because I was the only entrant  Overall performance was poor however when compared to my usual benchmarks.
But this was nothing compared to the dismal showing at Brentwood yesterday.
Wrong ski prep, bad technique and some sort of bug left me with my most depressing performance of the year, made even worse because I was beaten by Mrs. NickW I was at least 2 secs a run off my own expectations. So, it's back to the training slope for the next few months with that irritation as a driver.
The day was helped however by the rest of family NickW picking up medals and trophies. Daughter and wife were both third in group, son was fourth. They also presented the ERSA trophies for the summer league; daughter was third, Mrs NickW second and (pride of place) son walked off with the BG2 title (he slept with the trophy last night). Daughter also took the youngest skier title.
We are only helping out at Bromley next week unless there are any drop-outs in the ERSA team (in which case son will ski) and then it's off to Welwyn on Sunday for the final race of the year (final humiliation in my case). The ERSA champs are held like Grand Prix; 2 runs, 2 courses which given that I am always extra slow on the first run doesn't inspire me with confidence.
Finally, it was good to see skimottaret and meet kevinrhead on the day even if it only served to add to the embassment.
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GrahamN, I think you are safe  JB has skied to zero this year, none of the males have BH is on 1.94 so maybe a 1-2 point reduction with only the Irish Champs to go.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Hi everyone here, I have never thought about racing again till now, did it when i was young and thought i would like to have another go now that i am a Veteran. Does anyone know how to get started in racing at this level. I was not ranked sice i was a junior so my guess is i must start from the bottom again. Is it possible to start again? Oh yes and i am only thinking about on the snow, not dry slopes they hurt to much!
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FAQ
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