 Poster: A snowHead
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After much encouragement from GrahamN, Ski and easiski I finally took the plunge and had my first session at the Aldershot race club. It was the first time on plastic in a decade, and my first time ever with slalom gates. I was very apprehensive before hand, but by the end of the evening I was having a real blast! I know there are two or three others who are deciding whether to give it a try, so I would say after tonight's experience you should definitely give it a go. Although I was nowhere near as quick as Graham and the others, who were very impressive, I did feel I made a little bit of progress just in a couple of hours, so I'm sure if I do this regularly it will benefit my skiing all round. If anyone has seen the film Bambi you will remember the scene where he first gets on the ice - that's how I felt for the first few runs, but by the end of the session I managed to complete the course without missing a gate.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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rob@rar, well done 
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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.
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Good for you! Racing on plastic is excellent for improving you technique.
For those in the Midlands, race training is available through Midland Ski Club: http://www.midlandski.org.uk . We had quite a few good results in the All England Championships at Sunderland last weekend.
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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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| rob@rar wrote: |
| I did feel I made a little bit of progress just in a couple of hours... |
Rob's seriously underselling himself there: his progress was spectacular - in two hours he did what it took me about 6 months! He went from a clearly very nervous first couple of runs where he was desperately looking for enough space to do a few GS turns to some pretty confident SL runs, albeit still a bit skiddy on the tighter turns. What that's actually saying is that, unlike me, he's starting from a pretty solid basic technique on which to build - tightening turn shapes, higher edge angles etc.. And probably one of the most useful moves came about half way though, when he got his first fall out of the way, with no obvious injuries. Having cleared that mental hurdle you could suddenly see a load more confidence in his skiing.
Well done!
ski I think we're going to have some serious competition next year! (Thankfully in LSERSA he's in a different agegroup, at least from me  )
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| GrahamN wrote: |
Well done!
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Thanks mate, I really appreciate those comments, and your support in getting me there in the first place 
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rob@rar, Well done - I'm so glad you've put those plastic demons to rest. Have fun. 
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brian
brian
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Good stuff rob@rar, I've been considering doing something like this myself. There must be similar at Hillend I would think, I know there's tons of kids racing up there, just need to find a suitable gathering of old folks 
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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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rob@rar, Well done. Roll on next year !
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brian, Hillend offers free race coaching on Saturday evenings and last season (due to lack of snow time) I went up quite a few weeks for an hour or so after putting the kids to bed. Its mostly youngsters but a few adults showed up on a couple of the nights - the coaches seemed happy enough.
However I just can't face the plastic until its fairly cold, and preferably raining, so probably won't go again until around November/December.
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brian
brian
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balernoStu, I was up last Sunday (kids were at a tubing party), slower than a fairly slow thing.
Maybe come up with you then, I'm not interested in racing for its own sake, it would be a means to preparation/improvement for the snow, so Nov/Dec sounds ideal.
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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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The Hillend setup was quite informal, without timing, so I would usually ski for a bit and do a few runs in the gates then ski for a bit more. It just adds a bit of focus for those of us who don't fancy the jumps!
I find plastic quite hard work on the feet and muscles round the knees, so think it must be good physical preparation for a snow holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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Has anyone been to the Bromley ski slope? That's my nearest one and I'm beginning to come round to the idea it might be quite fun to try it out
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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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cathy, I've been there for a few races, but not for any training. It's a nice slope, with a couple of rollers and some bumps for the freestyle doods. It's a pity it doesn't have a misting system, but I've never really noticed my skis burning there, so maybe they put something on the matting to address that. The race club is very good - probably the best "south of the river" - and although (as most places) it's mostly kids (including a few 20-somethings) it does have a couple of adults training there, although they are also pretty good. I'd suggest you contact the slope for details of who you need to talk to.
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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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rob@rar, Well done for taking the plunge onto the dry slope scene.
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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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srobbo, when do you start on plastic again?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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spyderjon, Full programme starts Mon 1st Oct, can't wait , then runs through to 16th March
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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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GrahamN,
What times are the race club then? Sunday 8.00 am til 9.45? I''m interested in this is it aimed at the older (over 40ers)? And could my daughter 7 join in?
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cfc5mu0, assuming you're asking about Aldershot rather than Bromley, 8:00-9:30am on SATURDAY for the adults (only, I'm afraid) - pretty free and easy arrangements with a pretty wide range of ability. The kids' club are on at the same/similar time on Sunday. They are quite a bit more structured than us though and have I think one specific entry point each year, a waiting list and a trial ski-off to get in, which will probably be coming up in a month or so. There is also a kids' learners club that follows directly after us on Sat though which is run by the slope itself. A few of our club have kids in those classes. So it really depends what level your daughter is - but I'm afraid I don't know where the dividing line is at age 7, but I doubt it's too high a bar. They have some fairly good 9-yos but all I know about the 7yos is that they don't have any that go to regional races yet. If you want the kids' secretary's email I can PM it to you.
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GrahamN, thanks for the info. I think I'll give them a ring and have a try at least.
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cathy, Where are you based ? The club I coach meets at Bowles - near Tunbridge Wells early (5:30/6ish) on a Friday evening.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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ski, I'm at Crystal Palace so Tunbridge Wells is do-able, although not for 5.30, but Bromley is closer. That's a shame.
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rob@rar, GrahamN, As soon as I move down I'll be coming to join you!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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beanie1, excellent! When do you move down south?
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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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Should be November.
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Now considering London Bridge as a location to live rather than Putney (shorter commute) so Aldershot not as accessible. Bromley would be closer. Does anyone train there, or know if they do race training for adults? I know they have a very strong club, but is it mainly youngsters?
Thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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beanie1, Have a look at www.justskiit.co.uk. Chatham and Medway also train at Bromley. At Bowles (a bit further away) we ceratinly encourage adults as well as children. We usually have some folk going through the BASI system as well Let me know if you would like any more info on clubs/slopes in the area.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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okay major dose of reality and honesty after my first session on the plastic at brentwood, i was rubbish...
Started off with drills that i could sort of do, to one i hadnt heard of before and really struggled to do (tic tacks). The kids all did just fine and managed to get good angulation, high edge angles and get great grip on the plastic. I just skidded around a lot and sat back.
The gates went up and i was told they were set fairly difficult in preparation for the upcoming weekend race. One coach asked me if i was doing instructor training and i meekly replied i just passed... He says "plastic takes a while to get used to" in order not to embarrass me... The coaches took pity on me and advised starting at the midway point but with the little pride i had left I started at the top with the teenagers and after 3 goes managed to finish the course. It was kinda tricky with a "banana" turn in the middle which messed me up but i finished so slow i had to skate the final few gates.
NOT GOOD AT ALL and very bummed at how c**p i was... lots of work ahead. On the only positive note i didnt fall over and hurt myself.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skimottaret, it's tricky isn't it! I've had another couple of sessions and have made a bit of progress, but still skidding massively. It's not like snow and it does take a while to get used to...
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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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skimottaret, Well done. Keep going... it is worth it ! Have you started learning about navigation yet for the off-piste ?
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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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beanie1, permanently at this rate... I just got my booking through from them and will be signing up. Not expecting to pass but will be a good training week non the less.
ski, i will perservere, it cant get any worse.... funny just got my maps and Eric langmuires book through this am.. something else to look foolish at 
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GrahamN, it's stepping one ski over at at time in a short swing pattern and rhythm, ie use poles for support in front of you, skis parallel directed down and to right, step right inside ski over to become new outside, then left outside over as new inside to match parallel again pointing down and to left, repeat. It's easy to break into a short swing which i'm told isn't the point of the exercise.
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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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| Quote: |
Top tip; don't use the tele kit next time
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Anyone up for tele race then ? 
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FAQ
. I think you're starting from a higher base that I did, but I think I just about managed a total of about 2 turns on my first run...and then probably fell over. At least we don't train with, and so are not shown up by, the kids. Stick with it and it does really work your touch and grip skills though. Were you on your own or club skis - and how sharp were they? If they aren't sharp enough to cut your fingers they aren't sharp enough 
