![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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... I noticed on the BBC and Radio today, interviews being done about Rebecca Adlingtons concerns over the coaching of GB Swimmers. I listened to another interview this morning in response to this 'outburst' from a boxing coach and what coaching means to our Athletes and how good it is.
It crossed my mind that Swimming is quiet a minority sport in this country like Skiing. With the Olympics still in peoples minds, would it be beneficial for the likes of some of our top skiers to talk similarly to the media about the state of our coaching and financial aspects... so that the public understand. I feel most think our skiers are from rich backgrounds and that coaching and money is freely available and funded by GB.
Any thought....?
For those who know nothing about it... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/20592434
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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At least swimmers have some medals to show for it, maybe the alpine skiing world would have been different but for Baxter's Sinex, but I don't think bleating in the media will do a lot for funding. Maybe freestyle of both skiing and snowboarding will breakthrough with Woodsy & Jenny Jones in Sochi.
& I wouldn't say swimming is a minority sport - we all knew kids at school who were heavily into it (as they usually swept school swimming galas) & most towns have at least one swim club. I couldn't say the same for ski racing.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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Or cross country with Muzzy and AY, Muzzy is scoring points in the world cup, AY's not far off and we have a few more skiers on the fringe of qualifying standard. It wouldn't take much for Muzzy to pull off a top 10 in the world cup or this years world champs.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Quote: |
I wouldn't say swimming is a minority sport
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I wouldn't either. The local swimming pools have loads of clubs and kids of all ages being coached. And almost all kids have swimming as part of the curriculum (or did till the latest round of cuts....) just like kids in the Alps have skiing on a Wednesday afternoon. My five grandchildren (from 8 months to 9 years) all have swimming lessons and my daughter in law is an ASA swimming coach. Swimming is an ideal sport for our country, infrastructure, climate. Skiing isn't.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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pam w wrote: |
Quote: |
I wouldn't say swimming is a minority sport
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I wouldn't either. The local swimming pools have loads of clubs and kids of all ages being coached. And almost all kids have swimming as part of the curriculum (or did till the latest round of cuts....) just like kids in the Alps have skiing on a Wednesday afternoon. My five grandchildren (from 8 months to 9 years) all have swimming lessons and my daughter in law is an ASA swimming coach. Swimming is an ideal sport for our country, infrastructure, climate. Skiing isn't. |
^ This.
And there are plenty of sports in this country which are more 'minority' and receive a lot less funding (i.e. none) than skiing.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Actually xc requires very little infrastructure - you can start out on roller skis to get the basics and train and race in the summer, then its just some snow time to hone the technique on snow as you can pick up bad habits just on rollers.
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Dave Horsley, I enjoyed a wonderful XC competition weekend in Les Saisies last year, with hordes of kids of all ages, doing a range of races, all from local clubs. It was great to see. It would be even better to see hordes of British kids doing the same. But how many of our kids live within easy reach of some snow to train on? And, more important, friends who do the same stuff at weekends and who like to talk about their times etc. Swimming is like that in this country.
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No way is swimming a minority sport. But I agree that a lot of people probably think that most skiers are posh.....
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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Well that went well...
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spud, worth a try.....
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Quote: |
a lot of people probably think that most skiers are posh.....
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A lot of people can be wrong
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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dobby wrote: |
...a lot of people probably think that most skiers are posh..... |
Obviously they've never met the average Snowhead...
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You know it makes sense.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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pam w,
You can up here in Scotland we run a series of roller ski races over the summer with a good turn out of juniors and winter races on snow (weather permitting) though the junior turn out is a bit lower as many are skiing at european races.
This is a link to a report on our club championship:
http://www.nordicski.co.uk/wordpress/?p=2126
Overall we ran a 10 race GB series with races across the UK, plus additional races in both England and Scotland that didn't count towards the series.
I agree its a minority sport, but it doesn't have to be as it only requires a minimum of kit and isn't reliant on snow.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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Ok. You can be posh and have no money or not v posh and have money. But not where I came from (small market town on notts-derby border). Let's just say a lot of people assume that skiers have tons of money.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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