 Poster: A snowHead
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As some of you may know the dry slope at Bassingbourn is under threat of closure as the barracks that it is sited on has an uncertain future. There are plans and negotiations ongoing, and I'm sure the club will have a future one way or another, but in the mean time I need to find some alternative.
For me that's easy enough, and it gives me a good excuse to get some new qualifications so I can teach at a wider range of places. But I'm having a harder time finding something comparable to the junior club that is run at Bassingbourn anywhere nearby.
Can anyone recommend a kids' club at a slope within an hour from Cambridge? Realistically that limits it to:
- the dry slope at Welywn;
- Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead
- Snozone at MK.
- Tallington
Ideally it would a weekly or monthly session where children get some instruction with other children of a similar ability while having fun.
I don't particularly want to book private lessons as my daughter enjoys the social aspect of the club environment, and she is well beyond standard beginners courses. I'm not sure how she would take to a more race-training-focussed session (she's only 6, nearly 7), but it's something I'd consider at a push.
I know I've been totally spoilt by Bassingbourn's prices (I think it was just over £100 for a year of junior club, and £5 a time when her little sister wanted to join in and play on skis with an instructor for half an hour) and I don't mind paying more, but want it to be something comparable in quality if I do, and the setup at Bassingbourn was excellent.
The websites for the above slopes are all a bit thin on details, and I'm particularly after personal recommendations of what the clubs are like.
Thanks!
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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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Thanks hammerite - looks interesting. If you go (or others are already members) I'd welcome any reports on what it's like for a 6 year old there. Particularly on how fun or serious it is.
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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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Norwich may be too far for you but the Junior Club there is very good - it's on a Saturday morning with different times according to ability. They do different activities each week such as racing, freestyle, waves and moguls. Costs £5.50 a session with family membership about £60 a year. Mine both love it!
There is also a poles session on a Friday evening which lots of young people go to which is race training focused, also £5.50 a session.
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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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Yes, Norwich is sadly too far, but it sounds perfect. I've often wished it was closer as it's clearly a club that's doing well with a slope that's getting the necessary investment.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Any more? Surely other slopes must have this sort of club, and the collective snowheads experience would be really helpful.
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Kieranm - Brentwood Park? The pricing is going to way eclipse your current rates, but your bang on the hour away (down the M11/M25 intersection, then 10 minutes till you hit the dry slope).
Kids ski 10 till 12 on saturday mornings (not that they are ever off the slope at bang on 12!) all ages, all polite. There is normally at least two groups, one for beginers and one for those who can ski - this is the bridge to the Thursday night race club (7-9 pm) which is small but perfectly formed. The advanced group get the poles/stubbies out regulary and those that progress are actively encouraged to practice with the race club. The club and it's skiers participate in the ERSA series.
I have two daughters, one the keen skier, one the pony club girl (don't go there if you think sking is expensive :0 ) who infrequently comes along - she is always welcomed despite being a sporadic visitor. Both day and evening sessions get the thumbs up here.
http://www.brentwoodskicentre.co.uk/site/price.htm#Children
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kieranm, They have a kids club at Tallington too. It's a long time since my kids went, but it was broadly similar to Bassingbourn's ( I used to ski there, in fact I helped lay the Dendix...) and used to run after the kids' lessons held on Saturday mornings. I don't have up to date knowledge but if you give them a call I'm sure they will fill you in. http://www.tallington.com/land-activities/dry-ski-slope
Or Hemel?
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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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Thanks andrew_e and snowyowl - just the sort of thing I'm after. I can see I'm going to have a few days out to give them all a try.
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one the pony club girl (don't go there if you think sking is expensive :0 )
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kieranm, My daughter has been doing her L1 shadowing at Tallington all winter. She hasn't actually shadowed the kids clubs and I've only actually seen evidence of the Tigers taking place. Tallington is quite a small set up and they only really have 3 really regular instructors. Their FB page is quite useful too https://www.facebook.com/TallingtonLakes Natalie may be doing some work there in the summer and next winter.
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