Welcome To The Snowsports England Newsletter

 

 

 

All the latest news from Snowsport England

 

It has been an action packed season so far and quite a few changes at Snowsport England. With New Development Officers coming into post we will now be back up and running with our regular newsletter. Also look out for our ew website which will be launched shortly!

 

There has some spectacular results across the board this season. With the Brits currently taking place and the British Alpine Championships about to start next week I'm sure there will be a lot more exciting competitions ahead......

 

Blue Peter Films World Record Jump on Ski Rossendale Slope

 

Adventurous skiers have set a world record at Ski Rossendale – in front of a camera crew from Blue Peter.

 

More than 400 school children,

and 100 members of the public, turned out to see local skiers attempt to get in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest quarterpipe jump on an artificial slope.

Rossendale skier Tyler Harding set the never-held-before record of 2.87metres.

 

The record attempts, at the Haslingden Old Road slope, Rawtenstall, were filmed by the children’s TV programme and was screened on 1st March.

BBC presenters Pat Sharpe and Barney Harwood spent the day at the artificial slope filming, and signing autographs for the crowd.

Ski Rossendale’s general manager Ben Hill said: “We had a great day, despite the weather being so bad.

 

 

“We hope the fact that the slope now holds a world record will help raise its profile and encourage supporters to help save it.”

 

Introducing the new Snowsport England Sports Development Officer (South)  - Susie Moore

 

Hello everyone, my name is Susie Moore and I have recently started at Snowsport England as a Sports Development Officer for the South, this taking over from Vicki Pullin.   

 

So a little background about myself....

Sport has always been very important to me, I have been involved with a number of different sports throughout my life; As a spectator, a participant, as well as a coach. Due to this I have chosen to pursue a sports development career fulfilling the desire to give back to sport and being able to give others the opportunity to gain the enjoyment and benefits that sport can bring.

 

Over the past two years I have worked passionately as the Isle of Wight Watersports Development Officer. This involved working with the local watersport clubs and centres to connect them to the wider sports development network, offering club development support, as well as introducing initiative to help growing and sustain participation.

I am an eager snowboarder falling in love with the sport when introduced through university. I have had 4 years of enjoyment out of recreational participation and when the opportunity to combine my love for snowsports and sport development arose I couldn’t turn it down. 

So enough about me what’s next for snowsports???

 

I can’t wait to start meeting everyone and hope that through my new post I will be able to work with you to raise the profile of our Snowsport England. I hope to bring success and support to English clubs, raising regular participation and membership as well as strengthening pathways to the elite end of the sport. As well I intend to connect snowsports to national programmes and funding streams. Finally I aim to create an awareness outside of our sport that snowsports is an English all year round sport not just a winter one.

 

If you have any questions for me or just want to say hello please just contact me, see below;

Mobile: 07891 622 648  Email: susie@snowsportengland.org.uk

See you soon

Susie Moore.

 

 

Ski Club of Manchester Achieves ‘The Snowmark’

 

The Ski Club of Manchester achieves Snowmark accreditation - Only the fourth Snowsports club to achieve this award.

 

The Club worked towards achieving Snowmark to ensure they had consistent good practice and operating standards to enable them to grow and develop and strengthen their future prospects.  Having this quality standard in place they hope will demonstrate the club is organised and managed on a professional basis and with consistent good practice.

 

The club recently supported a schools programme which saw 90 local school children having eight weeks of ski lessons and fun at The Chill Factore. As part of the Ski Club's membership drive, the Committee wants to organise adult beginners' courses at Chill Factore so the families of these children can join the club.

 

“Going through the Snowmark accreditation process has improved our governance and organisation, and given us a wider credibility, whilst bringing us into contact with a new range of people and possibilities. We are now looking afresh at how we do everything, which has brought about significant improvements. The process has energised the Club and made easier the forging of stronger links with both local and national organisations who acknowledge that we are a modern Club worth working with. We face the future with a very positive outlook knowing that accreditation gives us access to a raft of practical support agencies. We now have a new set of challenges, challenges relating to growth.” Said Ian Harfor d, Club Chairman

 

The Ski Club of Manchester is a voluntary body which organises a wide range of activities for skiers and snow boarders. These include regular members’ events and training sessions at the Chill Factore slope, weekly Keep Fit programmes, holidays abroad, social evenings and talks and a programme of outdoor events and activities over the summer.

They are expanding its activities, working closely with the Chill Factore management and Snowsport England and drawing in new members as part of an ambitious new Development Plan. Members come from both the Greater Manchester area and further afield. More information about the club is available on the club’s website – www.scom.org.uk

 

Evening Ski Meets are currently held every fourth Wednesday in the month throughout the year. At these sessions from October to February the Club hires Chill Factore instructors for those who wish take advantage of free coaching (not suitable for complete beginners). There are two levels of instruction: up to intermediate and intermediate and above.

 

Peter HindeOperations Manager for Chill Factore

Said “Chill Factore are delighted that the Ski Club of Manchester have achieved this industry recognised award. The Club have been coming to the Chill Factore since we opened in November 2007 and we have supported their members with dedicated lessons and coaching. We look forward to continuing our successful working relationship with them in the future.”

The Ski Club of Manchester were presented with their certificates by Peter Hinde. The other three other Snowsport Clubs with Snowmark are Norfolk, Kendal and Midland.

 

For more information please visit www.clubmark.org.uk

 

Britains's NO 1 Olympic Snowsports Athlete turns Entrepreneur following UK Sport Funding withdrawal.

 

Zoe Gillings, Britain’s No 1 Olympic snow sports athlete today officially took her first steps as a businesswoman today with the official opening of her Alps holiday company – www.ZGLateHolidaysChatel.com.  This company offers tailored holidays and last minute holidays in Chatel, Portes Du Soleil, France.

Following UK Sports announcement  in December ending Zoe’s World Class funding,  she was faced with two options, retire, or find alternate means to fund her Olympic snowboarding program. Zoe’s decision was simple and immediate, at 25yrs of age and an Olympic athlete, she decided to turn entrepreneur - www.ZGBusiness.com.

 

Despite the last two months being the busiest time in Zoe’s World Cup competition period, she has now launched two major companies – ZGElectronics.com and now ZGLateHolidaysChatel.com.  At the same time she competed at the World Championships in Spain finishing 7th in the World and won two victories at two Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Snowboard cross competitions in Italy.

 

Zoe commented, “I was really disappointed when I found out I had lost the UK Sport funding.  I have met all the results targets set by UK Sport but despite this, due to the politics in British sport which I have no control over, my funding was still withdrawn.  The major positive of this decision was the opportunity to turn entrepreneur, I’m so happy I did as it’s a new challenge in life that I really enjoy.”

 

Zoe now heads to the World Cup finals in Switzerland tomorrow for the final two competitions of the 2011 season.

Zoe commented, “I’m really looking forward to the final two competitions in Switzerland, the last two years haven’t been ideal by any means but I’m giving 100% at every competition.  I’ve suffered two head injuries at competitions over the past 2 weeks which forced me to withdraw from them both individually but I feel I need to compete this week at the World Cup Finals to have any chance of getting the UK Sport funding reinstated, the pressure on me is huge.  The sole reason I have turned entrepreneur is to fund my Olympic snowboarding program.  I’m launching businesses with good initial feedback and recently finished 7th at the World Championships in Spain so it’s going good on and off the snow.”

 

Over the next month Zoe will be launching a London 2012 Olympic campaign and a major business in the Isle of Man.

Zoe continued, “The campaign should be lots of fun as there are a great deal of prizes for people to win, such as learning how to snowboard with me, signed Olympic clothing and a 7 day alpine holiday to name a few but the Isle Of Man business will be my biggest  yet.  I can’t say what it is until it’s launched but I’ll be returning home on the 13th April and it will launched soon after.  I’m really excited about it as it could benefit pretty much anyone on the Island.”

Despite launching two businesses already and with two more close to release Zoe is still looking for a successful entrepreneur to mentor her.

Zoe continued, “The businesses I’m running are hugely enjoyable and challenging but I have so many ideas I really want a successful mentor who can help me progress them.  Finally, I would like to say a massive thank you to my sponsors, BMW, Pokerstars, Isle of Man Sport Aid and the Isle Of Man Steam Packet company who have supported my 2010/11 season and been so supportive with my business development as well .”


 

 

Cavet takes silver medal at Moguls World Junior Championships

 

Jyvaskyla Finland, 19th March 2011

 

In a fantastic all round GB perfomance at the Moguls Junior World Ski Championships, Ben Cavet (17) stormed to the Silver Medal in the Men's Singles event. And it could have been even better with Ben scoring 24.37 points - only 0.11 points behind the winner Ville Miettunen. Fellow Brit, Max Willis(17) put in a strong performance to take 5th just over

0.6 points behind 3rd place.

In the womens event Ellie Koyander put in a seasons best perfomance to finish 8th. This of course meant all three GB skiers were inside the top ten and a best ever performance for GB at a Moguls Junior World Championships.

 

All three skiers go again in the dual moguls with a further opportunity to bring back medals from a major Championship.

 

 

Another fantastic English Alpine Championships

 

Bormio 20th-25th February 2011

 

Bormio was host again for the England Alpine Championships from 20th - 25th Febuary. With an extremely full week of racing planned the oragnising team managed to get all the races completed. This was due to some fantastic snow condition great weather and a very hard working organising team.

 

A big congratulations to all the athletes that took part and a big thank you to all the sponsors who helped make the event such a success.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

For all the race reports please go to the racer ready website Click Here

 

 

Pictures by Racer Ready

 

Help shape the future of sport in England

 

Sport England has commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct this important survey about your experience of taking part in snowsports and we would appreciate you taking the time to share your views.

You may have already been contacted by Ipsos MORI inviting you to take part, if you have already completed the survey there is no need for you to do this again.

 

The survey will help drive and shape sport in England in the years to come as we work to deliver a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Gail Emms - one of Britain’s greatest ever badminton players, who won World Championship Gold and Olympic Silver medals, said:

 

“By taking part in this survey, you will be helping your sport to understand more about your sporting experiences, your motivations for taking part and the challenges you face. This will help sports bodies be more responsive to your needs and do more to encourage new participants.”

 

The survey will establish how satisfied you are with the quality of your sporting experience when taking part in snowsports.  Last year 44,000 people told us about their experiences and we are now repeating to ensure we keep up to date with your views.

 

To become part of this unique project and help shape the future of sport in England, please click on the link below – your help and time would be much appreciated by snowsports and Sport England.

http://www.ipsos-mori.com/Snowsportclub