Fostering, July 07 promoting and developing the interests of English skiers and snowboarders HOLIDAY SPECIAL see pages 10-11 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT - PAGE 5 2 THE piste July 07 July 07 THE piste 3 Didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went to North Staffs Ski Club! On a very hot and muggy day at the beginning driving in the wrong direction the staff arrived and just let yourself go! The snowplough was the North Staffs Ski Club that no bones were of June, the Snowsport England colleagues at North Staffs Ski Club and were greeted by a bit more difficult, but it was accomplished broken and we were allowed home unscathed set off to North Staffs Ski Club for their annual their host for the day, John Daines, who had with cheers all around. Refreshments were after being fed and watered. staff training day. very wisely brought two colleagues along in served at half time which was very welcome A big thank-you to the staff of North Staffs This was to be an adventure, for it would case the staff tried to make a quick get away (but the vodka seemed to be missing!). Ski Club for a very informative and fun day. be the first time at least two of them (Ian and to the pub. After an hour and a half of lessons, the And when we’ve got over the shock we may Julie) had actually skied down an artificial Anyway, appropriate clothing was put on strain was beginning to show and the knees want to come and do it all again in the very slope. and boots fitted, then onto the slope for our and thighs were beginning to shout abuse so distant future! Jenny had been to Telford and the lesson. Skis sticking out in all directions we we stopped at an appropriate moment before prototype artificial snow slope many years did our exercises and then were led all of anyone fell over and made a fool of ago, but the pain of that day was just a three feet up the slope for our first downhill themselves. I Staff outing: Snowsport England colleagues distant memory! experience! A good day was had by all and the get to grips wih the artificial slope at North After a few navigational problems by First run was not too bad – hands on knees Snowsport England staff were very grateful to Staffs Ski Club. Chemmy Time to take another ‘considers CEO Trish leaving sport switch’ look at Modernisation Britain's number one skier Chemmy Alcott Snowsport England is considering taking up a new sport in Now the dust has had a chance to settle, it’s time to with snowsport participants rather than through organisations order to compete at the London Olympics reflect on what went wrong with the Modernisation purporting to represent their members. in 2012. First we need to agree the function of the Governing Body, The 24-year-old, who has just had her process and to try to pick up the threads and move the objectives of Modernisation, specific objectives to be included in M most successful World Cup season, says for charity role process forward again without repeating past mistakes. & A, then decide those functions best implemented centrally and she could try cycling, kayaking or boxing, if those best implemented locally and also agree a Membership it is included in the Games. Trish Chalk, Chief Executive Officer for Snowsport England, will A discussion paper, which suggests a mechanism for structure. "I just want to be a part of 2012," she told be leaving the organisation on 10 August 2007. She is leaving to doing this, is available from Alan Jones It is proposed that two possible organisational structures be the Daily Telegraph. "I could think of nothing pursue a different career with a charity. developed independently: Type One differentiating by Home Nations greater than competing at the world's Snowsport England Chairman Stewart Smith said: “Trish has and Type Two differentiating by sporting function (as defined in biggest sporting event in our own been with Snowsport England for nearly three years and has Investing in Change); participants to decide between them. backyard." moved the organisation forward substantially, in a professional Next we would need to draw up M & A for the selected structure to manner. Synopsis be formally accepted at general meetings of the existing bodies and “The Board of Snowsport England and the membership owe a to appoint staff as soon as incorporated. debt of gratitude for this work. I know that you will all wish her It is pleasing to note that the HNGBs are working together in the g) In the absence of any very obvious suitable neutral facilitator, it every success for the future.” short term to develop a unified coaching scheme and centralised is proposed to set up a specific Trust to oversee the development of The Board of Snowsport England has decided that, due to the registration, but it is noted that the former was agreed some years the new structure, to carry out extensive market research for the structures now in place, the Chief Executive will not be replaced; ago and has only been partially implemented after all this time. restructured organisation(s) and to raise funds to cover the cost of Pinnacle of world instead SSE will be looking to appoint a Head of Operations and A new approach to Modernisation is needed for the longer term implementation of the new structure. skiing: Chemmy Development Manager, a post which will be advertised shortly. Trish Chalk. using an external agency, concentrating on the 5 functional areas on I should be interested to receive comments on this paper, Alcott. which there appeared to be broad agreement; the recent round of supportive or critical. If I find there is strong support, I will look SQUADannouncement She added: "I am told women's boxing negotiations failed because of conflicts of interest between the plans further into the possibility of setting up a Trust to develop the ideas Snowsport England has announced the following alpine athletes, being proposed and the preservation of the organisations which the as outlined in the paper. could come into the Games in 2012, and I negotiators were elected to represent. would be prepared to get in a ring and fight who have been selected for the 2007-08 season. A 10-stage procedure is proposed through open discussion directly I Contact [email protected] for a medal." Alcott was voted British Ski and GBR Development Team Harte, Eve De Haan,Elizabeth Palfrey – Injured Snowboard Federation Winter Olympian of Jo Ryding, Sam Wyer, Craig Robinson Published on behalf of Tel: 01986 834200 the Year last year for her performances at C Status Snowsport England Opinions expressed by contributors in The the Winter Games in Turin. She was The following athletes will be given a trial with Charlotte Evans, Lucy Peel Tel: 0121 501 2314 / Fax: 0121 585 6448 Piste are not necessarily those held by the presented with the trophy by British the Home National Development Team: e-mail: publisher or Snowsport England. No part of Olympic Association performance director Kevin Shorter, Oliver Robinson, James Foster, England Alpine Ski Team – Male [email protected] this magazine may be reproduced without Sir Clive Woodward. "He made me realise Harriet Steggles A Status Web : www.snowsportengland.org.uk the specific written permission of the that I had almost reached the pinnacle of Peter Bruton, Benn Hall, Jai Geyer – Injured, All editorial and advertisement copy should publisher. While every care is taken to world skiing off my own back,” she said. GBR Youth Team FT Jack Evans Published by Countrywide Publications be sent to Countrywide Publications at the ensure the accuracy of information “He also seemed surprised at the lack of Harry Brown, Nick Robinson, Sam Wrench (a division of Micropress Printers Ltd) above address. contained in The Piste, we do not accept science in skiing - our sport is really behind B Status 27 Norwich Road, Halesworth, Suffolk, responsibility for any errors or matters in terms of using resources. The England Alpine Ski Team – Female Christopher Griffiths – injured, Franki Clough, IP19 8BX Publishing Director: Barry Spouge relating. programme he put in place for our winning A Status Jamie Reid Tel: 01986 834216 / Fax: 01986 834270 Tel: 01986 834216/ Mob: 07802 824120 rugby World Cup team was unlike anything Franki Simonds, Jayme Baggio ISDN: 01986 874752 e-mail: [email protected] Cover picture: The Dolomites – one of many I had ever heard of. He thought of every C Status e-mail: [email protected] Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd popular ski holiday destinations. possible scenario and provided the players B Status Joe Ogden, David Tee, Jean-Paul Espinola, with an abundance of professionals to help." Elizabeth Venezia, Louisa Russel-Henry, Natalia Daniel Crawley 4 THE piste July 07 Midlands “on snow” Telemark Skiing Festival at the Snowdome, Tamworth Saturday and Sunday 11-12 August CHILD 09:00-17:00hrs The Snowdome, Tamworth, and Snowsport England are pleased to announce WELFARE the first Midlands “on snow” telemark skiing festival. This event is open to all skiers with alpine or telemark experience and caters for all ability levels from complete beginners through to competent telemarkers. The weekend event will cover the full range of freeheel skiing techniques Snowsport England (alpine and telemark) from the complete basics through to short radius turns and will suit those wishing to improve their skill level before exploring the back country next season. Coaching and instruction on both days (a total of 14 hours) successfully passes will be provided by Snowsport England, Telemark Club Coach, Matt Higginson.