Clubs are always keen to take on new members for their development, race or freestyle teams. Find out more at www.glenshee-performance-squad.co.uk; www.cairngormsnowboardclub.co.uk; www.cairngormskiclub.co.uk; gordonskiers.blogspot.com
Ski Centre, Glenshee Performance Squad; both present a huge range of ski and snowboarding coaching opportunities for youngsters in the east. All clubs offer high quality performance coaching, races and competitions, often delivered by coaches who themselves have come through the clubs. There are ski and snowboard coaches and instructors, working all over the world with some of the top international teams, who learnt their skills and launched their careers with one of the clubs based in the Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms has a strong skiing legacy and many of the coaches and instructors will have gained qualifications through BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors), headquartered in the Park, at Grantown-on-Spey. Many of BASI’s original members and instructors still live and ski locally. The number of participating young local athletes continues to grow. The Cairngorm Ski Club’s youth membership increased from 60 to 100 in recent years and it continues to expand. This year, working with local high schools and businesses, the Club is launching an on curricular school ski programme, aimed at attracting even more aspiring Olympians and coaches into the sport, and giving trainees more time on snow to enhance their skills. Our local ski centres play an important role through their provision of subsidised facilities and a huge debt is owed to
club committees and volunteers for their tireless work and commitment, helping to organise the clubs, provide quality coaches and hold races and events. Witness the inspiring sight of 100 confident children mastering a mountain and you are left in no doubt as to the influence of the clubs and all those associated with them. The motivation may be to race, represent their club, improve technique, learn new tricks, ski or board faster or have a career in snowsports, but what the young people share, is a passion for ripping round the snow. With this ethos of participation and performance, the clubs and associations should be confident in securing the future of snowsports through quality coaching, partnership and opportunity for all. So, next time you are skiing, boarding at or just visiting one of our local ski centres, keep an eye out for the fastest and best young skiers and boarders; they are likely to be part of one of our local Cairngorms based Ski Clubs.
www.visitcairngorms.com
l
What’s On
local stories
Forthcoming Events & Competitions Scottish Schools Snowsports Association Alpine Races for primary and secondary age children from across the Highlands. Qualifying races - 1, 2 Feb at each centre; Gordon Skiers Open - 21, 22 Jan; Glenshee Open - 4, 5 Feb; Hilton Coylumbridge Cairngorm Open - 25, 26 Feb; 2017 Prep Schools Race, Glenshee - 26 Jan.
13