ROLLERSKI NEWSLETTER: MARCH/APRIL 2008

It's snowing here in London and easy to forget it's spring - clocks go forward on Sunday. Over the next few months there are some great opportunities for training, races, tours and courses: a great time to build on fitness and skills, and get fit.

We have news this month of ski marathon successes, Ski Sunday at the Rollerski Club and courses starting soon.

COURSES START THIS WEEKEND

On Saturday we have the start of our beginners' 4-wk skating course in Hyde Park. This begins at 11.30 and runs for 4-weeks. If you miss a session, you can join another session later - for more info see http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events2.html

On Sunday we have our 1-day Dorney course. This is from 10am-4pm and includes lunch. See http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events3.html

Classes continue at Hyde Park, Richmond Park and Dorney Lake - see http://www.rollerski.co.uk/class.html

SKI MARATHON SUCCESSES

On 9th March the 40th Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland saw many London rollerskiers take to the snow, with some very good results. A number of classic-ers took part in the even more gruelling 90k Vasaloppet ski race in Sweden the previous weekend. For a full writeup, see http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nf011.html

BBC SKI SUNDAY AT ROLLERSKI CLUB SESSION

Graham Bell from the BBC's Ski Sunday programme joined the Rollerski Club session in Hyde Park recently. The standard of club skiing is improving, but the former GB alpine skier was just about able to keep up. Having only skied cross-country a handful of times in his career, Graham was an enthusiastic convert to rollerskiing, and got stuck in with the exercises, pausing only to film. Early next month he takes part in the Arctic Circle Race, one of the longest and toughest cross-country ski races in the world.

It's great to see the media taking an interest in cross-country skiing. The new Ski Sunday has been given a 'Top Gear' style makeover, taking the best bit of the old Ski Sunday (the theme tune) and presenting a wide range of on-snow features. As someone said to me recently, we're getting away from the old 'Judith Chalmers walking on skis' image of cross-country skiing...

To see pictures, go to http://www.rollerski.co.uk/gallery18.html

EVENING HYDE PARK COURSES

With sunny evenings, our spring courses start on Wednesday 9th April - see http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html for a full listing.

ROLLERSKI CLUB NEWS

Our Hyde Park Rollerski Club is growing apace. We have close to 20 regular members, and offer a great regular training session on rollerskis, which people can come to any Saturday morning. All that is required is that you can rollerski proficiently.

Once numbers grow to 25 we will add another coach for the sessions, so we can offer more options each Saturday. In time we will add a classic group every Saturday morning.

For more information, go to http://www.rollerski.co.uk/club.html

MIKE DIXON BIATHLON / XC SKI COURSES IN SCOTLAND

Biathlon legend Mike Dixon has been in touch to say he'll be running a number of Biathlon and Rollerski courses in Scotland this summer. Dates have yet to be confirmed, but given the speed at which his courses book up, they are sure to be popular. If you're interested in taking part, let me know your email address and I'll email you directly with information (or pass on to Mike).

ALAN EASON IS BACK

And will be doing the Dorney 1-day Level 2 course on 27th April. If there is the demand, he will do a Level-2, 4 week evening course - potentially a mix of classic and skating or just one or the other. If you'd be interested in this, let me know. It would run from w/c 14th April in Hyde Park or Dulwich Park, depending on demand.

ROLLERSKI RACES

Start 4pm, Sunday 11th May - see http://www.rollerski.co.uk/ns033.html (updated for the Cairngorm races).

SNOWSPORT ENGLAND AND LONDON ROLLERSKI COURSES

Snowsport England run rollerski courses in the summer for aspiring on-snow ski racers, linked with rollerski races. These are well worth getting involved with, as they offer the chance to meet skiers from clubs around the country. They offer coaching from a wide range of different instructors.

According to the Snowsport England Nordic website, the dates of these courses are -
28-29 June, Hetton Lyons, Durham
9-10th August, Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, London
6-7th Sepember, Hetton Lyons, Durham

EARLY DAYS OF SKATING

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zk5zelpnuX8 Can't remember if I've sent this before, but I find it fascinating.

Good skiing!

Best regards
Iain

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Iain Ballentine
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Roller ski instruction & rollerski shop
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W: http://www.rollerski.co.uk

E: iain@rollerski.co.uk
M: 07968 286129
T: 020 8348 2540

Rollerskiing in thelondonpaper -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nr049.html

Rollerski courses coming up -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html

Save on rollerski packages -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/buypackages.html

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The Rollerski Co & Rollerski Instruction 2008
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