NEWS & PROGRAMME - DECEMBER 2009
In spite of all the rain, rollerskiing goes on.
We've actually had a good Autumn, with lots of skiers in London and Windsor - many with very interesting on-snow
challenges (see below). Despite one torrential weekend, we've managed to dodge most of the rain, and had some
really good sessions (rain or not).
The coaching team has grown, and we welcome back to the club Adam Guzda, former Polish biathlete and schools sports
teacher in London. In the New Year our big challenge will be to bring rollerskiing into schools. To do this, we
need new instructors, and hope to get more qualified and accredited to Snowsport England in February - get in touch
if you are interested.
But in the meantime, we hope you enjoy our newsletter and join us rollerskiing before Christmas or in the New Year.
Read on for more on our programme and other news...
DORNEY THIS SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER
Alan Eason's coming back from the World Cup, where he's been coaching / waxing for the Greenland and Australian
teams. He'll be doing a Level 2 technique course on Sunday 13th December at Dorney Lake - see
http://rollerski.co.uk/events3.html.
There'll also be a beginners' group, and the option to come for just the morning or the afternoon at
http://rollerski.co.uk/class.html.
NEW YEAR'S COURSES
Looking ahead, we have a 4-week beginners' Skating course in Hyde Park starting Saturday 9 January.
This will be a good one for getting ready for the ski marathon season, and for our trip to Hochfilzen.
See http://rollerski.co.uk/events2.html.
We'll have 1-day courses at Dorney on:
Sunday 10 January
Sunday 7 February
Sunday 7 March
See http://rollerski.co.uk/events3.html.
SHOP & GIFT VOUCHERS
Our shop has a few new accessories - water belts and bottle holders, which are great for keeping hydrated
both on rollerskis and on snow (insulated so water doesn't freeze). See
http://rollerski.co.uk/buyaccessories.html.
We also sell Gift Vouchers (for equipment or lessons) see
http://rollerski.co.uk/giftvouchers.html.
AUTUMN ROLLERSKIERS
We've had a lot of skiers recently with interesting challenges,
* In October and November we had over 15 people training to take the Kids Company charity 'Arctic Biathlon'
competition, which took place last weekend - most from law firm CMS Cameron McKenna. This challenge
had nothing to do with shooting, but included a 25k race on cross-country skis and a 30k dog sledding race;
* Over the last month I've been teaching the GB Ladies' Canoe team to rollerski - they're planning to
do two cross-country ski training camps on snow in January and February, and hope to hit the snow well
prepared to get the most from their training;
* We've had more people preparing for the Engadin and Vasaloppet ski marathons than I can remember -
already the Engadin has over 70 British entrants, and I know there are plenty more to sign up. So far
there's been 2m of snow in the Engadin valley and more on its way;
* In November we had a group of Superheroes on rollerskis, part of a stag party for skier Alastair
Walford. Famous names included Batman, Superman, Spiderman (I & II), Rambo, Captain America,
Mr Incredible and Bananaman;
* Many others rollerskiing for holidays, ski marathons, winter triathlons and just for the sake of rollerskiing!
GB NORDIC TEAM SUCCESS
Lots of good news from the GB Nordic Ski Team, which I've posted on Facebook. Their website is in
the process of being updated, and should be live soon at
http://www.britnordicteam.co.uk.
HYDE PARK CLUB RACERS ON SNOW
Hyde Park skier Rob Dorward takes part in his first cross-country ski and biathlon races this
week - the Championships of the Royal Engineers. We'll see whether all his rollerski training has
paid off against the might of the British Army, many of whom have had several seasons of skiing on snow.
Will keep you posted on Facebook.
Andy Honczar has become the first skier to be affiliated to the 'London Hyde Park Cross-Country Ski Club'
on the FIS website, see
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/613.html?sector=CC&listid=&competitorid=159688&type=result.
He did well to get under 270 FIS points recently, after just several days on snow.
REDBRIDGE CYCLE CIRCUIT VENUE, HOG HILL
This is a fantastic venue just on the outskirts of London, near where the M11 meets the North Circular.
I've been there twice in the past fortnight and on both occasions was the only person there (on a Tuesday afternoon).
Great place to rollerski if you can train during the week in daylight hours, but busy at the weekend and closed after dark.
http://www.redbridgecyclingcentre.co.uk/.
SATURDAY PM ROLLERSKIING NEAR ALDERSHOT
Members of the London Region Nordic Ski Club rollerski at the Eelmoor Driving Circuit near Aldershot on Saturday
afternoons, 2-4pm. If you live nearby, this is a good opportunity to train with other recreational skiers,
many of whom do ski marathons.
Eelmoor is here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=fleet+road+aldershot&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Fleet+Rd,+Aldershot,+Hampshire,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&ei=rjkcS4TELdWe4QbJqKj7Ag&ved=0CA0Q8gEwAA&ll=51.26503,-0.784836&spn=0.010875,0.027595&z=15
OTHER STUFF
Really good skating class from Norwegian skier, Hjelmeset:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW6LS4tRaCk&feature=related
Article on Obertilliach from and American skier:
http://blogs.fasterskier.com/scottperras/2009/12/05/obertilliach-is-the-place-to-be-for-training/
Downhill advice:
http://masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=384
Thoughts on interval training:
http://masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=377
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
Hochfilzen 2010 - XC ski on snow -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/cross.html
Rollerski courses coming up -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html
Club Facebook page -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Cross-Country-Ski-Club/109118512973
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The Rollerski Co & Rollerski Instruction 2009
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