LSRA Craig Macfie Classic

Fired up by today's Performance Squad Trials?  Fancy coming racing?

We have a group of skiers heading down to race the LSRA Craig Macfie Classic at Hillend Edinburgh on 14th September.  This is a slalom race over 2 runs.   Our plan is to travel down on Saturday morning and give the skiers a day training on the Hillend slope.  Hillend is much steeper and longer than either Alford or Garthdee so it is good to have some training time on the slope prior to the race.  We also hope to have a coach there to support the skiers, at least on the Sunday and possibly the Saturday as well.

Performance Squad Trials

Well done to everyone involved in the Performance Squad Trials this morning, skiers, coaches and helpers!  Thanks especially to Gary and Wilma for all the effort that went into organising the session, putting 30+ skiers through all the skiing and fitness tests, it was little short of amazing when you know that Gary spent the previous two days completing the 180 mile "Ride The North"!

Gordon Skiers Race Suit

At last weeks committee meeting we discussed the possibility of having a Gordon Skiers racing suit to go with the ski suits that can already be obtained through Incline Sports.  We have agreed a design that we hope compliments the existing ski suits.

We feel that having a recognised club suit has a number of advantages:-

• It will provide parents with a recognised source for racing suits.
• It will make it easier for our coaches to spot our skiers at races so that we can more easily watch & video them to provide feedback.

The suits can be ordered from Sarah at Incline Sports, a link to their website and an order form is provided below.  Orders received by September 3rd 2014 will be ready for delivery around 1st week in January 2015 ready for the snow racing season.

Order Form

More details for other clothing on our Clothing Page

Ice Bucket Challenge

There appears to be no escape, whichever way you turn at present there are ice bucket challenges, Gordon Skiers appears to be no exception!  Please see the message below from Secretary Nicky Pye.

Hello All

Just a short note to let you all know that our Head Coach/Coaching Convenor Gary Whatford and our racing convenor James Paxton have been nominated by Wilma Whatford to do the Ice Bucket Challenge at Alford on Sunday. It will take place at the end of the fitness tests. Please can you all bring a bucket and lots of money for a donation. The money is to go to The Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund. Gary is part of a team hoping to raise at least £10,000. The team will be doing Ride the North 2014 on Friday and Saturday this week. Please see the address below for the team.

https://www.justgiving.com/TeamProspector/

Gary and James will be the only ones who will be doing the challenge on Sunday for safety reasons.  Please give as much as you can, it is our children giving to others less fortunate than themselves. I will bring a dry bucket for the donations which we can give to Gary at the end.

Look forward to seeing you all again on Sunday.

Regards Nicky

Scottish Dry Slope Championships, Hillend, Edinburgh

Just back from a fabulous weekend at the Scottish Dry Slope Championships in Edinburgh.  Two runs of slalom on Saturday followed by 2 runs of GS today, the second runs on both days featuring pretty challenging courses.

Five Gordon Skiers went down, Andrew and Neil Simpson representing the boys and Rachel Brown, Hannah Morrison and Ellie Green for the girls.

Performance Squad and Gordon Skier's Trial Day Trial

I'm looking forward to the trial day and to seeing all the keen athletes and racers on Sunday August 31'st

If coming to try out for membership to the club, please be ready to ski by 10am. Requirements for the Mat are (minimum) Helmet, long finger gloves, long trousers (sallopettes/water proofs as water is sprayed on the mat) and a long sleeved top/jacket.  If you require rental skis, then please bring along the skier's height and weight, in kilos. This will be required to have the skis set properly at the rental desk.

If trialling for the Performance Squad, please be ready to ski by 9am. The intention is to have all skiers complete the Skills Quest in the first session, then move onto the Athletic Capacity Evaluation test (ACE). Please remember sports kit, as well as the required ski kit.

I've already added the links to the Skills Quest and the Ace on the Performance Squad Tab. We will adapt the Skills Quest to the slope, so don't expect me to be making rollers on the mat.

Please take the time to have a look at the links to remind yourself of the ACE test. We will not be using full gates, for the trial, but will be using stubbies to test agility, balance, rotation and edge control. Shinnies would be advisable for racers, but not compulsory.

Gary Whatford

Committee Meeting

Last night saw our second committee meeting.  It was a very full agenda.  Main topic of conversation was the forthcoming membership and performance squad trials on 31st August at Alford Dry Slope. Gary has arrangements in place for the trials, the performance squad trialists will need to be at the slope for 08.30 ready to start skiing at 09.00. The fitness assessments will follow the skiing assessments, we hope to be finished for 2.30.  Good luck to all the trialists, the fitness tests look like hard work!!

To give us time to get the performance squad trials under way, we will start the membership trials at 10.00.  Please make sure you come dressed appropriately with long sleeves, gloves etc, the dry slope can be a bit prickly on unprotected skin if you fall over!

Other topics included, the club ceilidh (looking to rearrange for early November, venues being explored), and Christmas lunch (last Sunday of training 14th December, again venues being explored).  We also discussed kit, including having a Gordon Skiers Race Suit (more to follow in the next few days).

Finally, good luck to all our members heading to Edinburgh this weekend for the Scottish Dry Slope Championships!

Final Call For Dry Slope Training This Autumn

This is a final call for all those who have not registered for dry slope training this Autumn.  Deadline for completing the online forms is midnight Wednesday 20th August.  We have a committee meeting Thursday 21st August and need to have numbers finalised so we can make preparations for the forthcoming club trials. There are some very keen and well known names missing at present so please use the link below to register for dry slope training now otherwise you are at risk of loosing your place.

Dry Mat Registration Form

Club Trials

Calling all budding ski racers!!

Gordon Skiers will be holding an open morning on Sunday August 31st at Alford Dry Ski Slope.  So if you are

• 6 years old or over,
• can handle the Grouse, Osprey and Eagle 1 & 2 tows at the Lecht,
• are interested in getting in to ski racing
• and want to join Gordon Skiers,

 then we want to meet you!

Please come along for 10 am., bring your own skis, boots etc. if you have them, if not we will kit you out at the ski-slope. Places for the Autumn dry slope training are limited and will be judged on skiing ability.  The coach's decision is final however if they feel you are not ready for the club they will give you some feedback on areas to work on.

To give us an idea of numbers, please could you email us on admin@gordonskiers.com and let us know how many budding skiers you are bringing along.

Could all club members bring this to the attention of anyone they know who might be interested.

Performance Squad Trials, Sunday August 31st.

A reminder to all members looking to attend, that the trials for the Performance Squad will be held on August 31st 9-12AM at Alford Dry Ski Slope. If you have not yet registered for the trials please do so via the form at the foot of the Performance Squad Page

Please remember to bring ski equipment and sports equipment as the day will be divided into athletic assessment and ski performance. Good luck to all and I look forward to seeing you there.

Many Thanks, Gary W

PS If you need any more info on the trials please go to the Performance Squad Page