Training Wednesday 31st May

Good Evening All, Wednesday’s Race Training will go ahead tomorrow at Alford. The competition is hotting up and we’re approaching the end of the current session, so make sure you’re there if you’re looking for race points.

We also have the Twin Peaks Races coming up this weekend. So, if you need a last training session in gates, make sure you’re there for the races. There is no better training for a race, than to race.

Come prepared with sharp skis and your race face ready to go.

Gary Whatford

Training Sunday 28th May

For this Sunday's training session at Alford I'm delighted to
welcome Ella Still to the coaching team. Ella is a Gordon Skier and member of the British Ski Team.

Ella will be working with the Performance Squad Athletes and James will be running the session for Race Development.   I'm sure Ella will run an excellent session, so make the most of it, as she's a busy girl and isn't around too much.

We also have 3 members of Gordon Skier's Performance Squad racing in Landgraaf, Holland, this weekend.  Good luck to Neil Simpson, Beth Whatford and Ben Whatford.  Tomorrow they will be racing Slalom in the morning, with a Pro-Slalom in the afternoon.

Training Report, Wednesday 24th May

We had very close racing at Wednesday’s session with 15 racers. The session started with the Performance Squads training with Andrew and the Development Squads training with Kathleen
and Rachel.

After the warm up both squads worked on consolidating the balance sessions we have been doing for the last few weeks. Andrew set up training gates for the Performance Squad with a focus on fore-aft balance in the top section and lateral balance in the bottom half which tested all of the skiers. Kathleen and Rachel set up a similar course in stubbies for the Development Squads.

The course set was challenging, especially through the last 3 gates. Coach James was mixing it in the top 3 overall last night. Andrew Simpson followed James with Beth following closely behind into third, as first girl. Welcome back to training Beth, good to see you back in the gates last night. Congratulations to Daisy C who made it into the top 5, of the skiers, last night and was top Bairn.

Wednesday Training, 24'th May.

Just a reminder to all that race training and timed runs will be on this Wednesday, at 7pm.

All skiers have been working really hard on their race skills, so let's see them put into practice in the gates.

Who will take the 100 points this week?

Gary Whatford

Training Sunday 21st May

Well done to the coaching team tonight. Kathleen and Jamie were ably assisted by Rachel, to deliver a fun session. Kathleen and Rachel were coaching the majority of the skiers and were working on drills and skills that helped to develop the timing required to move into performance skiing. Kathleen is one of our members and racers that has recently qualified as a BASI Level 2 instructor. Rachel is still a racer and is working her way through the Instructing and coaching qualifications, who has qualified as a BASI Level 1 and will also soon be going for her BASI Level 2 qualification.

Great to see the girls working together tonight and engaging with the kids. Great demos and team work.

Jamie was working with the Performance Squad Skiers, continuing the theme of challenging balance from recent sessions. The Performance Squad ranges from age 17 to 11, with the whole age range on the hill tonight. The Performance Squad were being thoroughly challenged by Jamie tonight, with slow speed performance and early edge change being the theme.

Gordon Skiers are lucky to have Parent Members who are very strong skiers and it was really refreshing to hear them commenting and giving feedback tonight on the strength of our skiers on the hill. One was even heard to say “I’m glad I’m not the one being asked to perform these drills” Although Alford mat is only 60m long, the skiers can be challenged at any level and Dendix is the perfect to develop new skills.

With new members on the hill tonight, the coaches set a head to head stubbie course where the racers could challenge each other and have a chance to race against each other and the coaches.

The racing was very close, with a few surprising results. Findlay and Cameron Cormack were receiving the majority of the cheers, from the bottom, tonight with amazing skiing from the boys. Definitely two boys to watch for the future.

We also had a, potential, new member trial tonight who should some great skill. Well done to young Fraser Scott, who showed brilliant potential and skills. Keep it up Fraser, you’ll be chasing your sister Kizzy in no time.

Wednesday Race Training is going ahead this week. If possible, please let me us know if you will be there.

Gary Whatford

Wednesday 17th May

Wednesday night saw another good turnout of members ranging right through the age groups from our youngest member to our coaches. The session was led by John and James and followed on from the themes from last week's session of; turn shape, early turn and initiation and then the skiers started to look at building pressure up throughout the turn. Following a couple of drills the skiers then demonstrated what they had learnt in a simple 3 gate course with the focus on 'the start' and first few gates of a course.

For the timed run session, the coaches replicated an off camber course set by having more focus on the right footed turns. The course was challenging, with 3 older skiers unable to complete the necessary 2 runs, with a slightly larger (2 mat diamonds) offset which allowed the younger skiers to compete with the older skiers.

Andrew S was on good form and held a clear lead in front of the pack with Andrew C and Ollie tightly contested behind. The 'Nicholson family battle' continues with Jera taking the honours this week ahead of brother Joe. Was excellent to see young James back again this week as well as welcoming Finlay to our club training sessions.

Training, Sunday 21st May

Afternoon All, Sunday’s training coaches will be Kathleen and Callum on Race Development, with Racer Rachel Brown shadowing and helping out with the groups. Jamie is making a return to the slope and will be working the Performance Squad Skiers.

Let’s hope the rain holds off for training, but has left the mat nice slippy for us all.

As per last week, have a think on what we’ve been working on and let your coaches know what you’re keen to work on and develop.

Please be ready to ski for the start of the session at 16:30 and remember to sign in before skiing.

Thanks, Gary W