ON SNOW

NORDIC SKILLS

& MULTI ACTIVITY WEEK

     

Kvitåvatn, Rjukan, Norway

28 March - 4 April 2009 

PLACES ARE LIMITED – BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

This will be the ninth year Snowsport England has held this highly successful ‘On-Snow’ course at Kvitåvatn.  Based at the welcoming Fjellstoge, it attracts an enthusiastic body of cross-country and freeheel downhill skiers to share in a truly varied skiing experience.  This course, which has rapidly gained a reputation for the high quality of its coaching, will be under the leadership of Senior Coaches Mike Dixon and Andy Stewart.

Who is the course for?

 

• Cross-country skiers who wish to improve their skills, whether their interests are in touring, racing or freeheel downhill.  They will need to be able to ski at a minimum standard of improver/intermediate level.
• Alpine skiers who wish to improve their downhill skills by converting to freeheel downhill/ telemark skiing.  A minimum standard of basic parallel turns on most blue runs on alpine/telemark equipment is required.
• If there is sufficient demand there will be a separate group for members of the Snowsport England Coaching Scheme who wish to be trained and assessed for, or revalidate, an award.

What will we be doing?

 

• Skills training.  Mornings will usually be devoted to skills training in groups of similar ability.  The XC groups will concentrate on classic and skating techniques on the local tracks.  The freeheel downhill groups will practise techniques leading up to and including telemark turns, on the piste. 
• There will be the opportunity to alternate between the XC and downhill groups, enabling track skiers to work on their downhill skills whilst downhillers take to the tracks.
• Assessment for Snowsport England Proficiency Awards will be available for those who wish.
• Snow related activities.  The afternoons will include a range of activities such as mountain skills, fun races, games and ski touring. 
• Some evenings there will be a talk, slide show or quiz arranged.

The leading coaches 

Mike Dixon is Britain's most successful biathlete.  He is the only British athlete to have competed at six Winter Olympic Games, the first in the Nordic discipline in Sarajevo in1984 and the last five in Biathlon.  Mike has also competed at thirteen World Championships, eleven of these in Biathlon and two in cross-country.  Since retiring from competition, after the Olympics at Salt Lake City in 2002, Mike has become a commentator for Eurosport.  He is a Snowsport England Nordic Coach and Tutor.  

Andy Stewart is a qualified BASI Telemark Instructor and a Senior Tutor for Snowsport England in both Nordic and Alpine disciplines.  He holds a Mountain Instructor Award and is a ‘provider’ for the Mountain Leader Training Board.  Andy is a specialist in Outdoor Education. 

Coaching costs 

Coaching costs are £295 for six days coaching, less the following discounts

• £15 discount for members of Snowsport England affiliated clubs or Snowsport England Coaching Scheme
• £35 discount for early booking before 31^st December.

There is a special Junior fee of £165 for those under 18 years of age (no other discounts). 

Equipment 

Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment: lightweight track skis and waxes for the XC course and heavier metal edged equipment for the freeheel downhill course.  However, equipment for both XC and freeheel downhill can be hired at the centre and waxes bought from the hotel reception. 

Venue 

We stay in the hospitable Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge, www.kvitaavatn.no/en/, 1000m above the town of Rjukan.  The south-facing site, overlooking a frozen lake, is dominated by Gausta (1883m), the highest mountain in southern Norway.  The well-maintained loipe offer excellent skiing over rolling terrain.  The freeheel downhill groups will use the nearby downhill pistes and the area provides splendid mountain touring. 

Accommodation is in 2 bed or three-plus bed bunk rooms.  Self service meal arrangements include Norwegian style breakfast buffet (where you make your own packed lunch) and full evening meal.  Tea and coffee are available all day at no extra charge. 

Accommodation and meals for the week will be NK 3304 (approx. £337) for a 2-person room or NK 2800 (approx. £286) in a three-plus bunk room, payable directly to Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge at the end of the week.  Please note the change in arrangements this year.  Participants must book their accommodation directly with Marianne Folmer at the Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge; email: kvitaavatn@kvitaavatn.no; tel 0047 350 920 40 

Travel 

Participants will need to make their own travel arrangements.  Most people fly to Oslo Gardemoen Airport.   

We will be arranging coach transfer from Oslo Gardemoen Airport to Kvitavatn at a cost of £80 return.  This must be booked in advance on the attached booking form (£20 deposit required).  The coach will leave Oslo Gardemoen Airport at 5.00pm.  Participants wishing to use the coach transfer must ensure they allow sufficient time (at least an hour) to get through customs and baggage collection.  Arrangements can also be made for those travelling via Torp Airport to join the coach at Oslo Bus Station (pick up time approximately 5.30pm).  They must allow sufficient time for travel from Torp Airport to the bus station. 

Alternatively, participants may wish to use public transport.  Information about public transport is available on www.nor-way.no (Rjukan express bus) and www.trafikanten.no (general traffic website). 

Participants should ensure that they have their own personal travel and accident insurance cover for the week.

Terms and Conditions of Booking

 

1. Each applicant must have fulfilled all the course pre-requisites as stated on the relevant booking forms or in the coaching award syllabus.
2. The application will only be accepted and secured provided that:
1. The application is confirmed in writing on the official application form.
2. The application is accompanied by payment.
3. The application is signed.
3. Any changes to bookings must be received in writing either by letter or email.
4. Cancellation by participants will invoke administration charges.  Such charges will depend on amount of notification given.  Any participant cancelling within 14 days of the course, the full amount will be forfeit.
5. Cancellation due to injury or illness must be accompanied by a letter/note from their doctor/hospital.
6. No monies will be refunded for non-attendance of a course without prior notice.
7. Snowsport England will refund appropriate monies if the decision is made by Snowsport England to cancel all or part of a course.
8. Except for death or personal injury arising through negligence of Snowsport England, Snowsport England shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising whether in respect of death, bodily injury, illness suffered or contracted, loss, costs, damages or expenses incurred.

 

Booking 

Please return the attached booking form to the organiser

Wendy McRae,15 Belle Vue Road, Shelf, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 7LU

Tel 01274 670071   email wendy.mcrae@tesco.net  

 
 

Course Booking Form 

Please reserve me a place on the Snowsport England Nordic On Snow Skills Course. 

Forename: (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms) _______________________________________________

Surname:   _______________________________________________________________

Address:    _______________________________________________________________

       _______________________________________________________________

            _______________________________________________________________

Postcode:  _______________________     email_________________________________

Tel: (daytime) ___________________     (evening)_______________________________

Snowsport England affiliated club  ____________________________________________

Snowsport England Reg. No.(Instructors & Coaches)   ______________

The course

Please indicate which aspect of the course you are most interested in:

1. Cross country skills
2. Freeheel downhill/telemark skills
3. Snowsport England Coaching Award 

(This will only run if there are sufficient numbers, a minimum of 6 is required.) 

Experience or Snowsport England Proficiency Award Level 

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Coach Transfer

Please book me for the return coach transfer cost £80 (£20 deposit required).  I wish to be collected from (please tick)

Oslo Gardemeon Airport

Oslo Bus Station  

 

Before signing this form participants should read and accept the attached full ‘Terms and Conditions of Booking’ also shown on www.ssenordic.org.uk . 

I am in good health and have no medical condition that may cause undue concern to others.  I understand that I participate at my own risk and that no liability is accepted by the organisers for any injury, damage or loss sustained by me during the course.   

I enclose my cheque (payable to Snowsport England) for the sum of £……. being payment of deposit for course & coach transfer (delete as appropriate). 

Signed: __________________________                 Date: _______________________ 

Please return by post to: Wendy McRae,15 Belle Vue Road, Shelf, Halifax, W Yorkshire, HX3 7LU

Tel 01274 670071   email wendy.mcrae@tesco.net