Rollerski courses coming up
British skiers on snow
Our instructors on snow
Austria ski course, 20-27 February
Snowboarder's take on XC skiing
Shop 2011
Other stuff
Coming soon

Rollerski Newsletter, February 2011

It's approaching peak cross-country skiing time of the year - lots of final preparation for ski trips and races on snow.  Good luck if you are heading off to snow shortly and may your skis be fast.

January was a busy month for us in Hyde Park, and a really good start to our courses at Dulwich Park.  Dulwich looks like becoming a regular Sunday venue.  There's been a lot of interest from the locals, and a great response from the skiers on our first course, most of whom plan to keep going.  We've a classic course beginning there this weekend. 

Spring is on its way, and it won't be long before we resume our evening sessions and get ready for rollerski racing and tours.  More info to follow shortly on this.

 

  
 

ROLLERSKI COURSES COMING UP & CLUB

We've added some Sunday sessions in Hyde Park in February and March, and have some interesting private lessons booked in for February - a hen party and a rowing team among others. For private groups, we have better availability during the week and the The Congestion Zone western extension has now been abolished, making it easier for us to get into Hyde Park.

-  Hyde Park classes, Saturday - http://rollerski.co.uk/class.html
-  Dulwich, begins Sunday 13th February, then 13th March - http://rollerski.co.uk/events15.html
-  Dorney, Sunday 27th February - http://rollerski.co.uk/events3.html
-  Private lessons and group - http://rollerski.co.uk/instructprivate.html

There's a full listing on the website, http://rollerski.co.uk/events.html


  
  BRITISH SKIERS RACING ON SNOW

It looks like being another good year for British cross-country ski racers, at all levels.  The Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland is filling up, and already has over 130 British entrants, including 75-year old Engadin veteran Lord Foster.  The British cross-country ski championships in Germany had 137 entrants for the mens 15k classic alone.  Good luck to rollerskiers preparing for the Koasalauf, Vasaloppet, Arctic Circle Race and other races, and congratulations to those who took place in the recent Pustertalerlauf and Inferno ski races.

At the elite level, GB has been doing well again this year.  20-year old Andrew Musgrave finished 6th and 12th in the 15k Free Technique and 30k Pursuit races at the World Under 23 Championships.  The GB team, which is organised and funded mainly by the athletes' parents, is taking part in a wide range of competitions, including the European Youth Olympics, World Juniors, World Championships and British Championships.  You can follow all their news at the team's website, http://www.bnds.org.uk


  
 

OUR INSTRUCTORS' ACTIVITIES ON SNOW

Some of us have been skiing on snow (not me yet, though).  Katya was skiing in Russia with family over Christmas, and is heading off later this month to help out with the GB Junior skiers.  Felicity did her first races at the British Championships this year, managing a very decent 18th / 23 in the 7.5k skating race, and only 20 seconds behind the fastest novice.  Alan Eason took part in the British Biathlon Championships, where he somehow managed to come 12th out of 134 in the 10k biathlon sprint, missing only 1 out of 10 shots - not bad considering he hasn't got a rifle and never practices.

 

  
   

 
  HOCHFILZEN CLASSIC WEEK - 20-27 FEBRUARY

Our final on-snow trip of the year is from 20th to 27th February in Hochfilzen, Austria.  This will be run by Alan, and will focus on classic technique.  You can find out more about this trip - and read a few of the comments on the last trip - at http://rollerski.co.uk/cross.html 

 

 

 
     
 

A SNOWBOARDER'S TAKE ON CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

This is a good article if you need persuading to cross-country ski - http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Roger-Cox-I-should-have.6684497.jp 
(I'd dispute that cross-country skiers prefer the flat - we love downhills and uphills too).

  
     
 

SHOP 2011

Our shop remains well stocked with rollerski and cross-country ski equipment.  Also, gloves, ski bags, water belts, etc.  See http://rollerski.co.uk/buy.html for more info.

We now sell Powerslide Off-Road rollerskis - these are very good for skiing on rougher surfaces, and are built in Taiwan to German designs.  The rollerski market has moved on a lot over the past few years and it's interesting to see bigger ski companies getting involved.

Taiwan has a very good reputation for sports manufacturing quality, with Trek, Specialized and Boardman Bikes all made there - perhaps it will become a centre for rollerski manufacture as well.  See - http://rollerski.co.uk/buyrollerskis#terrain for more.

  
     
    OTHER STUFF

FIS Interview with Andrew Musgrave, post 6th position in 15k race - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkqrxENxNr0&

Funding crisis at the Huntly Ski Centre in Scotland - http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2118191

Fiona Hughes, in the news - http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2011/01/22/huddersfield-olympian-fiona-hughes-gets-ready-for-ski-world-champs-86081-28033647/

Our ski marathon calendar, with links to bits of advice from last year's marathon-ers, here.

If you like what we're doing, join our Facebook group, click below -


Technique -
Hill climbing tips - http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=433
Uphill last bit of Tour de Ski -

 
     
  COMING SOON

Next month I should have more details of rollerski racing, which should be interesting this year.  Gerard Evans has taken over as the LRNSC rollerski race secretary, and promises an exciting series of races this summer.  We've also been invited to take part in the Wessex Biathlon club's Bristol-Bath rollerski tour, which will be some time in May this year.  I'll forward all info on this.

  
       
 
    Last month's newsletter is here.  
       
   

Hope to see you soon. Best regards, Iain

E: iain@rollerski.co.uk
T: +44 (0)20 8348 2540
M: +44 (0)7968 286129