Rollerski courses coming up
New rollerskis for the Spring
Holiday roundup
Engadin Skimarathon tips
World Champs GB success
Rollerski instructors' course
Huntly funding cuts
Rollerski racing
Other stuff

Rollerski Newsletter, March 2011

This is the big time of the year for cross-country skiing.  Last week the Cross-Country Ski World Championships and Sweden's Vasaloppet; this week the Engadin Skimarathon, and the rest of the biathlon World Champs.

Still plenty of snow to be had and, with Spring here, plenty of excuses to get out on rollerskis.  We've news below of our Spring courses, new rollerskis and some tips on doing the Engadin skimarathon...

 

  
 

Tarjei Bø, biathlon World Champion

ROLLERSKI COURSES COMING UP & CLUB

Our instructors are all returning from snow - Alan Eason got back from Austria on Friday - and we've a pretty much full team in March and April. 

This is good news for our regular groups in London, and for upcoming technique courses -

DORNEY LAKE - this Sunday, 13th March, 1-day rollerski course, beginners' & interemediates;
DULWICH PARK - starts Sunday 20th March - 4-week course;
HYDE PARK - Tuesday evening 4-week course, starts 29th March;
RICHMOND PARK - Wednesday evening 4-week course, starts 30th March.

Felicity has been doing well with private groups during the week in Hyde Park and Richmond Park, and you can find out about the these sessions here - http://rollerski.co.uk/instructprivate.html  Instructors can now come to venues across London, and to Windsor.

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


  
  NEW ROLLERSKIS FOR THE SPRING

We have some new rollerskis for sale this Spring.  Jesenik makes extremely good and economical skate, classic and combi rollerskis, which come from the Czech Republic.  Also, Marwe have updated their graphics and strengthened their 700C classic skis for 2011.  See - http://rollerski.co.uk/nr089.html  All are now in stock.


  
 

HOLIDAY ROUNDUP

Our trips are over for another year.  In total we had 36 skiers over the 3 weeks, many of whom took part in the Pustertalerlauf and Koasalauf skimarathons.  If you are still hoping to go on snow, there is plenty of snow in Norway and parts of the Alps and Central Europe.  The Snowsport England Kvitavatn, Norway course takes place in April.

Some of the team from ski holiday company Exodus came to try rollerskiing a couple of weeks ago.  Chloe Knott - who will run next season's winter trips for Exodus - is taking part in the Engadin Skimarathon, and did the following writeup - http://www.exodus.co.uk/myexodus/cknott/blog

 

  
   

 
  ENGADIN / SKIMARATHON TIPS

The Engadin is by far the most popular challenge for our rollerskiers.  Currently over 140 GB skiers are entered in this year's race, here are some tips based on past experiences / mistakes (!)  See http://rollerski.co.uk/nr090.html 

 

 

 
     
 

WORLD CHAMPS GB SUCCESS

It's been a good Cross-Country Ski World Champs for GB's young team.  Andrew Musgrave finished 28th/120 in the sprint, a big improvement on his 65th position at the last World Champs in Liberec, and the best GB performance of recent times.  Callum Smith, 18, the current British Rollerski Champion also skied well at the Champs.  He was 2nd / 47 in the qualifying race for skiers who aren't on the World Cup circuit, and took part in several races.  There's a much more authoritative commentary on the team at http://www.bnds.org.uk

 
     
 

SSE ROLLERSKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE 2011

OThere'll shortly be a Snowsport England Rollerski Instructors' Course in London. 

Originally intended as a qualification for volunteer club instructors, this qualification is now of a higher standard, and aimed more at professional and semi-professional instructors.  You need to be skiing to a decent standard, and able to communicate well.  Before you are licensed, you also need to do a First Aid course, have a UK CRB check and attend a Safeguarding Children course (whether or not you work with children) as well as passing the assessment.  Instructors have to be re-validated every three years to be kept up to date with developments in the sport.

For more information, contact Helen Bell of Snowsport England, helenbell115@btinternet.com.

  
     
  HUNTLY WOES ON STV

FIS Huntly Nordic Ski Centre made an appearance on Scottish TV.  It has the support of local politicians, helping to save it from funding cuts -
http://www.nordicski.co.uk/

 
     
  ROLLERSKI RACING

The rollerski racing calendar has been announced - you can find out more at - http://rollerski.co.uk/ns033.html  These races take place across the UK, and are run by the various cross-country ski clubs.  All are welcome, from international racers to seasoned ski tourers, and these are an excellent way of gaining fitness for on-snow races.
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Petter Northug, World Champion

OTHER STUFF

The 50k World Champs comes down to a sprint - http://fasterskier.com/2011/03/after-50-long-kilometers-on-skiings-hardest-course-northug-outsprints-vylegzhanin-yet-again/
Eurosport's take on it - http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06032011/58/northug-wins-mass-start.html

Also, good to see clips at the FIS website -
http://www.fiscrosscountry.com

And the biathlon coverage - in full - on the IBU website -
http://www.biathlonworld.com
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    Last month's newsletter is here.  
       
   

As ever, the world of rollerskiing develops and grows, and we reckon 2011 will see some great progress.  In January and February we had by far the largest number of beginners we have ever had.  But as we move into the Spring, we expect fewer people, with whom we can work more closely.

If you would like to join us this Spring, please come along and get involved,

Best regards, Iain

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