RAVEN NEWS
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RAVEN NEWS
APRIL 2005
VACANCY
RAVEN NEWS
EDITOR
As you may know I am stepping down as Raven News editor. Having produced the new letter for around 14 years and just got the hang of it, due to ill health and other interests I feel its time to bow out.
Anyone interested in taking over please contact Lee Doyle. I can supply the program I use to produce Raven News (MS Publisher) and most of the hard copies over the last 8 years. Thanks to every one who helped by supplying articles. Barry
Race Hut to be a Permanent
Fixture!
Further to previous discussions with the slope and particularly Davey Crosby, a Hut has now been chosen . It will be positioned at the base of the slope in order that it can be used as a Race Office. This will be like a mini office and will be a permanent fixture at the slope after the race weekend. This will be hired initially for a six month period after which time the committee will discuss and consider purchasing such a hut for permanent use.
The hut will be powered by a generator, purchased by City of Sunderland.
Storage of Ski Bags/Boot Bags etc
Despite the pleas of the Committee, skiers are still leaving their boot bags/ski bags etc in the ski issue area.
The Officials Changing Room has been designated for this purpose and for Health and Safety reasons all bags left in the ski issue area from now on will be removed. Please store your bags and equipment sensibly and safely. The Official Changing Room will be locked, giving you piece of mind, at 7.30 and unlocked again just before 9pm.
Channels of Communication
Members are reminded that the direct “Channel of Communication” for the Club’s Committee is through the Club Secretary Lee Doyle. Her contact details are:
Ms Lee Doyle
6 Allendale Square
Sunderland
Tyne & Wear
SR3 3BT
Home: 0191 520 2420
Email: gareth.eccles@ntlworld.com
If you expect an answer to any query to the committee it is important that your correspondence goes to the secretary either by post or email in order that this may then be presented at the following Committee Meeting. You can expect to receive both an acknowledgement of your communication and a response when appropriate.
New Look Membership Forms
Look out for the new look Membership Forms coming your way over the summer. Remember that you will need to renew your membership before the first race of the winter series (normally the last Wednesday in September).
URGENT! Editor Required!
Ravens News urgently needs a new Editor! Barry, after years of loyal service, will be leaving his role over the summer. Now is the time to volunteer to a Committee Member as soon as possible. The earlier you let us know the earlier you can get to grips with the position and Barry can “show you the ropes”.
Not wishing to sound “ageist”, but it would be great to have one of our younger members take this over as they have their “fingers on the pulse” and can ensure that Ravens News covers topics that interest everyone.
“Come on now, let’s be ‘aving you” – in the words of Delia Smith
There must be someone out there with some editorial flair!!
Ravens eNews
No-one has yet sent their email details to me in order to receive their Ravens News by email. I have collected about 20 email addresses on club nights, but no-one responded to my request in the last Ravens News.
Think of the money you can save the club in printing and posting costs!
Please send your email address with a note of which membership the address covers to: gareth.eccles@ntlworld.com as soon as possible.
Snow Racing
Dave Pyle informed us that the date for next years English Nationals has been set for 8th April, and will more than likely still be at PSV
Scott (19) and Danielle (16) Bryson have just completed another excellent season with recent national championship successes.
The racers from East Herrington, Sunderland competed first at the British Senior Championships in Meribel, France where all of the country’s top racers lined up against an international field. In slalom, the only race she completed Danielle was 4th Brit overall and won both the under 18 title and also the first non-British team title. Scott also only finished the slalom event and in this he was a splendid 2nd Brit overall and won the first non British Team title beating British Team members including top World Cup speed skier Finlay Mickel.
The British Junior Championships followed soon after in the same resort and although again achieving only one finish each they both made the podium again. Scott finished in 3rd place overall in his first Super G for 2 years and Danielle in Giant Slalom finished in 3rd place overall and won the Junior 1 category.
In total they won 8 trophies and 4 medals
As well as competing in both sets of national championships both also competed in international races between the two. Danielle travelled to Auron in the Southern Alps where she finished in 4th place in both slalom and giant slalom, in two French races.
Scott travelled to Italy to race at next year’s Winter Olympic venue, Sestriere. Here in the Italian Cup he finished in 5th place, scoring 37 FIS points, the best result by a non British Team member this season. Dave Bryson
On the Wednesday of the Juniors in Meribel after the Super G the “Old Brysons” set off to ski with the McKinnons over to Val Thorens.
When heading down a very slushy mogul field (Alouette) Dave came to grief, “big style”. Luckily Chris and Dusty were following several hours behind and were most helpful. Chris even managed to severely cut her hand while crossing her blunt skis in the snow. The “bloodwagon” was despatched and there ensued a pretty uncomfortable ride with what turned out to be a dislocated shoulder and a ruptured Achilles.
They were most helpful at the Mottaret Medical Centre. They said you’ll miss the wedding (Charles & Cam), put the shoulder back in and proceeded to haul the boot off, Ouch!!!!!!!!!!.
They said the X rays showed a smashed heel bone and that Dave would have to go to Moutiers hospital. Meanwhile Chris was searching the gift shops for some sticky tape to stick her hand back together. Dave suggested that as the tendon was showing that stitches might be a better option.
Lovely trip to Moutiers where the efficient medical team insisted that there was no bone damage, take up thy bed and walk……until the surgeon spotted a “little” pain around the Achilles and that he would operate immediately.
On being conveyed back to the waiting room Dave managed to get cramp in the calf of the leg with the ruptured Achilles. Please try to picture the cure. Earplugs were handed out to all staff and patients.
Cuts in the French Health service meant a shortage of painkillers that day so Dave was given the very real experience of surgery sans morphine allowing him to appreciate much more the skills of French surgeonry
There followed six days in Moutiers on an intensive course in the French language. A friendly nurse used to ask Dave what he would like to say each day. Unfortunately most of it is unprintable, although morphine seems to be a universal word
Then came the highlight of the whole trip. The journey home! At all expense spared a private plane was chartered. I would love to say private jet unfortunately the propeller worked by rubber band, and the make was airfix (some may understand).
The flight lasted 7 hours. Some can fly round the world in that time. Dave was strapped in to stop his head hitting the ceiling during “turbulence”. He enquired as to the maximum speed of the beast but as he watched the ferries zoom past as they crossed the channel he realised that the elastic band had seen better days.
Never has Newcastle looked so good.
Seriously, many thanks to all who have visited, sent cards and best wishes
Dave Bryson
Scottish and British Speed Skiing records smashed
Speed Skiing Pro World Championships, Les
Arcs, France
Dundee University -based medical researcher, Dr Nigel Brockton returned to
Scotland today having set a new Scottish Speed skiing record of 241.450kph
(150.06mph!). He broke the previous British record and became the first British
skier to break the 240kph barrier. However, the British record was broken again,
shortly afterwards, by Englishman Marc Poncin (245.230kph).
Both skiers have held the British record over the last decade but their long
rivalry has brought them both close to challenging for the ultimate prize of the
speed skiing World Record, currently held by Frenchman Philippe Goitschel
(250.700kph).
They were competing in Speed Skiing Pro World Championships in Les Arcs (France). Speed skiers wear skin tight rubber suits, leg fairings and aerodynamic "Darth Vader"-style helmets and 240cm skis and accelerate faster then a Formula 1 racing car The piste in Les Arcs is just over 1km in length with a vertical drop of 600m (almost 2000ft) but each decent takes only 20 seconds!
The Pro World Championships were the last race of the speed skiing season so now the preparations begin for next year with the World Record a tantalisingly achievable prospect. Ifyouski.com
New dryslope racing gel launched
GLACIER TRAINING SUMMER 2005.
Dave Morris, Ravens member, BASI Trainer and Coach to the British Childrens Team, works every summer on the Glacier in Les 2 Alpes from June to September. If any Ravens members are interested in Slalom and Giant Slalom training at the end of July or in August, Dave can be contacted, by e-mail at dave@snowpro.co.uk or via his web-sites – www.snowpro.co.uk OR www.podiumski.com Or talk to Brian Morris at Ravens.
A group would need to be Min 5 and max 10, ideally with some snow racing or training experience. Glacier training means early starts and lunch time finishes in skiing. Afternoons could include fitness work or video analysis.
However, there are numerous other sporting opportunities in Les 2 Alpes in summer eg. Mountain biking, climbing, walking, swimming, tennis, golf, canyoning, white water rafting, hydrospeed, parapenting, ballooning etc.
Accomodation can be arranged in new apartments, Le Flocon d’Or in Les 2 Alpes.
Costs for apartments and training are cheaper in summer than in winter. Training can be from 1 week to a month, with reductions for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks.
MERIBEL, BRITISH CHILDRENS CHAMPS.
Ravens member David Morris, who was working for the British ski Academy in these Championships, had some excellent results.
In SLALOM – Boys – 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 15th.
Girls - 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th.
In SUPER G - Boys - 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 15th.
Girls - 2nd, 4th, and 6th.
In GIANT SLALOM - Boys - 1st, 2nd, 8th, 10th,11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th.
Girls – 3rd, 4th, 9th, 15th.
After the Childrens races were over , he was asked, by GB Racing to lead a party of 7 Children racers to the International Scarafiotti races in Val d’
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BARRY EGER EDITOR RAVEN NEWS