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THE RAVEN SKI CLUB
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

THE RAVEN SKI CLUB
INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

  Welcome to Raven Ski Club.  We are The North of England's premier ski racing club  we hope these notes will be useful to you and your parents. 

Training
  Raven ski members train every Wednesday evening at Silksworth Ski Center.  It is important to train regularly.  members are assigned to a training group with its own Trainer.  Each group works at an appropriate level. Depending on the time of year and the progress of the group coaching will include some fitness training, then some technique work to improve skiing skills and finally, when appropriate, some skiing through poles to improve racing skills. 
  Raven members train all the year round.  Racing on snow in winter and plastic in summer. The only times there may not be training are between Christmas and New Year. 

Equipment
  Hire of equipment is included in the training fee.  However serious racers need their own equipment.  Your Trainer will advise you when you should be considering your own equipment. As a general rule this is when you start to race seriously on other slopes.  Ski equipment is very expensive and racers grow out of it very quickly.  Second hand equipment is often available from present and past members.  Always ask around before buying new. Ask your trainer for advice on what to buy and from where. 

Club Races
  Raven Ski Club organise a race every month through the winter. This is the Raven Winter series and is usually held on the last Wednesday in the month.  It takes the form of a slalom. A course is set and racers ski individually through the course three times with the best two timed runs to count.  The results are available the following week in the Raven News a monthly magazine with ski articles news and forth coming events.  At the end of the winter season the results of all the races decide the prize winners. parents are invited to the presentation Evening. 
  During the summer the club organise a number of fun Dual Slalom Races. where two identical courses are set next to each other. races race head to head. 

Easy Races
Once racers feel confident racing at club level they are encouraged to enter other races.  The most popular are: 
               NESA Championships held in the autumn at Silksworth 
               YHSA Championships held in the autumn at Rossendale      Lancashire 
               School Championships held in the summer term in this region 
               Rossendale Summer League held on the second Saturday 
                 in April, May, June, July, August and September. 

  For these races it is possible to hire equipment and the entry fees are reasonably cheap. The standard of racing in these competitions is from beginner to extremely good. Entries (except for the schools) are open to every one so parents can have a go to. Unlike the English Ski Council races no start license is required. 

E.S.C. Races
A confident and keen racer will be encouraged to enter  races organised by the English Ski Council. To do this racers must register with E.S.C. and obtain a start license. Registration forms and details of the current fees are available from the Secretary. 
  E.S.C. races are held on artificial ski slopes all round the country during the summer season. Entry forms and race information are sent to you once you are registered.  There are two sorts of races, Qualifying for the less experienced and Grand Prix for the experienced.  There is a special Children's Race at each Qualifying Race for under 11's.  After a race seed points are calculated for each racer who entered.  The aim is to get the seed points as low as possible. Seed points are used to determine who enters each race. Prizes are awarded in age categories. 
  E.S.C. races are always run as a slalom.  The Grand Prix are two timed runs on different  courses. The Qualifying race is three runs over the same course, with the best two timed runs to count. Racers are not allowed to practice on the courses. You also must have your own equipment.  Each year Silksworth hosts one or two E.S.C races. These provide an opportunity to see the standards expected. Sometimes a fun dual slalom is organised after the main race. 

Snow Race Training
 There are opportunities for snow racing and training organised by the Club in Scotland and abroad.  Racers who intend to race on snow must declare it when they register  with the E.S.C.  Club members are encouraged to enter the  English Alpine Races in France each year. 
  Ski racers do not usually gain much from School Skiing Holidays. However it is worth inquiring whether your school is involved in the English Schools' Ski Association.  They organise races for schools and run a snow training week abroad. 

Standards Of Racers.
  In conclusion the club teaches skiers to race and not how to ski, We require potential members to be able to ski in control snowplough or better down the Silksworth  slope. 
  The Club over the past 20 years has produced racers up to international standard, at present we have members in the British Children's Team, English Alpine Team and English Schools Team. We also have currently 3 European Champions. In the past we have produced English Senior team members. 

For Parents
  Clubs like the Ravens can only work when parents are involved. Monthly races can only run if parents are prepared to act as Race Officials.  Please be prepared to help on race nights.  If you have other skills or contacts we would like to hear about them. 

  We hope these notes are useful.  If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask any of the club officials. 

The current Club Fees are:-
          Individual                                                                                    £ 15.00
          Family Membership                                                                  £30.00 
          Wednesday night club fee                                                        £8.10 
 

BARRY EGER EDITOR RAVEN NEWS

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