HSRC

1. HSRC • THE FUTURE?

2. What we are proposing • Looking at how we work with the younger age groups (initially) • U12’s to work to a new programme involving technical training, stubbies etc.

3. Why? • We’ve had a successful programme for minis for a few years now • Age changes at national level (Driven by changes at FIS) • To bring in a programme that will produce great skiers, and from this, better racers

4. National Proposals • These are, at the moment, only proposals which have been put out for consultation to the home nations • Paddy Mortimer, the Performance Director for BSS has had experts consult on this and is driving the proposed changes • Supported by many experienced coaches • Expectation - to improve our skiers at grass roots level and, in doing so, raise the level of our future racers at all levels

5. Combi Races

6. Pete Whelan - GBR Ski Cross Athlete • Kids from a young age have got to ski more miles, have fun on their skis and play around, Instead of going down the same course again and again. They should be encouraged to ski everything the mountain has to offer, whether its off- piste, moguls, kickers, rolling pistes, through trees, in real crud, nasty snow in poor visibility and general bad weather, etc. • The key is to build up all areas of the racers skiing, so when it comes to a few days focussed gate training and subsequently racing, they will have a much great skill set to draw upon • I hope a greater variety of skiing can be introduced to British skiers at a younger age, or else this conversation will happen for many years to come

7. Dave Ryding - GBR Team Athlete • I can only speak from my experience but the one thing I would say is that too many people seem scared to ski in this country. Pete mentions miles on the skis, you can add so many miles by skiing on the indoor slopes and the dry slopes • I promise the skiing I did on dry slope helps me so much on the snow! I put a video on my Facebook page Dave Ryding - skier, people were asking me how I was so fast on the flats, there is only one reason because I rarely train on flats, and it is because I know how to use the ski to generate speed and it is purely from the dry slope. • I didn't start racing and training on snow until I was 12, and that was for about 4 weeks a year. 2 of which was a family holiday where I literally just skied as much as possible

8. Dave Ryding - GBR Team Athlete • Focus on stubby courses just try and nail the technique. Because it doesn't matter if you’re not winning in the races, doesn't even matter if you’re out of the top ten, it doesn't matter if you’re not on the children's team (I was never good enough) but just keep enjoying skiing and keep working hard! • During the winter we didn't ski gates at Pendle From the last Summer race we stopped gates until at least February where we started to re introduce proper courses. We did use gates but it was for corridors etc, the majority of the time was spent 'playing' on the skis. For instance we would do 360's all the way down the slope, one leg skiing, jumping, running on skis, 1000s of short swings... everything and anything to help coordination and feeling on the skis and we used to hammer the technique

9. Martin Bell-Ex GBR World Cup Racer • Good ski-racers need to be good skiers - adaptable and versatile. As many miles as possible, on different surfaces, helps. "Bad snow makes good skiers". When I was growing up, I was skiing on snow, Dendix and grass - often within the same week. Over here in the US, they are beginning to focus more on general skiing skills (something the alpine nations have apparently already started to do)

10. Excerpt From USSA ‘Skillsquest’ • The USSA, U.S. Ski Team and coaches at USSA clubs around the country have long understood that for ski racers to achieve long-term success and enjoyment, we must develop them into great skiers first, and only then they can become great ski racers. But answering the question of what exactly makes a great skier, and being able to prioritize and justify the time spent developing great skiers before great racers in a results-hungry junior sports environment has challenged coaches and has set back skier development in the United States.  SkillsQuest has been designed to overcome this challenge. • The objective of the SkillsQuest skiing skills assessment is to promote skills as a basis of technique by providing a resource where fundamental skills can be taught, measured and tracked over time

11. Summary • HSRC Is your club and we would like to build on previous success whilst keeping the training enjoyable for ALL Matt Thompson HSRC and Team GBR Member

12. Questions? • Please feel free to ask me about anything relating to training and the coaching programmes • Catch me at training or I can be contacted on: • phil@impulse-racing.co.uk or 07711083186