Photos from GB Telemark Team Building - Plymouth
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Monthly Archives: September 2009
British Telemark Team at NEC Ski Show 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2025
THE BRITISH SKI AND BOARD SHOW COMES OF AGE WITH EXCITING NEW FEATURES
The British Ski and Board Show, one of the best winter sports show in the country, will come of age when it returns from Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November as it celebrates 21 years at Birmingham’s NEC with breathtaking features for enthusiasts and novices to enjoy.Amazing features include the return of the gravity defying Aosta Valley Big Air Freestyle display team, featuring Olympic and World Champions on Europe’s largest indoor ski ramp.
On the Skills Slope, Ackers Adventure’s instructors will be giving free skiing and snowboarding lessons as well as organising toboggan runs while International instructors will demonstrate all aspects of skiing from the basics to making those tight turns on the new style indoor ski slope.
There will also be demonstrations from the British Telemark Ski Team lead by British Champion Andrew Clarke who compete in Telemark competitions all over the World. Telemark or ‘free heel skiing’ involves a combination of Alpine skiing through gates, cross-country skiing over flats and ski jumping off 1.5 metre jumps with a requirement to land over 20 metres from the take-off point.Learn how to ice climb courtesy of Pinnacle Challenge on our specially designed eight-metre high ice wall made from a special ‘foamex’ which you can climb using specially modified equipment.
New features for 2009 include testing your limits on the Nordic challenge course which includes an assault course, cross country skiing and shooting against the clock. Take the Challenge and the fastest time will be crowned ‘Top Skier’ on our leader board!And if what you really want is to enjoy the Après Ski, visit the Valle d’Aosta Mountain Gastronomy Experience and enjoy authentic Italian cuisine and fine wines from the region’s best.Head to the Fall-Line Skiing Magazine Talk Theatre where you can visit the Boot Doctor, listen to Henry’s Avalanche Talk, and find out how to get the best from your own gear and save you money with tips from Jon’s Ski Tuning.
You can also meet Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell and Britain’s best ever winter Olympic contender, Zoe Gillings as she explains what it has taken to get to the pinnacle of international snowboarding and how she’s getting ready to take on the world in Canada next February. Find everything you need for the coming season in the extensive retail village with leading names offering exclusive show bargains. Over 150 exhibitors will offer the latest fashions, equipment, ideas and innovations, new product launches, international resorts, tourist boards and holiday companies from all over Europe and North America.
The British Ski and Board Show, sponsored by the Daily Telegraph, is open from 12noon until 8pm on Friday and 10am until 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are now on sale and prices range from as little as £4 for adults when purchased in advance while children’s tickets are just £2.50 each. For more information, the latest updates or to book tickets, visit www.britishskiandboardshow.co.uk or telephone the booking line on 0844 581 0734
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| Andrew Clarke |
On 12 September, at the Milton Keynes SNO!zone, the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) are laying on the UK’s first ski-a-thon on real snow, and is the first time that so many GB skiers, with world status have had the opportunity to ski together. Also, it is the first time that Joe Public has had the opportunity to ski alongside eleven of the nation’s best.
This week, Major Andrew Clarke, British Telemark Champion and captain of the GB Telemark ski team announced that seven members of his team will take part in the ski-a-thon. Bringing the participating skiing hero count up to eleven, means that this whole event has turned into an unexpected treble whammy. “The outside world might think that Britain’s top skiers ski together all the time. This is simply not the case. We see each other at competitions, but rarely get to take off down a slope together. I am also keen to see the up-and-coming talent from the paralympic development squad, who are also taking part. It is a privilege to be part of such a historic event, in aid of a charity that has helped so many skiers,” explained Andrew.
Paul Smith, Executive Director of SIA added: “We knew that this kind of event had not been run in the UK before, so we knew it was a first. However, to have so many world-class skiers volunteering to take part in the ski-a-thon has moved everybody within SIA. We can say to anybody who can snowboard or ski, ‘Come and join in. Oh and by the way, you will be on the slope alongside: Graham Bell (eight times British Ski Champion and Ski Sunday presenter), Ed Drake (British Alpine Champion), Talan Skeels-Piggins (fifth in the world for downhill sit-skiing and GB Paralympian), James Webb (GB freestyler) and now the national Telemark team.’ Wow!”
The GB Telemark team is sending Andrew himself, Richard Parrott, Rachel Morgan, Sarah Hannibal, Matt Turner, Huan Davies and David Cardwell to the 12-hour ski-a-thon. They have been hard at it, training for the World Cup which takks place in January 2010. Telemark combines and tests skiing disciplines including downhill, jumping, cross-country, freestyle and skating. It’s incredibly skilled, and, just as in triathlons, it requires a smooth transition from one challenge to another. “This year we have been able to use the SNO!zone for training, which is the first time we have had the facilities for out-of-season training. Going to the gym is no substitute for real snow. This gives us a stronger base for pre-competition training in the winter,” explained Andrew.
If you would like to take part in this historic ski-a-thon and ski or snowboard with true sporting heroes, please contact Sarah on [email protected] or call 0845 6786633 ext. 217 for more information.
British Telemark help out the Spinal Injuries Association
The UK’s first ever ski-a-thon on real snow is getting closer. Eleven of Great Britain’s famous skiing greats are taking part, and up for grabs was an exclusive opportunity to bid on eBay to ski or snowboard in a team of champions.
Sonic and the Team Captain
Ski-a-thon is part of a 12-hour endurance challenge which takes place on 12 September at the Milton Keynes SNO!zone in aid of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).
Major Andrew Clarke, British Telemark Champion and captain of the GB Telemark ski team, is entering himself and seven skiers from the national team into the ski-a-thon, before they jet off across the world to hit this winter’s FIS World Cup. They auctioned the remaining four places on their two ski-a-thon teams, which gave everyone the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bid their way to ski alongside these British heroes.
Joining the British Telemark ski team, on the slope, for this historic skiing event are Graham Bell (eight times British Ski Champion and Ski Sunday presenter), Ed Drake (British Alpine Champion), Talan Skeels-Piggins (fifth in the world for downhill sit-skiing, and GB Paralympian) and James Webb (GB freestyler). These skiing heroes will certainly keep the crowds entertained for the day, and participants will feel the buzz of racing alongside a selection of Great Britain’s finest skiing stars.
Esporta Health Clubs and British Telemark may join forces
Breaking News - The Telemark executive Committee are in discussion with Esporta Health and Fitness Clubs with a view to membership at their exclusive clubs dotted around the UK. The opportunity will provide the British Team with facility to train with top class cardio and weights equipment in fantastic facilities in the run up and during the 2009/10 season. For more information on joing Esporta go to www.esporta.com