Extra Curricular

Skiing

Skiing is a sport in which pupils can take part, regardless of age and ability.  We offer every pupil the opportunity to improve their skiing skills and sometimes we are able to put on a course for complete beginners. 

The minibus leaves school for Runcorn Dry Ski Slope on a Wednesday at 4pm and returns at about 6.20pm.  There is a charge of £7 per trip to cover ski hire and pupils are asked to become members of Snowsports Ski Club, membership of which pays for the coaching.  Coaching is provided by qualified ski and racing coaches at the slope.  For those who are more advanced or who want to get into racing, there is the opportunity to train at 7.15 until 9pm, also at Runcorn. 

It is hard work and a lot of fun, especially as we have new timing equipment, which has strengthened the element of competition at the evening session.

Any pupil at any level who wishes to start racing may join in.  Abbey Gate College has the highest number of pupils involved in school team racing in the North of England.  We always welcome and need new members, especially from Aldford School, and our youngest racer is four years old!  Pupils are able to participate in race training camps throughout the season and compete each year both at home and abroad, usually returning with several trophies or medals.

Weekly Training

Pupils who are members of the ski team are asked to join Snowsports Ski Club.  The club is run by Chris Hill and his team of trainers who coach at Runcorn Dry Ski Slope on Wednesday evenings, at 7-9pm.

The club organises race and training camps for children and adults on snow throughout the year.  New members of all ages who can ski parallel (or almost!) are welcome. In addition the club runs a training session for Abbey Gate College on Wednesdays after school. Mrs Campbell-Woodward takes them in the minibus at 4pm and they return at about 6.20pm.?This is aimed at beginners as well as improvers, and serves as an introduction to slalom racing techniques. New members are welcome.

Cost: Snowsports Club Membership annual fee and £6.00 per Wednesday after-school session.  Wednesday evening: £7.00
    
Club website: www.snowsportsengland.com for details of Club ski and race camps for adults and children.

Everything you need to know about British Ski Racing can be found at www.britski.org

Training and Race Diary Dates

British Indoor Grand Prix Series: Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Hemel Hemstead, Manchester and Castleford
You do not have to enter all races – details at www.indoorgrandprixseries.org.uk

Below are a list of the race dates in 2011 and early 2012

British Schools’ Indoor Snow Championships - entry by qualification in the 2011 dry slope races.
Yorkshire Indoor Championships at Castleford.
Saturday 17th September 2011:  English Schools’ Dry Slope Championships Qualifying round.
Saturday 8th October 2011:   English Finals at Rossendale, Lancashire.
Sunday 9th October 2011:  Qualifying race for the GB Schools’ finals.
Sunday 20th November 2011:  GB Schools’ Finals: at Edinburgh.
October Half-Term, 23rd-29th October 2011:  Snowsports Club training camp at Pitztal, Austria.  

28th - 31st January 2012:  British Schoolboys’ International Races, Meiringen, Switzerland.
29th - 31st January 2012:  British Schoolgirls’ Championships, Flaine, France.