Dry Slope skiing

During May , June and July then from September through to the end of November Patsy and son Richie continue the teaching programme at a dry slope in Scotland with our ski school SKI CLASS . Craigclowan Preparatory School is a wonderfully active and sportive school for children up to the age of 13 yrs . . It boasts its own private dry ski slope with uplift and floodlights. Richie is a qualified level 2 BASI teacher and is working towards his level 3, he has also been in the British Junior Alpine Development Squad and has trained with the British Ski Academy school in Les Houches, Chamonix at 12 years old he was selected as part of the British Children's ski Team so he has first hand experience of what the children of Craigclowan are trying to achieve. He also attended Craigclowan all through his preparatory years.

On the dry slope we have two race sessions per week with the trainees from Craigclowan School who are working on their skills and techniques , they are preparing for dry slope and snow races. Our trainees have delivered some fantastic results, winning individual and team events. There have been a few children from Craigclowan who have gone on to to train with the British Ski Academy in Les Houches and have been selected for the British Children's Team and are subsequently on the national squad.

NEWS FOR AUTUMN TERM 2011: We have had a brilliant start this term with the races on the dry slopes . Our School has consistently been in the spotlight ,winning team races and individual races at the dry slope at Hillend in Edinburgh. Our team has been working extremely hard and are now ski-ing at a fantastic level , we are very proud of their achievements and will continue to train each week with the hope that they will bring home more medals in their snow races during the Winter Season.

On Fridays and Saturdays during the Spring and Autumn terms we work with people from the school but also many from all over the Perthshire area and beyond. We have had people from as far away as Kilmarnock and Montrose. We are open to all ages and abilities.We also have some adults classes during the week. Many people think it is not possible to improve their technique on a dry slope but they certainly can. There have been several skiers who have trained on an artificial slope and gone on to World Cup and Olypmic level. Patsy's nephew Alain Baxter is one example also Emma Carrick Anderson and the Bell brothers all skied and trained on artificial slopes. Patsy also was a member of the British Alpine Ski Team began her ski-ing career at Hillend in Edinburgh which has the largest dry slope in Europe.

One of our most popular classes we teach is the "Tweenies" of pre-school age 3 and 4yrs This has been a roaring success, we have watched these small children develop right through to our race training programme ! We are very proud of them and their achievements after only a few weeks.

The time to book is June for enrolling into our September block and October for enrolling into the Spring block. I require and e-mail of interest, if I have spaces I will send a booking form which you then send back to me with payment and your place is then booked.

The Summer Fun Camp is held annually at the dry slope for one week. This is normally the second week of July and the first week of the school holidays. We pride ourselves with the feedback from the past camps which have been great fun and geared around teaching through individual games and team games.It is open to all who can ski and use the tow, we have children as young as 4 yrs right up to 12 or 13 yrs. Places are limited so apply early as we only have 20 in our morning session and 20 in the afternoon. The week closes with a BBQ and an annual water fight!!!

NEWS SUMMER CAMP 2011.

Richie and I spent a brilliant week with the kids ski-ing on the dry slope during our Summer Camp in July. We had team games all week with a Polar Bear team and a Penguin team. All games were given points and each team played so well with fantastic team spirit, I have to say this year was our best fun camp we have ever held, so much laughter and kids having a ball cheering everyone on. Photos of the camp are on the gallery. ( The Polar Bears won by 1 point !) kids age ranged between 4 and 13. Everyone was helpful to each other ,. Their ski-ing excelled without them realising so all in all a superb week. Next Year camp will be held on the 9th-13th July 2012 . Names already being taken.

On top of all that we also teach on the Tignes Glacier in July. For several years now I have organised lessons either groups or individuals or families who wish to continue ski-ing in the Summer.To book this e-mail your requirements.

There is plenty of other activities to do after the ski-ing which is great fun for everyone. There is the Manchet Sports Area which has everything on offer for action packed afternoons. Outdoor swimming pools are dotted about all over Tignes and Val'd'Isere.

To book lessons between December and April with us in Courchevel and any of the areas in the Three Valleys or the Dry slope in Perth contact us on the e-mail address below.

For any of the above please do get back in touch with Patsy at this e-mail address: patsi@skiclass.eu or call (44) 07949387699 UK or (33) 0618155368 in France.

www.craigclowan-school.co.uk