A warm welcome to all. It has also been a busy month on snow, with our holiday
/ training camp in Norway (see pictures below) and races beginning on snow (see
story underneath).

As the ski marathon season begins, we wish good luck to anyone preparing for a
ski race, holiday or just getting fit for the spring! We hope you enjoy this
month's update.


BRITISH CHAMPS & BARBARA

The British Cross-Country Ski Champs are now well under way in Ruhpolding,
Germany. There's good snow and a large field. Congratulations go to Barbara
Baker of our own rollerski club, who took part in the 7.5k skating race.

See http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nx022.html for report.


DORNEY & HYDE PARK COURSES

We have Hyde Park 4-week classic and skating courses beginning this Saturday and
Sunday. We have spaces left on both courses, and would encourage anyone keen to
get to grips with the basics of classic or skating technique to sign up.

More on http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html

We have a Dorney all-day skating course on 11th February (aimed at anyone doing
a skating race or holiday), and a classic / skating course on 25th February.

See http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events3.html

We would remind you that you can hire equipment at Dorney and Hyde Park to use
yourselves.


BATH-BRISTOL CHALLENGE 2007

We are planning a Bath-Bristol rollerski challenge in April. This is a
rollerski tour on the 15 mile, excellently tarmaced former railway track between
the two cities. Please let me know if you have a preference for a certain day.
This is a free event, and you can hire rollerskis to take part if you don't have
your own.


EWEN MARTIN BOOK

We now have Ewen Martin's Nordic Manual on sale. This gives an excellent
summary of cross-country skiing technique – Skate 1, Skate 2 and Skate 3;
diagonal, double poling and kick double-pole as well as coaching tips if you
want to teach yourself to ski / rollerskis! It costs £10 and can be ordered
online at -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/books.html


MARK GEE RACE TIPS & TECHNIQUE

Ex GB biathlete Mark Gee (who appears in Ewen's book) has on his website some
excellent race tips and technique pictures, which help with visualising body
positions. Well worth a look. See –

http://www.nordic-world.com/G-Zone.htm


NORWAY TRIP PICTURES & NEWSPAPER REPORT

Here are some pictures from our trip to Norway –
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/gallery17.html

Laura Long, Helen Wood and Luke Klimacki (our instructor Andy's son) were caught
on camera by the local newspaper –
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/gallery16.html


KVITAVATN COURSE

Mike Dixon and Patrick Winterton have been confirmed as lead coaches on
Snowsport England's excellent on-snow ski trip in Kvitavatn in April. This is
an outstanding course for anyone after first rate coaching, particularly if you
have a desire to race next season.
More information on –

http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/
telemark_and_cross_country_skills_week_booking_details-1577.html


YOUTH OLYMPICS

GB will have 6 cross-country skiers at the Youth Olympics in Spain this
February. See story on http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nx023.html - we wish them all
the best of luck!


BRITISH MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY SKI ASSOCIATION

The British Masters organisation now has its own website. You can see what they
get up to on -
http://www.bmccsa.org.uk


SPARTAN HIKE

I did the 15k classic race at Spartan Hike, one of the army's qualifying races
for the British Champs. Speaking to the colonel in charge, he said that
non-military skiers are very welcome to take part in the cross-country ski races
at this event. (The biathlon would be harder to accommodate, due to lack of
range space).

This is an excellent chance to pit yourself against a wide range of army skiers,
and is very well organised.

I finished 34th out of 211 in my race, starting from 206th position! A good fun
race (on my second day on classic skis all year!) See -
http://www.spartanhike.co.uk/results/2007/Nordic/15Km%20Classic%20Results.pdf


--
Iain Ballentine
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Roller ski instruction & cross-country skiing
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W: http://www.rollerski.co.uk

E: iain@...
M: 07968 286129
T: 020 8348 2540

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The Rollerski Co Ltd 2007
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