Hello and Happy New Year!

Hope you had a good 2008 and are looking forward to a good year of
sport and fitness!!

It was great to see introduce so many people to skiing in 2008, and to
see such progress among the skier who have kept at it. I believe our
coaching team is stronger than ever, and in 2009 we will put more
effort into developing skiers to a higher level, at the same time as
welcoming newcomers to the sport.

Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions for courses or
sessions, and hopefully see you at a session soon.


LEARN / IMPROVE SKIING
Our main courses of the New Year begin next weekend (although we do
have Hyde Park sessions tomorrow in Classic and Skate - see
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/class.html )

On Saturday 10th we have a 6-week classic and skate course begin - see
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events7.html and on Sunday 10th, we have
our January Dorney course, with Level 1 and 2 groups - see
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events3.html

ON-SNOW, our Seefeld trip / course is booking up quickly, and if you'd
like to join Alan, Mary and me on snow, in February, see
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/cross.html

A full list of courses can be found at
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html


SKI MARATHONS
These are among the best challenges known to mankind. I've mentioned
them before, but they are well worth a go. If you plan to do a ski
marathon over the next couple of months, now is the time to get in
long running / cycling / swimming - but best of all rollerski -
training sessions.
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nf003.html


REVIEW OF 2008
In 2008 much happened in the world of rollerskiing and cross-country
skiing, as our sport continued to grow. You can read more below -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nr067.html


GB NORDIC SKI TEAM IMPRESSES THE NORWEGIANS
I've been out to Norway recently to do some skiing, where I managed to
meet up with the GB Nordic Team, who've been doing very well recently.
Here's a brief article from a Norwegian sports website -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nr068.html


TEAM NORGESHUS YOUTUBE VIDEO
Motivational stuff for club members, and aspiring ski racers -
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BqSXNKMSPSE&eurl=http://www.teamnorgeshus.no/index\
.php?c=11&kat=Video


US BIATHLON TEAM
What does the US biathlon team do when not out training? They write
and sing songs of course. Take a look at this -
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZTwYM8vNYo


CROSS-COUNTRY SKI HOLIDAY COMPANIES DOING WELL

Having spoken to a few of the cross-country ski tour operators, they
tell me they are seeing a much larger number of alpine skiers than
usual switching to cross-country skiing. Although Eurozone holidays
are more expensive, XC skiing is much better value to begin with (no
lift passes, less expensive kit, etc, etc), and more and more people
are making the change.

Also, although the pound is much weaker against the Euro, the same
cannot be said for the Norwegian Krone, as the economy has been
affected by falling oil prices and the 'Iceland effect'. So, holidays
to Norway are not so badly affected by the sterling crisis, and the
snow there currently is excellent!


SNOWSPORT ENGLAND KVITAVATN TRIP

I've been asked by Snowsport England to remind skiers that their trip
to Norway takes place at the end of March - for more information go to
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/nr065.html

This trip offers instruction in a similar style to our trip to
Seefeld. Snowsport England focuses its efforts mainly on masters
level skiers (30+, 40+) but all skiers who possess decent fitness and
basic skills are welcome on these trips, and the coaching is first rate.


SKIING ARTICLES

Training theory: http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=370
Tapering: http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=380
Ski marathon training:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lodjur/mccsc_new/newsletter/articles/200409_loppet1.h\
tm


Best regards,
Iain




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

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

Rollerski Club - action pictures -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/gallery21.html

Join us on snow - Seefeld 2009 -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/cross.html

Rollerski courses coming up -
http://www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html


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The Rollerski Co & Rollerski Instruction 2008
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