A meeting has been arranged on the 14th March by SSE (ASC and ROTP) and one member from each region invited to attend. No specific agenda has been raised yet but the general aim is to provide ‘discuss any matters/suggestions before the beginning of the forthcoming season’.

Someone from ERSA will be attending the meeting so if you have any matters or suggestions please send them over so that I can collate them for the meeting. I have had much feedback from people over the past few months and will add this feedback.

As you know the British Champs are still going ahead. Have received the letter attached to this post from the chief of race.

One of the things that is constantly raised at the club is queries from new parents and racers about where to start, what races exists, what their children should take part in etc. It’s a long list of questions and of course everyone has an opinion. Unfortunately it is incredibly difficult to find anything online and i have yet to come across a parent who has seen this information on the SSE site.

Alain Baxter will be visiting Ipswich ski centre on 15th March, details can be found here, http://www.teamipswich.com/events/winter_olympics_breakfast.

As you will know the English Alpine Champs took place last week in Bormio. If you want a quick summary of the week gone by a day at a time have a read through the daily reports compiled by Vickie Pullin. Excellent to have some feedback about each day.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Here are some stunning photos from the first eight days of the Olympics,

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/vancouver_2010_part_1_of_2.html

In the current climate it is proving very difficult to gain sponsorship for anything ski related. Last year the club national we were only able to secure one sponsor whereas the first year we were able to secure several who contributed over £2000 to the event.

Have received the following from Lynda Hickey about a fund raising event being organised by Rufus Alcott. Email is as follows.

Good morning,

As you know, Snowsport GB have had major financial difficulties and the team going to compete in the Olympics are left without sufficient funding. I know it's been coming for a long time but it seems so unfair on the athletes who have put so much commitment and dedication to getting to Vancouver.

Last Monday evening Mike Barker spent some over at the Ipswich club with the Vikings team during a training session. He was there to see how things are done at Ipswich, talk to the coaches, racers and parents. This also included something to eat and drink afterwards.

I’ve been involved with ERSA for a number of years now and helping out at the races and this continues through to the national races. In 2008 I stepped back a bit from the scene as I became somewhat disillusioned with various aspects of the sport. Like any sport skiing certainly has it’s own set of unique characters, personalities and politics. How much you become involved is entirely up to yourself but in a sport that has been crying out for helpers all over the place it can be very disheartening at times.