This year unfortunately Craig was not able to take part in many Club Nationals or Grand Prix event throughout the country mainly due to work, but also the need for him to be able to train sometimes instead of just coaching.

Instead Natasha decided that she wanted to take part more and so have been selective about what we do. It’s been good not to have to rush around the country every weekend as the calendar is now so packed it is ridiculous and you have to choose what you do otherwise the kids will be worn out, let alone the parents. But it was interesting listening to some of the parents at the start of the year complaining that there was no break and time for a holiday, er it’s simple you don’t have to do all the races get a life as well, but some people don’t see it like that! What worries me more about this approach to having to do as many races as possible is the effect on the kids, is it the kids or the parents that are pushing this?

The other consideration that has crept in more this year has been cost. Go away for a weekend somewhere and the cost rockets when you have to book a couple of nights away plus dinners and fuel. So it wasn’t a surprise to see several races with less entries than normal, and also so many people leaving it until the last minute to register. It’s a pain for race organisers to have late entries but can certainly understand why this happens.

As for the racing it was great to see so many faces around the circuit and catch up with those hadn’t seen for some time. Was also good to see how the kids are growing up now and mixing with each other so well. One of the things that has always been good about the skiing circuit is the social side of things and how well they all get on with each other, from many different parts of the country. That friendship certainly continues on MSN and Facebook.

The same applies to the parents, there is always a good atmosphere around. Although it can certainly be stressful at some races with some races when things are not running smoothly. But without all the volunteers these races just wouldn’t happen, especially with all the prep work in the background.

It is good that there is such a selection of races around now, such as;

• Regional
• Club Nationals
• Grand Prix
• Celtic Cup
• SSE Indoor Grand Prix
• British Indoor Grand Prix

but there are so many now that naturally there are clashes and a choice has to be made as to where to focus. This year has seen a large increase in the number of indoor races taking place (especially with Hemel opening now) and this is starting to show a split in those who will only do plastic, those who only do snow and those who will do both. This has generated a lot of debate amongst parents and racers as to the pros and cons to each and this will most definitely continue into next season.

One thing that has become very clear this season talking to parents, especially those new to the sport over the past year or two, is that it is a very confusing picture out there of what is on offer to the racer, who is ultimately the customer of the sport. There has got to be a much better communication of both official and unofficial races and explanation of what is what. The winter season is almost upon us and hopefully the coming months will see this sort of thing addressed properly.  Communicating the information is quite an easy thing to do and there are many opportunities that exists for the various governing bodies, but will it be used properly or will it end up in committee? I hope not and hope that people don’t forget that providing effective information for racers and parents and can done in stages over the coming months. Anyway more on this subject in another entry soon.

So we’re down to the last month of races. For me it is the regional at Brentwood this coming weekend and then onto Hemel for the regional champs the following.