What happens to make sure that one of the many regional races happens and runs smoothly? There are a lot of perceptions that exist about why some things happen or don’t happen, so thought I would jot down some things that take place. It’s like it for many races not just the regional ones.

First easy question to answer is no we are not paid to officiate, we do it for the love of the sport! Although when you are stood at the top of a slope and it is raining do sometimes wonder why I am there, but it is great when the sun is shining :)

This season we are trying something a little different and will be looking to produce a short report from each race. Thanks to Graham Cuthbert who kindly jumped at the opportunity to put something together. So attached below is the first report from this season.

If you would like to put something together for a future race let me know, especially the Hemel ERSA on the 13th June as Graham is not able to attend.

The invite for the Hemel ERSA race on Sunday 13th June has been published and can view it here clicking on the link below.

If you would like to enter please contact your club race manager. There will be no late entries as the race is likely to be over subscribed as we have a limit of 150 racers.

Attached to this page is a copy of the acceptance list for the MK ERSA race next weekend on the 23rd May. If you see any problems drop me an email at bernard@lindseygang.co.uk.

Attached is the April newsletter focusing on the coming summer season. Any comments or feedback greatly received :) drop me a line at bernard@lindseygang.co.uk.

Hope you find it useful just another way of pushing information out, but always need feedback.
This will also appear on the ERSA Website very soon.

A lot!!

But what am I on about now? Skiing of course and what happens in the background for the various races that go on.

Last year it was interesting to see what the attendance was like at some of the races in ERSA. Some were down others up. What was very apparent though is that we didn’t have any true stats to back up what the trend was. It’s also quite important to watch what the trend is like this coming year with so many changes happening. Last year and this year there are so many races to choose from. This year we have at least seven, possibly eight races in the region, but also there is a packed national scene.

Last Sunday we held an ERSA Committee meeting and went through several topics. The minutes will be published shortly on the ERSA website but in the meantime a copy is attached here.

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.

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.