October 2006

October rolls around again and another ski season approaches. Hopefully the snow gods will be kind and provide us with plenty of the white stuff! Get your skis and snowboards waxed in readiness, but you wouldn't be able to ski at Allenheads without being a member.

The good news is that subscription prices remain the same as last year:-

· Adults £20

· Junior £10

· Family £40

For this you can ski/snowboard as much as you like (sufficient snow cover permitting of course) and with your membership you can claim the following discounts:-

· Ski and Outdoor Warehouse - 10% discount on already discounted prices. This discount also applies to servicing skis (waxing, sharpening etc) - telephone 0191 286 8914.

· Nevis Sport 10% discount to all members - telephone 0191 232 4941.

· LD Mountain Centre 10% discount to all members - telephone 0191 232 3561.

· The Allenheads Inn is continuing this year to offer member a 20% discount on bed and breakfast from November to February - telephone 01434 685200.

For more information look us up on the club web site www.ski-allenheads.co.uk. If you have friends that have not yet joined the club, send them a link by email and let them see what they are missing!

SKIS AND BOOTS FOR USE OR SALE

The club now has a considerable stock of second hand skis and boots size 160 and below for members to borrow when skiing on the field at Allenheads. This includes paired sets of children’s skis and boots. Please bear in mind that these are second hand so make your own judgement as to their condition. You will also be responsible for adjusting your own bindings.

These skis and boots are also for sale. £10 for boots, £20 for skis or £25 for skis and boots.

PROPOSED NEW CLUB HUT

During the summer months your Committee has not been idle but busy pursuing a grant application to replace the hut at the bottom of ‘A’ tow. We will only go ahead with the new hut if we are successful with the grant application and of course it will be subject to obtaining planning permission.

The size of the new hut will depend on how much grant the club is awarded, but it will be larger than the present hut and will have a small office with a window facing the slope, storage space and best of all, a verandah area looking onto the slope where you can sit with your glass of Gluhwein (not provided, you'll have to bring your own) and imagine you are in Alps. Take a photograph and show it to your friends. St.Moritz, Tignes or Kitzbuhel they ask? No, you say. This is Ski Allenheads, the North East’s Premier Ski Resort!

Many thanks to the Committee and in particular Jo Hutton for all her hard work pursuing this.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

· Tows up – Sunday 5th November 2006

· Tows down – Sunday 1st April 2007

· AGM – Wednesday 25 April 2007

Help is always needed to put the tows up and take them down again at the end of the season. There was a particularly poor turn out last April for tows down day which made hard work for the few that turned out that day. Please, please, please if you can make it, come and lend a hand. Many hands make light work and the more that come to help the easier the job will be. We depend on help from the members to erect the tows. Remember no tows, no skiing.

TELEPHONES

Just a reminder that not all mobiles work at Allenheads. There are public telephones at the cafe and pub in the village.

The answer machine for snow reports will continue as previous years - ring 01661 860 689.

SOCIAL EVENTS

An idea has been proposed for a Christmas night out at the Wentworth Centre in Hexham on Saturday 16 December. The cost is £28.95 per head for a 3-course evening dinner plus coffee followed by a live band and disco. A £10 deposit for each person will be required to confirm your booking.

If you are interested contact Mike Horrocks by email snow@ski-allenheads.co.uk.

CLUB SKI TRIP

We are considering arranging a club ski holiday for the 2007/2008 season.
Thomson and Ski Crystal already offer 5% discount to members of Snowsport England of which the BNSC is an affiliated member. If in addition we obtain group discounts then we may be able to secure a good deal. If the idea of skiing with your fellow members in a place other than Allenheads appeals, include a note with your membership renewal. Already we have enough people who have expressed interest to start looking at possible resort locations. Please note that at this stage you are not committing yourself, we just need an idea of possible numbers so we can consider further.

CLUB RULES AND SKIERS CODE

Onto a more serious bit. We have very few accidents at Allenheads but we always need to be careful to keep it this way. We now have a risk assessment for the field and a number of checks to make sure that everyone is as safe as possible. However we all need to be careful so, as a reminder of good practice, I’ve included a copy of the skier’s code at the end of this Newsletter. The application form also includes a disclaimer - please sign the form to confirm that you’ve read it.

BE PREPARED FOR THE SLOPES

Skiing/Snowboarding is a winter sport so dress accordingly. Be prepared with warm and wind-proof clothing; i.e. ski jacket, waterproof pants, warm socks and gloves. Remember your goggles or sunglasses (better still, bring both). Approximately 10% of body heat is lost through your head so bring a hat, even if you don't wear it. It might be sunbathing weather but don't bet on it!

Those of you who have skied at Allenheads before will know that the ski tow is coarse rope so there is a possibility that jackets and gloves may be marked or damaged when using the tow, so it's not a good idea to wear your new Gucci designer ski gear. I use an old pair of gardening gloves over my ski gloves to stop the rope cutting into the glove.

RAY BUCKLE

Some of our long standing club members will remember Ray Buckle who regrettably passed away earlier this year. Ray was an active member of the BNSC since the early days and although he did not ski in his later years, he stayed with the BNSC as a social member and kept in regular touch with the club and the members.

FINALLY....

Here's hoping for a snowy winter. See you on the slopes at Allenheads!

Alex Russell
Chairman

The FIS Code of Conduct for Skiers and Snowboarders

1. RESPECT FOR OTHERS - A skier must behave in such a way that he/she does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. CONTROL OF SPEED AND SKIING - A skier must ski in control. He/she must adapt his/her speed and manner of skiing to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

3. CHOICE OF ROUTE - A skier coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he/she does not endanger skiers ahead.

4. OVERTAKING - A skier may overtake another skier above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he/she leaves enough space for the overtaken skier to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

5. ENTERING AND STARTING - A skier entering a marked run or starting after stopping must look up and down the run to make sure that he/she can do so without endangering himself/herself or others.

6. STOPPING ON THE PISTE - Unless absolutely necessary, a skier must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

7. CLIMBING AND DESCENDING ON FOOT - Whether climbing or descending on foot a skier must keep to the side of the piste.

8. RESPECT FOR SIGNS AND MARKINGS - A skier must respect all signs and markings.

9. ASSISTANCE - At accidents, every skier is duty bound to assist.

10. IDENTIFICATION - Every skier and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.