September 2007

Is it really that time already? It doesn’t seem like 5 minutes since I was writing last year’s newsletter but here we are again with another ski season approaching. The summer holidays are now a memory for most of us, the days are getting shorter and the autumn chill is in the morning air. It won’t be long before the tows will be up in readiness for snow. It’s time to get those skis or snow boards waxed and renew your membership for the coming season.

And, for members only, we have an exciting new service to tell you when there is snow at Allenheads – see further down this newsletter for the details.

Membership fees for 2007/2008 remain the same as last year:-

· Adults £20

· Junior £10

Family £40

Simply complete the enclosed membership form and send a cheque payable to ‘British Norwegian Ski Club’ for the appropriate amount to Membership Secretary Mike Horrocks for another year of unlimited snow skiing at Allenheads. Just a shame there won’t be unlimited snow but we can all live in hope. Don’t forget to include a self addressed stamped envelope for return of your membership card!

Apart from skiing at Allenheads, with your membership you can claim discounts at the following outlets:-

· Ski and Outdoor Warehouse -10% discount on goods and servicing skis – telephone 0191 286 8914

· Nevis Sport - 10% discount – telephone 0191 2324941

· LD Mountain Centre - 10% discount – telephone 0191 2323561

GIFT AIDED DONATIONS

BNSC welcomes donations to help keep the club running. If you are feeling generous and give a donation please remember that as we have Community Amateur Sports Club status any donations can be gift aided, which means that the club can claim 28% tax back in addition to the amount donated. Forms are available from Mike Horrocks.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tows up – Sunday 4 November 2007
Social Event – 10 November 2007 – see below for details
Tows down – Sunday 6 April 2008

As ever, we need help from members to put the tows up. The more hands we have, the quicker and easier it will be so if you can make it, please come to lend a hand. Remember no tows, no skiing.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

It was agreed at the last AGM to change the date of the AGM to be nearer the start of the new ski season, rather than at the end of the old season. Therefore the next AGM will be in the autumn instead of April as in previous years. The date of the AGM will be notified to members in the next newsletter. This change in the date has a knock-on effect on this years accounting period so, for this year only, we are having a 17-month accounting year ending 31 August 2008.

SKI CLUB CABIN SOCIAL EVENT

The new cabin is in place and to mark the opening we are having an informal social event on the afternoon of Saturday 10^th November. This will take place between 12 noon and 3 pm at the cabin on the Allenheads field. There will be mulled wine and soft drinks for everyone who turns up. Food will also be available in the form of a simple Bar-B-Que at a nominal charge. This will be an ideal opportunity to see the new cabin and meet other members of the club. We will be pleased to see you there.

No pre-booking is necessary, just turn up on the day. However if you are planning to come, it would be helpful if you could email snow@ski-allenheads.co.uk so we can estimate the number of people for the catering. Details will also be found on the club website www.ski-allenheads.co.uk .

CLUB SKI HOLIDAY 2008

Have you booked your ski holiday yet? The ski club holiday I mentioned in the October 2006 newsletter is now a reality. The resort is Bardonecchia in the Italian Alps with Crystal departing from Newcastle Sunday 2 March 2008 for one week. Bardonecchia is a high altitude resort with 110 kms of prepared piste and a transfer time of 1 hour 30 minutes from Turin. The accommodation is the Hotel Des Geneys on a half board basis which is rated 3 stars by Crystal. The Des Geneys is situated in a quiet location close to the resort centre and ski lifts. The hotel has some single rooms and amazingly enough they do not charge a single room supplement! Prices in the resort are reasonable and a pre-booked lift pass costs just £87. The basic cost (i.e. flight, accommodation and transfers) is £525 per person including flight supplement from Newcastle and 10% founder’s member discount. The founder’s members discount is a better deal than Crystal’s group discount which needs at least 8 people to get half a free place!

We already have some people booked to go. If you are interested give me on ring on 0191 274 1531 or email me at fred.c.dobbs@blueyonder.co.uk. We can still add people to the booking subject to availability of flights and rooms so don’t leave it too late!

WHAT’S THE SNOW LIKE AT ALLENHEADS TODAY?

That’s the question you all ask yourself when the weather turns cold and there’s a possibility you could be skiing. We have the answer phone for snow reports and that will continue as in previous years – ring 01661 680689. However, this year we also have a new service for club members to give you notification when there’s snow.

E-Mail its snow!! Mike Horrocks has looked at the possibility of telling members when we have snow as well as using the answer machine. Mike already has a lot of members’ e-mail addresses so it will be very easy to e-mail people.

Text its snow!! Mike has also looked at texting members to their mobiles from his PC. Sending text messages will be very quick & easy but we would only send you a positive message if there is snow sufficient to ski. This is another good reason to re-join as this is a free service for members. All you have to do is let us know your mobile number and/or email address when you complete your membership form.

CLUB RULES AND SKIERS CODE

We have had very few accidents at Allenheads but we need to be careful to keep it that way. We have a risk assessment for the field and carry out a number of checks to make sure everyone is as safe as possible. However, we all need to be careful so, as a reminder to good practice, there is 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.

That’s all for now, safe skiing and boarding

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.