Snowsport Competition

An Introduction to Snowsport Competition in Scotland

Competitions in Scotland take on a variety of forms. The disciplines in which you can participate are detailed below. In the following pages you will find more specific information on becoming involved, events and contacts.

Alpine

There are four main disciplines of Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super G and Downhill) which take place under the auspices of FIS (Federation International de Ski).

In Scotland we concentrate on Slalom and Giant Slalom. These events occur for Bairns, Children 1, Children 2, Junior 1, Junior 2, Senior and Masters. They are run by clubs and Snowsport Scotland at all the Scottish ski resorts.

See also the Scottish Alpine Ski Team.

How to Get Started in Alpine Ski Racing

The best way to get involved in Alpine Ski Racing is to join one of the main racing clubs in Scotland, these are: Aberdeen Ski Club, Bearsden Ski Club, Cairngorm Ski Club, Glencoe Ski Club, Glasgow Ski Centre, Gordon Skiers, Muckhart and District Ski Club and Scottish Ski Club.

Clubs have a number of benefits, firstly, and probably most importantly joining a Ski Club provides you with Third Party Liability Insurance. You can also then meet up with other racers who will help you become familiar with the race scene. Each club provides a coaching programme based in Scotland with both on-snow and land based fitness training.

There are a number of training options open to racers. Clubs listed below organise training on the artificial slopes, normally during the week, and on snow at the weekends. Some of these clubs also organise snow training on the glaciers in the summer and October and also training and racing at Christmas and Easter.

All the clubs employ professionally qualified coaches. These coaches should hold the Alpine Performance Coach Level 1 qualification as a minimum.

To race in the events listed in this brochure you must be registered with Snowsport Scotland or an national governing body.

The only exception to this are Bairns (see table below). Bairns are required to be a member of a club affiliated to Snowsport Scotland for insurance purposes. Bairns wishing to compete who are not members of a club can register with Snowsport Scotland for the day of a race but you will get more from joining a club. Bairns races are generally run by the clubs on a relatively informal basis allowing entry on the race day.

All others must register with Snowsport Scotland so they can gain seed points with the British Alpine Seeding System for snow events and English Ski Council for Artificial slope races. You will start with maximum seed points and reduce them by competing and improving your performance. Further details of the seeding system and calculations for seed points are available from the Snowsport Scotland office.

In Scotland Children race the national circuit races separately from Juniors and Seniors. There are three Club National races at which Children can race against Seniors in order to lower their seed points. All artificial slope races allow children to compete alongside Seniors.

The Scottish Junior and Senior circuit is held under international FIS (Federation International de Ski) regulations and therefore open to international competitors who hold international FIS points.

If you want to compete all you have to do is scan the competition programme for events which are organised for your age - see the Alpine Calendar.

Age Categories for 2008-2009

Freestyle

Freestyle is divided into several disciplines: Moguls, Aerials, Big Air, Half Pipe and Skicross. The nature of Scottish terrain means that snow competitions concentrate mainly on Moguls and Big Air. These events are run by the Scottish Freestyle Club and Gordon Skiers and are open to Juniors and Seniors of all abilities.

How to Get Started in Freestyle Competition

The Freestyle fraternity is relatively small in Scotland so newcomers are always welcome. Mogul and Big Air competitions are held on snow, mainly at the Lecht, whenever conditions permit. The Aberdeen slope is the venue for the Scottish Artificial Slope Championships and Big Air events can also be held in Edinburgh. If you enjoy doing jumps and trying to ski the bumps, why not give it a try? You should be of basic parallel standard. The Scottish Freestyle Club has a trampoline to practice airs wearing skis and on-snow training is organised by the Gordon Skiers at the Lecht. Scottish competitors join with other home nations for training in the alps. For information on training or competitions contact Kay Bates (tel: 0131 445 1102).

Grass

Our contact with grass skiing here in Scotland has all but vanished. In the 80's it was a very popular alternative to plastic slopes for the summer months. The slalom events are exciting to watch and perhaps if there is still an enthusiast out there we can get a small circuit going again next year.

Nordic

Is again divided into a number of divisions, these are: Ski Touring, Cross Country Skiing, Ski Orienteering, Roller Skiing, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined and Ski Mountaineering. In Scotland, we have organised events in some of the above and will continue to do so in the coming seasons. We hope to restart the Roller Ski event. Again these races are organised for Junior, Seniors and Masters.

How to Get Started in Nordic Competition

The best way to get started in Nordic competition is to contact one of the Nordic clubs affiliated to Snowsport Scotland. These clubs organise training and access to competitions at various levels. Competitions are held on snow and artificial slopes in Scotland and abroad.

Snowboarding

See the Snowboarding page.

How to Get Started in Snowboard Competition

Snowboard competitions cater for competitors at all levels and in most disciplines. Club and national competitions are held on snow throughout the winter. For details contact Scott Todd (Tel: 0131 664 7980). Snowboard competitions are listed on the Snowboard Calendar.

Speed

Speed Skiing in Scotland has vanished in the last few years due to the poor winter seasons. Hopefully if there are suitable conditions the enthusiasts will contact the Snowsport Scotland office and get competitions going again.

Telemark

There have been a number of Telemark events over the last few years run by a group of enthusiasts. Again hopefully we can continue having at least one event on the Scottish Calendar each year.