snow update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Sadly the snow keeps falling in all the wrong places. They have had it in Scotland, on the East Coast, in the Midlands, Ireland, Wales and for heavens sake even in London! Unfortunately the Pennines seems to have missed out. We still have snow on Swinhope but it is patchy with some ice and potentially dangerous skiing conditions so have been unable to open but we all have fiingers crossed for bit more fresh snow - it won't take a lot to make it skiable again. Still we have had the best skiing in the early season for many years. According to WSC life member John Stevenson it is the best snow we have had in November since 1964 which is the year they first skied at Swinhope and when the club was formed from its origins on Observatory Hill in Durham in 1957. Membership then was 30 shillings for an adult and 2 Guineas for a family and we had 45 members. We now have 780 members and I suspect the membership fee is now cheaper than in 1964 taking into account inflation.

Enough of the history. It doesnt look like we will be skiing before the 25th so I will take this opportunity on behalf of WSC to wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Lets hope for a prosperous and snowy New Year.

I hope many of you made use of the 20% discount weekends at Nevisport, Take a Hike and LD Mountain centre. I certainly did and saved myself a fortune (how many times have you men heard that excuse in the sales?). Don't forget that they all offer 10% discount all year round on production of that valuable WSC card.

Finally a brief mention of the other ski clubs in the North. In Teesdale we have Yad Moss and Harwood both of whom take day members when open. We have a reciprocal arrangement with Yad Moss whereby our members can ski there and their members can ski with us at a reduced rate on production of a valid card. Our weekend restrictions on not accepting day members does not affect this agreement and neither does Yad Moss's new day membership system affect WSC members wishing to ski there. Sadly neither of them at the moment have enough snow to ski on like us and neither does Allenheads Ski Club. Over in the Lake District there is a ski club on Raise which sometimes can hold the snow longer but currently is closed as well. LD Ski club does not accept day members but you can join on the slope once you have got your breath back from the long walk up! It is my ambition this season to ski all 5 of the "Northern Resorts" and I will report back on my success (or lack of) at the end of the season.

Steve