Goodbye Indian summer, Hello Alpine winter

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Hope you have all enjoyed the fine end to our summer and if the Daily Mail is correct (aren't they always?) we are due some snow in October and a very cold winter with below average temperatures through to March. After last years phenomenally good start to the season it would be advisable to be prepared for snow and make the most of it when it arrives this season as you never know how long it will last.

Membership renewals have been sent out to all current members and so far we have 515 who have rejoined. We have now opened membership to new members and everybody on our waiting list has been sent a form. Anyone wishing to join can download a membership form from the website (www.skiweardale.com) but please note that our maximum number is 750 and I expect we will reach that by the end of this month when membership will close. From now membership applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis until we reach 750. The membership secretary has been working flat out for the last 2 weeks and all renewals have been completed and the last ones will be in the post this weekend - anyone who has not received them by next weekend please let the membership secretary know.

Work parties this year have been very well attended which means we have got a huge amount of wok done. This includes grass and reed cutting, ditching, hangar servicing, fence repairs and new fencing, pylon painting, stone removal from the new M1 run, servicing and repairs to the Rolba, Pistebasher and Skidoo, cleaning out the ski lodge and many other jobs. Thanks to all who helped out and thanks to those who have offered to continue some work such as the work on the Polaris, the Rolba and Pistebasher, dodgy electrics etc. Some jobs require specific skills but others simply need plenty of people so all the family can join in as demonstrated by the Donnelly clan from Westgate who turned out in full last weekend! Thank you all.

Toilets. Most would agree that our toilet facilities in the ski lodge are basic and not the nicest of places to visit. We are making this one of our main objectives next year to replace the current toilets with a better facility and are looking into composting toilets (not literally!). If anyone has any expertise in this field that they would like to share with us we would be very grateful. In the meantime we are thinking of a Portaloo near the car park and if anyone has a spare Portaloo at home or knows of one going cheap then please let me know.

We are also on the lookout for any spare crash helmets which can be used on the quad or the skidoo so again if anyone has an old helmet that is surplus to requirements then please let me know.

I have been talking to Swiss Tim who has a great range of new and second hand skis available at fantastic savings. This is particularly helpful for those of you with children who seem to outgrow their boots and skis every season and he can replace these at a fraction of the cost of buying new kit. He currently has loads of second hand skis and boots and has some brand new Kneissl skis at half price. He can be contacted via his website, www.swisstimsskis.com or on his mobile 07957 592500

Here's hoping for another fantastic ski season.

Steve