WSC news

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

A quick reminder that this next weekend (24 + 25 November) both Nevisport and LD Mountain centre in Newcastle are offering WSC members discount off the RRP of anything in their shops on production of a valid WSC membership card. Nevisport are offering 20% discount and LD 15%. On top of this both shops offer a 10% discount all year round to WSC members. Both shops have supported us over the years so if you do make use of the offer please mention WSC and show your card - you could save more than it costs to join inthe first place! Many other shops will offer discount if you produce the card and our membership secretary is liaising with North Face to offer us some discount - watch this space.

The WSC AGM was well attended last week with over 40 members watching and listening to a fascinating slide presentation by Stuart Gallagher on his trip to the Antarctic and also a short video by Kevin Moore on his recent skiing trip to the Arctic circle. Everyone seemed to like the new format so we hope to reproduce it at next years AGM - if any member is interested in giving a talk/slide show/film etc please contact me.

Membership is nearly full - we have approximately 100 places left before we close. I suspect that will be as soon as we get the first decent snowfall.

Have you got your snow tyres on and chains ready yet? The Lake District ski club has already had 3 days skiing so far before any official skiing has taken place in Scotland. We  nearly had enough to ski on but cover was deemed too thin. However if you believe the following Express article - forecasters are predicting the coldest winter for 100 years - they say that blizzards are expected in the North with temperatures down to -20 degrees and widespread disruption. The worst (or best depending on your view) weather is predicted in December and January but could start as early as this coming weekend - http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/358717

Finally for those snowboarders who fancy some early snow there is an attempt on a world record at the Chill Factor in Manchester next week (20 November). You have to be a competent snowboarder (able to do an ollie!) and details are in the link below -they are still after as many snowboarders as possible. If any of you do take part please email me with a report. All the relevant information is available here: http://www.chillfactore.com/events/world-record

Steve

WSC update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Winter has arrived and the fells of Weardale have already had a couple of light dustings of snow. Time perhaps to think about putting the winter tyres on and checking the snow chains still work? The slopes have been prepared for the season and everything is in order for when we get enough snow to get the skis out. More snow is forecast - my son's girlfriends sister has a friend in the Met Office which has forecast a significant dump of snow in the near future so there you have it!!

There are only 2 days left for existing members to rejoin without having to pay the late/joining fee and we are filling up fast with approximately 150 places left before we close membership. We will still allow day members through the week but weekends are reserved for members only. If you have procrastinated in rejoining now is the time, just follow the link to join online https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=812

AGM - a reminder that the WSC AGM is being held on Tuesday 13th November at 8pm in The Honest Lawyer, Croxdale, Durham DH1 3SP. All members are welcome to this and we have changed the format to make it more interesting. The AGM will be kept fairly brief and will be followed by an excellent slide show and talk by Stuart Gallagher on his recent trip to Antarctica, a slide show that has already received great acclaim.

Discount days Both Nevisport and LD Mountain Centre in Newcastle have agreed to offer members of WSC discount once again and we do really appreciate their support. They offer 10% discount all year round on production of a valid WSC membership card and on the weekend 24/25th November Nevisport will double this to 20% discount and LD to 15%. This can save a significant amount if you are planning to upgrade your equipment or clothing but to ensure they keep offering us this discount we must be seen to be using it so please go that weekend and wave your WSC card around.

Improvements You should all notice several improvements this season. Apart from repairing and maintaining all the equipment, snow fencing, cutting the grass etc we have installed a second webcam to give you a better idea of the snow conditions, have upgraded the website which I am sure you will find a great improvement, have fitted solar panels to try and keep all our batteries charged up and are in the process of installing a new composting toilet system in the lodge which has also had a "deep clean". Thanks to all those who have contributed hours of blood, sweat and occasionally tears to ensure this work has all been done.

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Hopefully see more of you at the AGM in a couple of weeks.

Steve

Weardale Ski Club + VIP tickets to the ski and snowboard show

The Weardale Ski Club ltd

1. Membership

We have now opened membership to new members on a "first come first served" basis. We are nearly 2/3 full and will close membership once we reach our limit. Existing members have been sent instructions on how to renew online and new members can join online by following this link - http://www.skiweardale.com/membership.html The membership fee is £35 for an adult but for new members there is a "one off" joining fee of £20 per household in the first year. Existing members do not pay this £20 if they rejoin before the end on October but after the 31st October it becomes a late fee (assuming we have any places left).

2. Ski & Board Show Tickets Birmingham 2012 (26^th – 28^th October)

Snowsport England have free tickets for this which give access to the VIP lounge as well. These are available to any member but they will only allocate them to me on a named basis - if anyone is interested let me know your name and I will obtain a PDF document which acts as a ticket but only for the person named on the ticket. Snowsport England need to have names by 23 October. There will be a SSE stand at the show please encourage your members to come across and say hello – we are looking forward to seeing them.

On the Saturday afternoon of the show will be the annual club and volunteer awards. To nominate your club or one of your volunteers for one of the awards please go to:   http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/news/2012/09/snowsport-england-club-and-volunteer-awards-2012 a great opportunity to celebrate the great work being done by our clubs and volunteers.

3.AGM - a reminder that the WSC AGM is being held on Tuesday 13th November at The Honest Lawyer, Croxdale, Durham DH1 3SP. All members are welcome to this and we have changed the format to make it more interesting. The AGM will kept fairly brief and will be followed by an excellent slide show and talk by Stuart Gallagher on his recent trip to Antarctica, a slide show that has already received great acclaim - more details nearer the time.

4. Shelving - We are wanting to kit out the new garage with heavy duty shelving (Dexion racking or similar) so if anyone has any old heavy duty shelving or knows where we can get some cheap then please let me know.

5. Fence boards - We are getting very low on fencing boards for the snow fencing - if anyone has any suitable - ie old pallet boards or similar that we could use then lease let me know.

6. Finally I am sad to report the recent death of Ray Dent who many of you will remember from the early days of WSC. He used to run Glenwhelt Farm that you pass on the right halfway up to the slopes and now run by his son Ian (some of you will have been towed out of snow drifts by Ian!). Ray was very supportive when WSC was first set up (and also interestingly involved in setting up the Teesdale and Weardale search and mountain rescue). Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Steve

WSC work party cancelled and renewal update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Another good work party again on Sunday attended by 10 people

 

Due to adverse weather and a waterlogged fell the planned workparty on Wednesday 26th September has been cancelled.

On Sunday the weather favoured us with sun and low winds all day

Simon Palmer, Roman Ivanec and Fiona and Philip Kramer got another layer of bricks laid around the perimeter of the "New" garage to stop the snow getting in

Hugh Bence has fixed faults on both the KB and the Polaris- fantastic

Mike Leatherland continued with the grass cutting on the Pistes after welding up the bracket on the back of the Flail machine

Shane Court created a new fence/barrier on the North side of the bridge below F2 engine- this will stop the Piste Basher sliding off and some skiers in icy conditions

Steve Luard. Graham Harrison and Daniel Hibell did the final preparations for the new composting toilet system

Also the area around the lodge was tidied up of the scrap and timber

A last mention to Steve Gallagher who did a stirling job last week on cutting further large areas of grass not withstanding recovering from a hernia operation

Thanks to everyone for the hard work- without the volunteers this club would struggle to operate.

The slopes are looking good and we could cope with a dump of snow tomorrow

 

We do plan to have a mini workparty in the coming weeks to give the lodge and the toilets a major deep clean in preparation for the new toilets arriving in November as well as some fencing to do and other small jobs.

So anyone interesting/prepared to help please let me know. We have no dates fixed yet until we know when the toilet will arrive.

Membership is filling up fast- Remember we will be opening membership to all comers from early October. Any current members who renew by then will be guaranteed a place but after then it is on a "first come first served" basis and we will close membership once we reach 750. Current members must apply the discount code sent to them to avoid paying the £20 new members fee - please read the instructions sent out. When we open to new members I will send out further details and also put instructions on our new website - if you have not seen it yet have a look at www.skiweardale.com - any feedback please let me know.

Membership cards will be sent out in the next week or two to those who have already joined - apologies for the delays caused by holidays!

Steve

WSC work party, special promotion and update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

We had a successful work party today with about 15 of us there and managed to get all the hangars put on in preparation for winter, got the bulk of the pistes mown and a few other small jobs done. The weather was superb and the ground finally has dried out a little. There is still a lot to be done and the work planned for the next work party includes 1, Bricklaying around the base of the new garage 2, Rush cutting 3, More grass cutting 4, Snow fence repairs 5, Repairing the Rolba track 6, Preparing the lodge for the new toilets. There are many other jobs also needed to be done so if you feel that you can help out with any of the above please come and join us.


Sunderland snow sports centre at Silksworth have currently got some promotions on - 2 fliers for them attached for those interested. They also are doing a ski and board service for £10....grind,edge and wax - recommended by one of our members.

One of our members who wrote an article in our newsletter about skiing and boarding in Bulgaria has asked me to recommend this as a reasonably priced holiday and suggests looking at the link below. Could be an option for a cheapish main holiday or perhaps for that last minute second trip!
http://www.balkanholidays.co.uk/winter_ski_holidays/index.html?af=ms_400

Steve

WSC renewals and work parties

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

WSC membership has opened to existing members using the new online system and is proving very easy and quick using Sportident with approximately 100 members renewing in the last few days. When renewing please follow the instructions sent out to you and remember to  ensure that "noreply@sientries.co.uk" is on your safe sender list as all future communications will be to this address. We are currently only accepting renewals from existing members but early in October we will open to new members. I will send out instructions on how to join via this email for new members in October and we will also post details on the www.skiweardale.com website.

If any current members have not received instructions on how to renew please let me know but first check your junk/spam box to ensure it has not been sent there.

For those who have joined you will be receiving your membership cards through the post as in previous years but there will be a delay of a few weeks due to delays in getting the cards printed (we are awaiting confirmation whether Nevisport will sponsor them as in previous years but Peter's retirement has caused delays) and also due to the membership secretary going on holiday!

Work parties are planned for Sunday 9th September (Tomorrow), Sunday 23rd September and Wednesday 26th September and there is lots of work to be done (some semi-skilled and some simple manual work - fence repairs, drainage, stone-picking etc). Anyone with mechanical skills would be especially useful as there is work to be done repairing the tracked vehicle amongst other machinery. Carpentry skills will also be useful as we are preparing the lodge to install a new toilet system.

Hopefully see some of you tomorrow. Work parties start at 10am meeting in the carpark but if you turn up later we should be easy to find! There may be delays driving through Stanhope as the show is on this weekend.

Steve

Ski club renewals and work parties

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

September is looming and as the weather cools down and the first frost of the autumn has arrived what better time to turn our thoughts back to skiing!

WSC membership renewals are due from the first of September and this year we are moving over to "On-Line" renewal using a company called Sportident. For those of you who are involved in cycling, running, orienteering events etc you will know sportident who have been around for many years and are very experienced in this field. We haven't quite finalised the details yet but as soon as they are I will email out instructions which are very simple indeed and easier than the traditional way of renewing.Current members will be able to renew in September and will be guaranteed a place if they get their applications in by the end of September. From early in October we will open membership to all-comers on a first come first served basis. Membership will be limited to 750 as previously so once this number is reached we will close membership.

We are also holding 3 work parties in September where the bulk of the preparatory work will be done including fence repairs, drainage, putting the hangars back on etc. One of our main projects this year is to upgrade the toilets in the lodge and we have ordered a composting system and hope to make a start preparing the area before installing the new system. We will need help doing this and if any of you have carpentry or plumbing skills your help would be much appreciated. For those with no particular skills there is still much work to be done so please come along and join us. The dates we have are Sunday 9th September, Sunday 23rd September and Wednesday 26th September all starting at 10am. We may also need a further work party in October but if so I will email out details.

If you plan to attend a work party please will you email me so that we have an idea of numbers and also let me know if you have any particular skills that will be useful as we may be able to allocate specific jobs on the basis of available skills.

Hope to see as many of you as possible in September and details about renewal will be emailed in the near future and also available on the website.

Steve