Ski offers

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

The snow arrived and then went without any opportunity to ski (apart from one board member who bagged the first run of the season whilst up at a work party!) but at least it is a start and we don't often get any skiing in November.

A couple of ski offers are currently on in addition to the "lock in" at LD Mountain Centre tomorrow night (Wednesday 25th).

https://www.glisshop.co.uk/ - glisshop have 20% off until midnight 26th Nov - their prices are usually competitive and delivery prompt on the one occasion I have used them.

http://www.ekosport.co.uk/ - they are having a 20% discount until midnight on Friday 29th Nov. I haven't used ekosport but another board member has and found them efficient and cheap.

Steve

Snow forecast and a couple of events

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Hi everyone. Winter is finally on its way and we have already had a thin covering of snow at Swinhope with more predicted this weekend on Friday night and Saturday morning. A total of 4cm is predicted but accompanied by high winds and falling on very wet ground so it is unlikely we will be able to ski this weekend but keep an eye on the webcam and answerphone in case it is better than expected. For those prepared to travel, Cairngorm are expecting 20+ cm snow according to snow-forecast.com.

There are a couple of events coming up that might be of interest to members. LD Mountain centre in Newcastle are having a "lock in" next Wednesday 25th November from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. They will be offering mulled wine and food, ski/board maintenance demos, freebies, prizes and discounts on top of the usual 10% discount to WSC members (remember to take your card).

Also on Friday 27th November at Silksworth in Sunderland there is a ski testing event costing £7 from 6-9pm. Rossignol, Dynastar and Salomom will all be there with others possible and they will have a good variety of skis including all mountain skis which you will all be able to test. They will also have  one of the top boot fitters in the country, Keith Yeoman, present.

Steve

WSC AGM Monday 9th November

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Just a reminder that the WSC AGM is being held tomorrow in The Honest Lawyer, Croxdale, Durham at 8pm. The meeting hopefully will be fairly short and is followed by a presentation on The Appalachian Trail by Steve Dendle. All members welcome.

Steve

Outstanding jobs and discount afternoon/evening

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Hi Everyone,

Hope you have enjoyed the glorious weather over the last week or so - summer eventually did arrive 3 months late! Membership renewals are flying in and preparations are going well for the new season. There are however quite a few outstanding jobs that we would like to complete before the season starts and I have copied a list of them below. We are hoping to get at least one board member to oversee each job and gather a few volunteers to complete them. Depending on availability of volunteers these "mini work parties" may be mid week or weekends. If you feel that you are able to help with any of the tasks then can you please email me your preference and availability and I will try and coordinate the groups and forward your contact to the group leader.

1)      F1& F2  hangers to be fitted   Kevin/Kimberly +3 volunteers  (aprox 4hours)

2)      Complete grass cutting when mower is repaired ML +Ian Dowson or SG if available(approx 3 hours)

3)      Polaris- possible fuel issue +flat battery  1 volunteer (1 hour?)

4)      PB 200 fit/adjust squealing belts+check over. Hugh Bense?/1 volunteer

5)      Fit new safety hoops to F2 & some of F1 pylons 2 volunteers (aprox 4 hours)

6)      Change running gear wheels(flat spots) F2 Pylon 5 2 volunteers

7)      Concrete ramp for new shutter door 2 volunteers (aprox1hour)

8)      Demolish old generator hut /make concrete pad for new big generator 2/3 volunteers (3hours)

9)      Tidy lodge garage and remove rubbish                                                                             

10)   Fit restraining chain to F1 fuel cover to prevent entrapment of fuel feed pipe}

11)   Remove any old wood/ fencing etc off fell                         

  2 volunteers (3hours)

12)   Spread 10? Tons gravel around new garage entrance                                               

13)   Fit electric supply and power circuit from new generator to lodge and fit  high level heaters(to be discussed). KM/or electrician?+1?(aprox5 hours?)

Discount at Mountain Warehouse, Richmond

On Thursday 22nd October from 3pm - 8pm they are offering everyone who comes into Mountain Warehouse, Richmond store, an additional 20% off everything within the store.
The 20% offer can not be used in conjunction with any other discount, offered all year round by the company.

Steve

Saturday's work party

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

We had a good work party today with about 12 or 14 there and very pleasant weather. Thanks to all those who turned up. It was a successful day and we now have both F1 and F2 running smoothly, the hangars have all been serviced along with the running gear, more fencing has been completed and most of the old fences removed and we have put a new drain in outside the new garage along with many other jobs. We have no more planned work parties but there is still work to be done so will be having a few more informal, possibly mid week trips up there and if we need any help I will post a message.

Membership is well and truly filling up and we are over half full and soon open to those on our waiting list. Existing members should renew fairly soon if they wish to have guaranteed membership.

Steve

Work party Saturday 26th SEPTEMBER

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Just a reminder that the last formal ski club work party is being held this Saturday 26th September (not October as in the newsletter). There is still a great deal of work to be done before we can open for the season so we need as many members as possible.Meet at the car park at 10am and bring warm clothes, good footwear and packed lunch.

Membership renewals are coming in thick and fast. For those who have renewed in the last 2 weeks and haven't yet received their cards do not panic as the membership secretary has now returned from a 2 week holiday so will get them sent out in the next few days. A reminder of the process for membership as this has altered slightly from previous years. Current members can renew now and are guaranteed a place if they renew before the end of September. From 1st October we are opening up to those who were on our waiting list and then towards the end of October we will open membership to new members if we are not full. Please note that membership has been full in the last few seasons and we have closed well before the skiing starts. There is also a joining fee of £10 for new members and this also applies to existing members if they leave renewal until after the end of October. Long range forecasts are predicting a very strong El Nino effect this year and are talking about the coldest winter since 1960 (seem to have heard that before but you never know one of these years they may be right!)

Finally LD Mountain Centre, Newcastle, are having a one off sale tomorrow night (Wednesday 23 Sept from 5-9pm)  where they are selling off £500,000 stock at half price. I think this is selected stock from last season and not all their stock, but everything being offered is reduced by 50%.

Steve

Work party Sunday 13th September

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Welcome to the start of the new ski season and what better way to celebrate than joining us at one of the 2 planned work parties this month. The first is on Sunday 13th September followed by Saturday 26th September. We meet at the car park around 10am and there are jobs to suit all abilities. These work parties are crucial to the running of WSC,otherwise all the maintenance work, renewal, ditching, fence repairs, servicing etc would not get done and it your opportunity to give something back to your club and they are generally good fun as well. Please bring warm clothing, a packed lunch, sturdy shoes or boots and a good sense of humour.

Membership renewal is well underway. Current members get priority and are guaranteed renewal if they apply before the end of September - you should have received an email from Sportident already - if not look in your spam/junk box. People who are on our current waiting list will get an invite to join on 1st October and on the 1st November we will open to all comers. For new members there is a one off joining fee of £10 which does not apply to current members as long as they renew before the end of October. This fee only applies to new adult members.

 

Of interest to some members might be the Arctic Marathon 2016 -this will take place from 26th Feb - 2nd March 2016 and involves backcountry skiing 26.2miles over trails specifically created by Abisko rangers in the magical wilderness of Lapland, staying in remote mountain huts along the way. For more details go to www.walkthewalk.org

Steve