"Advanced ski training designed to produce excellent young skiers"
Major Billy Patterson, Founder, AVSC
AVSC Junior Training information
Billy Patterson first organised race training for juniors in 1968. The club was a huge success and grew quickly thanks to the excellent instructors and Alpbach's ski racing heritage. From the mid 1970's onwards the club produced a string of boy and girl British Junior Champions with many of the racers going on to represent the UK at international level.
As ski racing has become an increasingly professional, full-time sport, the club has focused less on racing and more on all round skiing ability. The AVSC runs ski training weeks which build on the basis of ski school, but which go well beyond the traditional experience of learning to ski. Most importantly, the emphasis is placed on having fun within small friendly groups, being taught by high calibre English speaking instructors. Running primarily for a week during the February half term and a week during the Easter holidays, our junior training courses are open to children between the ages of 8 and 18. Trainees should be competent intermediates who are able to negotiate red runs. Beginners and tentative snowploughers should still be in regular ski school. Most importantly, trainees should have a keen, positive attitude. During the week the trainees experience the widest possible variety of snow and terrain within the limitations of their standard and the snow conditions. If the snow allows, the more experienced skiers will ski off piste with qualified guides. Less experienced groups will try more gentle unpisted slopes for which Alpbach is ideal. During the week they will all try the freestyle "half-pipe" as well as "snow-blading" where they use minature skis to learn the importance of balance and control. They use the whole mountain, finding the best snow as well as all the bumps and jumps, often showing their parents their own favourite routes at the end of the day. The week culminates in a giant slalom race which is held on a longer and more challenging piste than the ski school races. During the week the trainees practice the discipline of racing using both regular and "stubbie" slalom gates. There is also a weekly parallel slalom during which the trainees race amongst themselves as well as against their parents and siblings. This tends to bring out the competitive spirit between ski groups, generations and families! Video is taken of the groups during the week and replayed after skiing with the instructors giving valuable instruction. Lunch; the trainees all eat lunch in their groups, organised by their instructors at the Asthutte restaurant which is conveniently situated at the bottom of the triple chair "Gmahbahn.". A good hearty skiers lunch is included in the price of the course. Weather and time permitting, there is usually one picnic (snowball fight!) during the week. Timetable; the groups start earlier in the morning than the main ski schools so as to avoid any congestion, and of course to bag all the best snow, be it fresh snow or perfectly groomed pistes. The normal timetable is 9.30 to 3.00. Clothing; trainees must wear ski helmets as well as suitable, warm clothing and gloves. Insurance; trainees must have comprehensive skiing, medical and third party insurance which covers them to race in recreational competitions; NB: no seed points are awarded for any of the races which are run by the Alpbach SkI School on behalf of the AVSC. Instructors; All instructors are qualified and employed by the Alpbach Ski School under the guidance of Sepp Margreiter. Officers of the club; the junior training weeks are planned and co-ordinated by voluntary members of the club who operate as the AVSC Junior Training Committee. Please see the contacts page for details. Helpers needed We are looking for any former trainees who would like to help on the mountain for the training weeks. Simple things like being at the meeting points, providing information and helping liaison with the instructors. It may not pay well but would be a nice thing to put on a CV for future employment! Connys’ Sport discount for Members for Ski / Boot hire and in Conny’s shops in Alpbach and Inneralpbach. Conny’s Sport also offers a pre arrival reservation service for ski and boot hire www.connys.at/ Sepp’s Alpbach Ski School offers a discount for ski school or private lessons to AVSC members [email protected] www.skischule-alpbach.at. |
Upcoming Junior Training datesSee our Events page.
Membership: Families part-taking in Junior Training weeks are required to be AVSC members. Please see information on membership, including the application form and upload form here. Please send registration forms and enquiries via our contact form. |