Apr 122013
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The chances of the north east of Scotland producing future Olympic champions in Freestyle Snowboarding and Skiing are set to increase dramatically with the recruitment of the UK’s first specialist development coach in those particular disciplines.

Applications for newly created position of Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Development Coach for the area are now invited.

Garthdee Alpine Sports General Manager Dave Jacobs believes the successful applicant, who will commence his or her new role in June, will have a massive part to play in further developing a sport that already enjoys a substantial profile:

“Thanks to support from UK Sport, Aberdeen Snowsports Centre and The Aberdeen Snowsports Club, we have a fantastic opportunity to develop the sport through a programme that encompasses the use of available facilities in the locality as well as other sporting facilities to participate in a range of cross training activities.

“We anticipate interest from throughout the country and beyond and the successful candidate will develop, promote and run programme that will complement the objectives set out by the three supporting organisations. Having an individual dedicated to these disciplines can only improve the overall standard of our athletes and I am certain this will be reflected by our accomplishments in the years to come.”

 The potential referred to was underlined at the British Freestyle Championships in Tignes, France with six medals won as follows :-

Gold

Ben Kilner [snowboard] – men’s ½ pipe

Finlay Bremner [snowboard] x2 golds – youth ½ pipe and slope style

Silver

Grant Donald –[ski] men’s slopestyle

Abbie Dorwood – [snowboard] girls Slope Style

Bronze

Abbie Dorwood[snowboard] – girls ½ pipe

Finlay Jacobs[ski] – kids slope style

Other places

Finlay Jacobs[ski] – 6th Kids ½ pipe

Cameron Smith [snowboard] 7th Snowboard, Kids slope style, 8th Boarder Cross, 4th kids half pipe

Abbie Dorwood [snowboard] – snowboard cross 5th

Mar 092012
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Aberdeen Snowsports Centre Instructor Training is a course designed to take applicants from recreational level participant to that of professional instructor in six weeks.
The training is geared toward creating employment in the growing snowsports industry locally and further afield.

The course will be held at Garthdee on Tuesdays from 5th May and it’s open to competent, knowledgeable skiers and snowboarders over 16 with an outgoing personalities and a willingness to learn.

Successful candidates will be able to become instructors at the Centre or develop their career within the National Recognised system.

This will be the centre’s fourth course delivered by highly-experienced qualified full time coaches, this time offering a revised syllabus covering personal performance improvement as well as teaching and instructional techniques.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking for a new career or experience in the snowsports industry and a rare chance to train locally rather than undertaking expensive tuition abroad. Previous participants have gone on to train further and live the dream of instructing abroad. The course has proved popular with working professionals who enjoy the release of instructing after a hard day at the office.

Past successful trainees include:

Neil Cameron (39), Casual Snowboard Instructor

“I was a nervous applicant and was persuaded to come on the course by the guys at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre.  The tuition was excellent and really improved my riding enabling me to understand how to use my board better and definitely made me a more accomplished rider. The skills given to me on the rookie course made the BASI Level 1 much easier and now I have the fun of teaching others to ride”

Jody Taylor (33), Casual Ski Instructor

“Through training on the Rookie Course last year the coaches have taken me from being able to get down a mountain to turning me into a skier. I now not only work at the slopes frequently, I met a great bunch of people along the way and the course has boosted my confidence no end!”

Joe Service (26), Casual Snowboard Instructor

“The snowboard rookie course is a great opportunity to develop your skills as a rider, develop your social life as a rider, and develop at the Centre as an instructor with the on-going instructor training.”

Further details and application forms are available from Aberdeen Snowsports Centre or online at: www.aberdeensnowsports.com

The deadline for application is Friday 6 April.

Oct 202011
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

All roads lead to Garthdee this weekend when Aberdeen Snowsports Centre hosts the latest of its extremely popular Open Days, with a variety of activities planned for all the family.

This Saturday 22nd October is the date for the diary when visitors will be able to take advantage of  ‘Come and Try’ sessions in skiing, snowboarding and tubing at a discounted cost of just £2 per session.

Demand for these sessions is expected to be extremely high and advance booking is required.

Other entertainment on offer includes BBQ, a host of stalls, and a bouncy castle for the younger family members. Another attraction will be the centre’s Own It skiing competition, part of the lowlander series.

The Open Day runs from 10 am until 5 pm and further information is available on www.aberdeensnowsports.com or by calling 01224 810215.

Elsewhere in Aberdeen this weekend, the Ever popular Spike the talking cactus  will be appearing in his usual spot in the David Welch Winter Gardens within Duthie Park.

Spike will be available for a chat from 12.00 pm to 4.00pm  on Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd October.