Snowsports Club: Ski Captain

During the winter of 2020/21 I was lucky enough to live in Kitzbühel, Austria, originally there to work as a ski instructor. This unfortunately fell through due to the ongoing covid crisis. I did however find myself training alongside many accomplished athletes and fully immersed myself in the ski community. I’m a qualified level 1 dry slope instructor, and an avid snowboarder. It’s because of this background that I think I’m best suited for this role; I have a passion for the sport and the people that it brings together. During this academic year I have thrown myself at every given opportunity, attending most trainings, socials, and races (often hungover and/or still drunk). I have a wealth of ideas that I know would help everyone individually and thus the team as a whole. These include finding a permanent coach, building a structured format for each week’s training and the inclusion of video feedback every other week. These ideas will help improve everyone’s technique as speed in racing comes from good technique and not the other way round. I would vary the range of our training by going on ski weekends to Scotland’s natural ski resorts, more indoor ski slope training, off slope training and exercise including yoga, hiking and trampolining. I’d also like to include inter-university ski team training sessions to expand our social network. Lastly, I would organise beginner lessons to encourage new members to join our society and to join us on the ski trip.

Hi, I’m Ellen. I’ll be in my 4th year at UCL next year, having been a member of the society and the skit team for the past 3 years. I’ve especially enjoyed this past year in Snowsports because of the fun and friendly environment. It feels like a little family, everyone is really welcoming and getting involved has been great. That’s why it was an easy decision for me to run for ski captain this year.

I have a lot of experience with slalom racing as I raced in secondary school, and in both my first and third year at UCL. I’ve come to all races this year (asides from when I had covid) and been an active member of the team. It’s safe to say I have a good grasp on how the races work and what it takes to be a good captain. I’m also a qualified ski instructor, so have a lot of exercises and ideas to share with the team.

Aims as captain:

- Increase the technical exercises during training sessions to make us pro skiers.

- New equipment. Ideally, some new dry slope skis though a few new pairs of poles would definitely be useful, especially since the consistent trainings have seen a lot of people learn to cross block. This would also ease the ruthless fight for poles at races… 

- Ski sharpening before races to give us the extra edge.

- More joint border and ski trainings.

- Maintain a friendly, fun and welcoming ski team

- Retain our title as reigning women’s southern champions!!!!

- And BEAT SURREY IN MIXED!

Hi, I’m Olly, a first year History student.

Since joining UCL, I have signed up to three different societies: football, tennis and snowsports. By far and away, snowsports has made me feel most at home and welcomed within the club. Through trainings, competitions and, albeit, a limited number of socials, I have grown to love snowsports and all things associated with it even more than I did before uni.

At the start of the year, I was a complete newbie to slalom racing and, having not done it since the age of six, a little out of practice when it came to dry slope skiing. However, after attending nearly every training session of the year, dry slope slalom racing has become my new favourite sport, and I would love to have the chance to share my enthusiasm for the sport in the role of Ski Captain.

As Ski Captain, I would endeavour to push the team to even more success whilst also maintaining a fun and welcoming culture so that people of all abilities feel confident to enjoy the opportunities of skiing. Even though I am definitely not the fastest skier at the club, I believe I would be suited to the role of Ski Captain. I have captained sports teams before, and I also possess the organisational skills that would mean members’ experience of snowsports would be as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Alongside the other committee members, I would strive to make the next academic year for snowsports even bigger and better than ever before!