National Schools Alpine Squad
What is the Squad?
When we started the NSSA, we were asked by many people if we would be running a squad for some of the kids. We resisted initially but soon came to see the benefit of a squad, selected in a fair and totally transparent way so this is what we did.
How and when do we select the squad?
Our programme director has been involved with numerous national teams and squad selection committees and we feel that it’s important, especially at the schools level, that the children, teachers, parents etc. have full visibility of how the squad is selected, using a selection policy with clear and transparent selection criteria published for all to see. This means that athletes know exactly what they need to achieve in order to be invited to the squad. There are no ‘behind closed doors meetings and the criteria are clear for all to see.
If a racer wins a medal in one of our qualifying events (These are listed in the event entry and on our social media at the beginning of each academic year) they are invited to take part as a squad member.
What is the required commitment?
In order to plan and to know we have a critical mass of squad members on a camp, we ask that all those who wish to take up their places on the squad commit to one UK orientation day and either one alpine camp or one Landgraaf camp during their tenure as a squad member.
In order to keep these camps as accessible as possible, and to ease demands on time off school, we try to run, as much as possible, during school holidays.
We also give the trainees a choice of camps to allow as many as possible to access this great opportunity.
Examples of Squad camps
February – British Schools Alpine Champs Camp
February – Half Term Squad Alpine Camp
March/April – Easter Squad Alpine Camp
May/June – Landgraaf Camp
2026 Eligible Events
The events from which we will select the squad for 2026 are below.
- National Schools Leagues Final – April – Gloucester
- English Schools Indoor Open Champs – April – The Snow Centre, Hemel
- Schools With Altitude Open Champs – April – The Snow Centre, Hemel
- Independent Schools Indoor Champs – June – The Snow Centre, Hemel
- British Schools Indoor Open Champs – June – The Snow Centre, Manchester
- National Schools Northern Indoor Champs – Sep – The Snow Centre, Manchester
- National Schools Outdoor Open – South, Sep – Chatham
- National Schools Southern Indoor Open – Sep – The Snow Centre, Hemel
- National Schools Outdoor Open – North. Nov – Silksworth
- UK National Schools Outdoor Open – Nov – Swadlincote
Please note
Please note – For the above events, if less than 150 competitors, medals will be given for individuals from 1st to 3rd place in the individual competition. For Events with 150 or more competitors, medals will be given from 1st to 5th place.
We also run some closed national champs for schools organisations. Due to the closed nature of these events and the fact that we have an inclusive selection criteria, we cannot select from these closed events. We will, however, dependent on numbers, offer status of ‘Invited to Train’ to medallists in these events.
Invited Racers will be those placed individually 1-3 in their age and gender (1-5 for races with over 150 participants.
For teams, 1st placed teams will be invited. In events with less skiers, where we take only the best 2 racers per school to score, all racers from the winning school will be invited
2026 – 27 Athletes invited to the squad
- From the National Schools Leagues Finals – 1 May ’26
- From the English Schools Indoor Open Champs – 27 Apr ’26
- From the Schools With Altitude National Indoor Champs – 11 May ’26
- From the Independent Schools Indoor Open Champs – 22 Jun ’26
- From the British Schools Indoor Open Champs – 29 Jun ’26
- From the National Schools Indoor Open, North – 21st Sep ’26
- From the National Schools Outdoor Open Champs, South – 26th Sep ’26
- From the National Schools Indoor Open Champs, South – 5th Oct ’26
The NSSA aims to be the go-to organisation for schools Snowsports in the UK.
Find out more and join us today!
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