Alpine All Stars – National Schools Race Leagues
We are very pleased to be moving forward through the current Covid situation with the introduction of the National Schools Race Leagues
This programme provides a nationally accessible competition framework for schools and individuals representing their schools whilst ensuring that events work within the current rules and guidelines from the government and sports governing bodies.
NSSA Partnerships Liaison, Dan Humphrey said: “We looked at how we can offer competitive events under the schools banner to those schools, athletes and parents that are clearly very keen to get back to the sport and to be able to offer this in a locally and safely accessible way”
“We believe the National Schools Leagues are a great way to do this, maintaining the ethos of participation and involvement that drives our other events”
What are the NSSA National Schools Race Leagues?
This is another initiative Alpine by the NSSA to get more children involved in snowsports to a competitive level and to offer events at a local level in order to increase accessibility. Open to all school-age children, the events will run regularly at numerous venues around the country – A list of venues that are partnering on this will be available by the October half term 2020
How does it work?
There will be a number of centres involved in the leagues and the events will run as below:
At each slope taking part, a course will be set and marked*. Then at least twice per term, the NSSA will run sessions at each slope. Sessions will be 1.5-2 hours long and include gate practice.
During each session, a small group of racers (number dependent on rules of the slope etc.) will attend and run training with our coaches, course inspection and 3 timed runs. These timed runs will be recorded and used toward the final combined results for each venue (fastest run to count) – likely to be around the summer half term.
Results for individuals will be available on our website and likely on GBski, updated on the Monday after each session.
There will be a National League finals during the early half of the summer term.
*Due to the need for the course to be the same and marked, the leagues will take place on dry slopes only.
The training will be technical and stubby gates – if we have a larger number of U14 and above and slope space allows, along with several staff available, we may run full gates during the training/warm up period.
Can I take part in more than one date/venue?
Absolutely! It is possible for anyone or any school to take part at any venue they wish and as many times as they wish. However, only their fastest time at each venue will count for the final result at that venue.
National Final
Those individuals that are at the top of each venue – the top 3 in each age and gender, using the fastest time across all heats (not at each individual heat) at that venue, will be invited to the national final, to be held after Easter break at a venue to be decided. The top 3 teams from each venue will also be invited, where available.
Who is it aimed at?
Skiers of all levels represent their school. They can be National level, club level, or just wishing to try racing. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A TEAM TO ENTER THESE EVENTS – INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES ARE ACCEPTED.
Where will it happen?
We have a number of slopes on board and are building this number each year. We will organise the sessions to begin each September, running through to Easter.
How do I get involved?
Dates and Venues are on this link We will be publishing dates and venues each year during the latter part of the summer term for the next academic year and entry will be online. To ensure that you are kept in the loop, please sign up for our newsletter at the link below, and follow us on social media. We can also be contacted at office@schoolssnowsports.co.uk
Newsletter Link
Further Information
The National Leagues are part of the NSSA mission to build participation in snowsports through schools and will be delivered at local ski centres across the UK throughout the school year, and we hope, to give many children their first experience of snowsports competition.
We envisage the leagues will continue and build through this year and will fit hand in hand with the NSSA national series which we hope will return next year (2021).
School Teams
Schools can enter as many pupils as they would like, across all dates and venues. There will be no team scoring per individual event but at the end of all events at a venue, the best pointed 3 skiers from each school will be taken as thge schools team for that venue and reflected in the final result for the venue. The teams placed 1-3 will be invited to the finals.
Can I Take Part as an Individual?
Those individuals who cannot get a team together will be more than welcome to take part in these races as part of the inclusive ethos of the NSSA.
How much does it cost?
The cost of entry will be similar to other races.
Further Information
Alpine All Stars will be delivered at local ski centres across the UK throughout the school year, giving some children their first experience of the sport and others an insight into where they can go within the sport.
From now, schools and parents can register their kids to take part by filling in our application form below or contacting
office@schoolssnowsports.co.uk
After registering and if selected, schools will receive information on their nearest centre and the options available to them.
They will then start a programme at their local participating centre, with the emphasis placed firmly on learning how to ski/board and developing the fundamental skills in a fun, safe and inclusive environment. Children will also learn the social development skills that the sport brings.
With the continued sessions, rather than a single taster session, we hope to develop snowsports as a habit, rather than a one off.
The NSSA aims to be the go-to organisation for schools Snowsports in the UK.
Find out more and join us today!
Thanks to our partners and sponsors
