Race training in Holland

AVON Ski Club has just returned from a weekend of race training in Holland.

Not known for its hills, Holland has the largest indoor skidome in the world, Landgraaf, situated just outside Maastricht.

Having travelled overnight, the nine team members and four adults arrived in time for breakfast, a quick change and then straight into the first two hour training session.

Over the three days, the team were able to train on a specially prepared FIS standard training slope, which in real terms means a sheet of ice.

Training alongside the Swiss women’s Europa League team and the two Swiss junior teams, as well as teams from Spain and Germany was a real eye opener, and the team learnt as much by watching as they did by putting the training drills into practice.

The team trained for four hours a day on the training slope and up to another two/three hours on the practice slope each day.

Skiing was mixed in with gym work in the superbly equipped Snoworld Gym. Staying on site in the hotel meant the time spent in the centre was maximised.

This is the second year that ASC has taken a team to train in Landgraaf, and after this year’s successful session, are already planning for next year.

Many thanks to the coaches/drivers and course setters Peter Kennel and Fraser Black, without whom this trip couldn’t take place and especially to Fraser Black for making it affordable.