TDCski’s Steve Angus @ Hemel Snow Centre

TDCski coach Steve Angus at Hemel Snow Centre

Catch up with Steve, dust off the ski boots, and get involved in some clinics.

Steve will be there there all day and will run a variety of clinics and / or private training sessions depending on who signs up for the day.

Great opportunity to get the ski legs working during the summer months.

Dates 2014

Saturday 21st June
Saturday 12th July (Olivia and Clare probably coming with me too!. Please note that there is a freestyle event on in the evening that day so there will be slightly limited slope space so it will not be a day for long turn carving!)
Saturday 30th August
Saturday 27th September
Saturday 11th October

New dates may be added at a later dates AND other dates may be available on request…. please email [email protected]

What’s the plan?

Each session: 3.5 hours long and comprises approx 2.5 hours on slope followed by video time. The ‘start’ time for the sessions on each day will be 9am, 1.30pm and 6pm (provisional times – could shift a little). To be confirmed exactly.

Each session will be SMALL in size (participant wise to ensure a high level of training / feedback and ski time), minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 people per session.

Prices?

Please pay in cash on the day (A credit card number may be required in advance to hold the booking!) it will be £60 for a morning / afternoon session or £40 for the evening session. If you would like to attend the whole day then it will be £120 per day.

If any TDCski client would like a private session this is offered on the same days special prices of £60 for the first hour and £15 each hour thereafter of 1-1 private coaching.

Lift Pass is not included in these prices – that will need to be organised by the individual.

For further information and to book then please email [email protected]

TDC coach Steve Angus at Hemel Snow Centre in the UK

Ski with TDC – in the UK Snowdomes

Get your skis on before it snows…Hemel Snow Centre

What’s On: Piste performance and All Terrain clinics at Hemel Snow Centre.

What do you do?: 3 hours on snow training plus video analysis time.

When: Clinics run from 4-9pm on Saturday evenings
Saturday 14th September – afternoon / evening
Saturday 28th September – afternoon / evening
Saturday 5th October – afternoon / evening
Saturday 19th October – afternoon / evening

Meet TDC coach Steve from 4pm…. ski from 4.30-6.30pm, coffee break, then 6.30-8pm back on snow. Followed by video analysis then depart for 9pm.

Technical content tailored to individuals needs and wants.

You should be able to ski confidently on a blue run. Equally you could have a high level of performance and still develop your skills and understanding during these sessions.

Cost: £75 per clinic with a reduced rate of £60 if you book a second session. Price includes – slope entry fee, lift pass, equipment hire, coaching.
Min of 2 and max of 4 people a session.

Après-Ski: Video analysis and performance development discussion

Booking: contact Steve Angus on [email protected]

Great Spring Skiing Deals to be had in Val d’Isere

Spring '13 Tignes — An early Easter, and plentiful snow, means great conditions this Spring

Those that can be flexible will get the best ski deals this Spring.
Every end of ski season is different, we have to consider the weather, the snow, the date of Easter.
All these factors will make a difference as to whether there will be good deals to be had at the end of the season.
And this season all the factors are lined up for some great skiing and great deals.

For a lot of people the normal winter ski season, runs until Easter, and then their minds start to think of different activities, weekends away, going to a beach, enjoying the longer evenings that spring provides. But for the keen skier your mind must still be drawn to the mountains, the search for spring snow, the slip-slap-slop of sun cream, the much milder temperatures, the outside lunches, the beer at the end of the day sitting out in the evening sunshine.

Spring Fling Clinics Val d'Isere — Great Ski Deals – TDC is doing a discounted 5 half day “Spring Fling Clinic”

Of course each year the date of Easter changes, as much as a month of difference can be had from year to year.
2013 Easter is quite early, which means that as of this coming weekend (13th April), all the major holidays are over.
However with the snow that the Alps have been having, the snow conditions are about as good as they get. Never mind just looking for “spring snow”, there is still fresh powder to be skied.

Resorts, like Val d’Isere and Tignes, are high. So there is always a great snow record, right until the very end of the season. Because of this, the ski lifts in Val d’Isere and Tignes are not scheduled to stop running their normal service until May.

An early Easter, plentiful snow, and ski resorts that are still geared up and ready to go, means that there is an opportunity to enjoy a fantastic holiday, with a great deal thrown in.

Chalet Companies and Ski Schools alike are offering a range of great deals. TDC is doing a discounted “Spring Fling Clinic” – 15th-19th April & 22nd-26th April 2013.

Have a look at some of the deals the are offer from the Travel companies in Val d’Isere.
VIP Ski, YSE Vald’Isere, Fish & Pips, Scott Dunn, Consensio, and Mountain Rooms, to name but a few.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Spring Fling Discount Ski Lessons April Val d’Isere

Spring Ski Training in Val d’Isere

For 2013 TDC will be offering our Spring Fling Clinics.

TDC Val d’Isere‘s spring ski clinics are a great way to finish your season on a high.

Val d’Isere has had an amazing snow record this season and the lifts here are open until the first weekend of May.

15th – 19th April 2013 in Val d’Isere

22nd – 26th April 2013 in Val d’Isere

5 half days; Price 275€

spring skiing vald'isere — Spring Fling Val d’Isere

Clinic Details 1-8 people,

0900-1200 or 1300-1600

3 Levels – Development – Development Plus – Challenges

Want to know more about the levels?

Unrivalled prices – €100 less than Mid Winter prices.

Spring skiing is a different experience; warm temperatures, and a traditional melt freeze cycle that will give you some of the best and most varied skiing possible. If the mountains don’t get a melt freeze cycle then that is normally because there is a late season snow storm, either way it makes for great conditions.

The spring clinics have been very popular and are at discounted prices.

TDC‘s successful clinic format, is a small group lesson with lots of personal feedback from the instructor.

Get the best ski improvement courses this spring, improve your ski technique so that you finish the season at your best.

Email us now

if you want to book your place, or book online.

Book your ski lessons online now.

Ski Instructor Training in Tignes: Où est le soleil?

Ski Club of Great Britain member Tessa Regan is in Tignes for a ‘gap-year’ – saying goodbye to city life and hello to sun, snow and seasonnaires… better late than never!

Constant snow makes learning to become a ski instructor tricky!

Off-piste instruction

Greetings from Tignes, where I am now 6 weeks into my 10-week Gapski ski instructor training course. In the last 2 weeks we have been continuing our training both on and off-piste and learning to become competent and confident skiers in all conditions and on all types of terrain. This has been particularly testing as we have had a very long run of snowy days with bad visibility – great news for the snow depth and quality, but very difficult for us poor trainee ski instructors trying to improve our skiing. Personally, as soon as the visibility goes I start sitting back on my skis and skiing defensively. ‘Don’t try to see, just feel the contours of the slope with your skis’ says our instructor. Sound advice and I only wish I could programme my head to think that way, but I have certainly not been feeling the love as I try to ski a bump field that I can’t see. However, this is an aspect of our skiing that we all need to overcome and hopefully I will get there in the end. It has certainly made us appreciate the few sunny periods that we have had and has probably made us ski better too.

Enjoying the powder

This week my husband came to visit and has been helping me on our ski practice days. He arrived during one of our video analysis sessions, so was able to see for himself exactly which areas of my skiing I need to improve. In particular I need to work on skiing more aggressively straight down the fall line when off-piste, especially in the crud or on bumps, so my hubby has been helping me by shouting ‘turn!’ at very rapid intervals, to stop me from meandering across the slope in between turns. Personally I think he has just been enjoying the unfamiliar feeling of having me do what he tells me!

So only 2 weeks of training left (eek!) until we begin our BASI Level 2 assessment and we are all anxiously wondering whether we will make the grade. Last night we had an impromptu party in the Big Brother house, for no particular reason other than the fact that we have all been working very hard and probably needed to let our hair down a bit, but a good time was had by all – for me it was just like being a student again! Back to work tomorrow though, as our quest for BASI Level 2 continues…

Snow Swappers is a holiday swapping service for people that own property in ski resorts around the world. Membership is free of charge for the first year and there are chalets and apartments available to swap now in both Europe and North America.

TDC and RAC Winter Driving Kit Giveaway

So it’s not just the Alps getting blanketed in snow – snow has fallen across the UK recently creating some picturesque views and great sledging opportunities for kids (and plenty of adults I’m sure) across the country.

But whether you’re in the UK or driving around up a mountain in Europe, snow and ice create extremely treacherous conditions. To help you out we’ve teamed up the RAC, the breakdown cover specialists, to offer you a chance to win a winter driving kit full of useful stuff when you’re out driving during winter.

To find some great tips on safe winter driving head over to the RAC’s advice centre

To win all you need to do is use the widget below to like the TDCski Facebook page, like the RAC Facebookpage, follow TDCski on Twitter, or Tweet about this great give away.
If you want why not enter all 4 ways and give yourself 4 times the chances of winning!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winning Prize can only be shipped to a UK postal address.

How To Ski – Overview Videos – Have a look…

In our previous post we launched the new How To Ski App for iPhone.

Watch the Overview Videos…

The App was launched pre Christmas – with a view to getting a few copies of the App out there as stocking fillers. Which worked well.
Now that the holidays are over and the Winter is in full swing, it is time to get those ski legs working, and to see if it is possible to simply improve your skiing.
One of the reasons that we decided to launch an Phone App was in order to gather together some, what are at times quite simple but fundamental ideas about how to ski, and present them to you with the use of Video.
What makes this even more convenient is that now with the advent of smart phones just about everyone has a mini HD video player right there in their pocket.

The How To Ski App has all the videos downloaded on to your phone, so there is no need to have an internet connection, or feel that you are risking using up data connection charges.
All the Videos are there on your phone and ready to watch.
You can watch them at home, in the chalet, on the chairlift or in your favorite restaurant.

Video Ski Lessons — Something For Every Skier

Since our initial launch, we have have some great feedback about the clarity of the presented information.
We have also been asked for the possibility of some preview videos, for those that might be a little more hesitant about what they are buying.

So we have released the Overview videos, to let you see what you will be learning.
We have divided up in to four areas which you can choose to work on as you prefer.

Stronger, Easier Parallel Turns – watch the overview video now..
Cleaner Carving – watch the overview video now…
Steeper and Narrower – watch the overview video now…
Improve Your Bumps – watch the overview video now…

We hope that you enjoy the Videos, and you like the App. We are always keen to get some feedback, so let us know what you think.

Colin – TDCski & How To Ski App for iPhone

How To Ski App for iPhone

How To Ski is the first in a new series of Apps designed to give the everyday recreational skier a simple, accessible and value for money way to improve their skiing.

The How To Ski app offers viewers 12 simple and easy to understand videos answering the question, ‘how do I ski better?’

Tackling the most common problems, and some of the most commonly asked questions, this new app has been designed and created by two ski instructors at the top of their game, Colin Tanner and Giles Lewis.

What Ever Level of Skier You Are This App Will Help You Ski Better

Colin Tanner comments, “I’ve skied back to back winters for many years, in France and New Zealand, and together with Giles’ experience we came up with the most important and universally helpful ski improvement techniques for this app. Whatever level of skier you are, there will be a tip to help.”

Four sections, Stronger and Easier Parallels, Cleaner Carving, Steeper and Narrowerand Improve your Bumps with an overview and three videos within each section make up this first How To Ski app. The videos can be watched on their own or in conjunction with others, there is no start/finish point.

Stronger and Easier Parallels, Cleaner Carving, Steeper and Narrower and Improve your Bumps

Designed to be watched in the restaurant, on the slopes or in the lifts, the information and footage on the app offers a short, simple and effective focus to implement when on snow, a pocket instructor!

The How To Ski video lessons have been professionally filmed and edited using visually exciting and stimulating images with crisp and clear audio.

Download How To Ski costing just UK £2.99, US $4.99

Improve Your Skiing

Our many years of experience working with recreational skiers has allowed us to carefully select the content for this app. The four main sections reflect areas of ski technique that often frustrate keen skiers and frequently require development in our clients.

Overview
Each Section has an overview, this has two functions, firstly it allows you to see how the three lessons fit into the wider context of the section heading. Secondly it allows you to briefly preview the lessons and then select the most appropriate to your needs.

Video lessons
Each lesson is designed to be watched at home, on the slopes, in the restaurant, on the lift. The information and footage gives you a simple, effective focus to implement into your skiing. Your confidence and technique will improve as you revisit the lesson as many times as you choose. Keep your own private instructor in your pocket and progress at your own pace.

Simple Video Lessons on your iPhone

INTERVIEW WITH A PRO AT FRONTIER’S TIGNES SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Frontier is launching a fantastic new Ski Instructor Course at the world famous Tignes resort in the French Alps. Today we speak to James Stewart-Hunter, an instructor at the resort, who tells us all about this amazing opportunity and why Tignes is the place to be to learn your trade as an instructor.

Into The Wild: Why should people learn to become a ski instructor rather than work in hospitality or on a ski lift for a season?

James: Working as a ski instructor has many benefits over any other job. You get to experience the mountain in all conditions, whether it is beautiful sunny weather or bucketing down with snow it is always different. You get to meet loads of new people and help them become better skiers and often tackle major obstacles with them. This can be massively rewarding and huge amounts of fun at the same time. Life is fast and ever changing as a ski instructor.

Into The Wild: What’s the best thing about doing a ski season?

James: The best thing about doing a ski season firstly is the snow and 6 months of skiing! Secondly, it is being surrounded by like-minded people who have all come together for a love of skiing. Whether they are on holiday or working for the season everyone has the same thing in common and that is a really unique experience.

Into The Wild: What made you want to become a ski instructor?

James: Mainly for my love of skiing but also because I love working in the outdoors with people.

Into The Wild: Where did you gain your qualifications and what did the training involve?

James: I gained my qualifications in a variety of places, Tignes, Zermatt, La Grave, Alpes D’huez. The training involved hard work, determination and the desire to really improve my skiing. The rest was great fun and a time in which I have made friends for life.

Into The Wild: What advice would you give anyone thinking of becoming a ski instructor?

James: Do it! It was the best decision I have ever made and I only wish I had chosen to do it earlier!!!

Into The Wild: How can gaining a ski instructor qualification benefit you even if you don’t plan to practice as an instructor full time?

James: Doing any level of ski instructor qualification gives you such an understanding of the fundamentals that make up good effective skiing that it will improve your own skiing more than simply doing any old course. It will enable you to impart your knowledge better to others, which can help outside the skiing arena. It will give you a better understanding of others’ needs.

Into The Wild: What would your alternative career choice have been?

James: I had planned to join the army but if I went back now I would still choose to become a ski instructor.

Into The Wild: What’s the best thing Frontier’s Tignes project has to offer?

James: The fact that it is in Tignes, one of the best ski areas in the world, has got to be high up there on the list. But I would say that it is the best value for money course on the market where everything is included, offering the highest quality out there.

Into The Wild: How long does the instructors course last?

James: 10 weeks.

Into The Wild: You’ve worked seasons in Val’d’Isère, Nendaz, and Zermatt, what sets Tignes apart from these other resorts?

James: It is a really friendly and relaxed environment, where everybody is a keen skier. The terrain is second to none and it has some of the most reliable snow records in Europe. There is great nightlife and hardly any travelling to do in town…it is all right there.

Into The Wild: What’s the weather like in Tignes?

James: The weather is usually big storms (bringing snow) followed by crystal clear cold days to perfect those goggle tans!

Into The Wild: Are there any towns or cities nearby to explore in your free-time?

James: The nearest towns are Val d’Isere which you can ski over to in about 20 minutes. There are also other ski resorts down the valley, the likes of Les Arc, La Plange, St Foy. The town at the bottom of the Valley is called Bourg St Maurice.

Into The Wild: Where do you dream of skiing next?

James: Anywhere that I can be dropped off by a helicopter and then ski bottomless powder snow all the way to the bottom!

Into The Wild: Finally we love to find out what’s on people’s bucket list. Tell us your top 3.

James:

1.   Raft down the Grand Canyon
2.   Run a Marathon
3.   To see the next ice age where the glaciers stop retreating and in fact grow (unlikely but you have to dream!)

Questions by Maria Sowter

To find out more information about Frontier’s Tignes Ski Instructor Course, as well as other opportunities for adventure travel and volunteering abroad, please visit the Frontier website.

TDC Ski Talk at Westfields, London 26th/27th October 2012

Improve your skiing today... — TDC Coach Joe Harkess

TDC Ski Talk at London Westfield shopping centre, Shepherds Bush this weekend.
Fancy coming to say hello?
Come join us…

• Friday, 12pm – Paul Garner – Ski Coach and BASI trainer from The Development Centre (TDC) Ski School – to talk about learning to ski and how to progress

• Saturday, 3.30pm – Steve Angus – Ski Coach from The Development Centre (TDC) Ski School – to talk about learning to ski and how to progress