Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Birthdays, Georgina Morris, Hotel Tenne, K, Kandahar Racing, Kandahar Ski Team, October half term, Robbie Jones, THE END!
Today marks the end of the first week of October 2008 training. Firstly an update on Robbie; he is back, live and kicking having slept for 17 hours in the past day.
Once again today we trained slalom, however, due to it being the weekend we were only able to use gates until 10.30 before the public moved in. The lift was also due to open earlier, but that plan soon fell though as we were still queuing at the normal opening time.
After skiing instead of normal fitness we went on the Rodelbobahn, which is basically a luge on rails. We often have a go on the last day as it is a quick and fun alternative to games. I wasn’t as scared a last year, when I went on with Will Cave and spent the entire run shouting ‘ahhh we’re going to die!’.
Luca - Kandahar Trainee
As I said yesterday this evening we marked not one, but three birthdays; Emily and Katie Wingrove’s whose birthday was today and also Matthew who’s birthday is tomorrow. Manuela insisted that we sung happy birthday 3 times to celebrate as well.
K Birthdays!
Well that really is the end, the end of the training week and also the end of this blog. Tomorrow we leave for the UK; not that this means that we can get up any later – no, 5.45 tomorrow! Luckily the clocks do fall back an hour!
Anyway enough about tomorrow, here ends the camp – Goodbye!
You can contact Ben Clatworthy using his email address – ben@benclatworthy.com or take a look at his website which is www.benclatworthy.com
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Crash, Georgina Morris, Helicopter, Hospital, K, Kandahar Ski Team, Robbie Jones, Saas Fee, Ski, Switzerland
Today the Kandahar lost two of its trainees, one until tomorrow and one for a little longer. Ali left with his parents’ after falling badly ill earlier in the week, and Robbie, well he is a whole different story.
We were all set for the planned slalom race – the course was set and all that was left to do was to set up the timing. Suddenly both of the trainers disappeared, where could they have gone? The only thing we could think may have happened is that they were helping someone who had fallen on the other side of the piste and was barricaded by skis in the form of a cross.
Finally Jas reappeared, and we found out that the mystery person that had disappeared was Robbie Jones, who had crashed into a snowboarder and had concussed himself. Moments later we heard a whirling sound, but this time it wasn’t the Swiss team training, no, this was a helicopter to take Robbie to hospital in Visp. Rob Webb, coach, also went to hospital with him, but was already back in the restaurant by lunch! He said, ‘that the best bit was taking off’.
The Kandahar would like to wish Robbie a fast recovery and hope to see him again tomorrow.
Today was just one of those hectic days with Rob away from the hill and only Jas left to train all of us.
There was more blood at fitness as Matthew turned up with a cut hand and regardless got on with playing football and rugby, literally wiping blood all over us – he was soon sent off!
That’s all for tonight as, we come to the end a very chaotic day here in Saas Fee. Tomorrow is our last day of training on the glacier and will also mark the last entry to this blog. So just to keep suspense and keep you reading, I won’t give you any inside information on the plans for tomorrow. All I can say is that there 4 birthdays in the next few days; so maybe, Kanda-party!?!
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Fitness, Georgina Morris, Gondola, Hotel Tenne, K, Kandahar Ski Team, Saas Fee, Slalom, Train
Last night the cloud closed in on Saas Fee and at long last the forecast snow arrived! This morning when we were out running there were puddles of water, meaning only one thing, it would have snowed on the Glacier.
The could in the valley
Today our trip up to the slopes was some what eventful, before I had even got out the hotel I had fallen over in the bathroom. The lift men were cramming people into each gondola cabin, making sure that everyone was as tightly squeezed as possible before slamming the doors and sending us on our way. The train was equally as busy, and by the time Alex and I made it through the doors to the platform the train was fully packed, leaving us standing on their to wait for the next train. This wouldn’t have been bad, except behind the massive glass sliding doors were hundreds of eyes looking at us wondering why we were still there. Once finally on board (again with no room to breath) we stood waiting for the doors to close and the train to depart, as normal. As the train chugged up the tracks I was looking out of the window at the hundreds of steps that one would have to walk down if the train was to break. Just as we were approaching the top the train ground to a halt, shunted forward stopped and we were left in the darkness. A few moments later the PA system piped up, first in Swiss German and then the announcement was repeated in English ‘We are currently experiencing technical difficulties, we are doing our best to get underway in a few moment – we thank you for your understanding’, lets be honest I wasn’t ‘understanding’ and really I only wanted to get going again. Suddenly the small voice of Oliver Ricceri calls out ‘What’s going on Ben?’ – Like I knew!! Finally the train jumped forward and started off again; so glad we didn’t have to walk up all those steps!
Fresh Snow!
Today we raced Slalom, for some this would be their first ever time in a slalom course. Once Jas and Rob had finished setting up the timing (and in Rob’s case trying to stop the printer printing reams of paper) we were ready to race. Robbie was to go first, one gate, two gates, out! Robbie became the first victim of the course – not that he would be the last; in fact by the end of the first 5 racers only 2 had completed. Luckily the second run was more successful. We have decided that we should send the videos of today’s falls into ‘You’ve been framed’ to help fund our helicopter like the Swiss team!
Tomorrow we are racing full gates Slalom which should be exciting.
If you would like to contact Ben Clatworthy then you can using his email address which is ben@benclatworthy.com or use the comment feature on this website.
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Georgina Morris, Giant Slalom, Hotel Tenne, K, Kandahar Ski Team, Revolving Resturant, Rob Webb, Saas Fee, Ski Race, Tag Heuer
Today was fantastic! No really, it was. I woke up drew back the curtains expecting either lots of rain, or even snow; however all was clear, stars still shining and no rain nor snow. Sadly this mean that we would have to have an early morning run, but at least the sun would be out by the time we were on the glacier. The lift queues today were much reduced compared to the past few days and by 8.40 we were already on the train and arriving at the glacier. This morning we were to be doing a full Giant Slalom, timed, as a race! What made the prospect of the race so much more exciting was the fact that the Kandahar now has new timing equipment – The real deal, Tag Heuer race stuff! Even Rob seemed excited about the fact he wouldn’t have to spend all morning setting it up (as he did with the old timing, which didn’t work in the cold, or the sun!).
Rob setting up the NEW timing
We were doing our race as if it was a ‘real’ race, meaning only one course inspection, bib numbers and only two timed runs. Once everyone had finished course inspection (basically a slide down the course) we were ready to start; we were to run from youngest (Calum) to eldest (Izzy). This would mean that the younger children would get the best conditions. Everyone was much hyped about the race – especially those that have never done a proper race before. As I write Georgina and Rob are on the other side of the room working out the results, which we will find out at dinner. Tension is rising.
Once the race was over it was back to normal gate training, these runs would still be timed, however would not account for ones final race time. After a couple more training runs we headed for the revolving restaurant, where unlike yesterday we were to have a hot chocolate break. Just to make it more exciting the restaurant is Europe’s highest altitude revolving café! Robbie spent most of his time standing with one leg on one side and one on the other side of the revolving platform waiting for his legs to part and do the splits (so easily amused!).
The Kandahar Hot Chocolate break
Hot chocolates drunk and ski kit back on we headed back over to the course for some more runs and some feedback from our coaches. What was amazing is that by this time it was nearly one in the afternoon – where had the day gone. We headed down for lunch at quarter to 2, which meant that we had been on the hill for just shy of 6 hours! A good days skiing in my eyes!
Fitness today was taken by Jaz, who made us do his all time favourite activity – Core work, which can also = hell! It wasn’t that bad luckily, but we did look rather silly when he made us hold the tuck position for ages!
Tomorrow I am told it is going to snow, but one only knows if that will come true, again we shall wait and see!
Kandahar Ski Team would like to say hello to Jacqueline Bullen (ex Kandahar Trainer) who is reading this blog from Whistler!
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Enviroment, Georgina Morris, Hotel Tenne, K Racing, Kandahar Ski Team, Race Training, Saas Fee, Swiss Ski Team
If 6.45 isn’t early enough to get up when you are away skiing then try getting up then but having to leap out of bed, pop on your fitness kit and head straight outdoors for a nice 10 minute run and stretch. As you may have guessed early morning runs started today in an aim to wake everyone up and to work up an appetite before breakfast.
Our trip up to the glacier was as comfortable as ever (sarcasm) today. No change there really. Once on the glacier we were left to our own devices to stretch, warm up and do a few drills and skills before moving into a stubbies giant slalom course. Stubbies or brushes are a training gate which is only a tall as your boot and doesn’t hurt if you ski over it. For many people this is also beneficial as it means they don’t need to worry about getting their upper body round the gate as well.
Morning Warm Up
The tee bar that broke down yesterday was still out of action today meaning that the queues for the main lift were much bigger than normal. For everyone this made the turn-around time much slower, except the Swiss Ski Team, who, using their many contacts had just happened to have drafted in a helicopter to whiz them from the bottom of their GS back up to the top – alright for some!
The Swiss team alternative to a Tee Bar
Today was much colder on the glacier and to make matters worse we were denied a hot chocolate break (probably for the better in hindsight). Lunch was once again later than planned with us not heading off the slope until 1.30, but this also meant that we managed to get a few free warm down runs on the less crammed pistes.
This afternoon fitness took the form of a trip up to the forest to have a go at a few of the small activities on offer, including pull ups, press ups, back ups, and a few other strange ways of exercising that Rob seemed to make up on the spot. When I say activities, I don’t mean like an adventure park, no, just a few bits of wood and iron!
Tomorrow it is forecast to snow, but not just a sprinkling, no, knee deep power according to Master Alex Cove – we shall wait and see!
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Georgina Morris, Kandahar Ski Team, Race Training, Rob Webb, Saas Fee, Ski Lift
I always find it hilarious telling people that I’m off skiing in October. “There’ll be no snow”. “There’ll be nothing to do”. “Aren’t ski resorts closed now?” but the answer is no, here in Saas Fee the snow is in fine condition, the temperature is cold and the sun is shining! What more can you ask for?!?
Izzy Linarce enjoying the sun!
The first day on snow is always slow to start; there are hundreds of layers to put on (and get comfortable), lift passes to be issued, and various other administrational jobs to be tackled. I must say that Georgina takes all this very much in her stride. In an effort not to limit skiing time we met at 7.45 a whole half hour before the lift opened, yet we only arrived at the queue for the Alpine Express (the main Saas Fee ski lift) as it was opening – these jobs do take time!
The trip up to the glacier is quite an effort – you have to take 2 gondola lifts and then a train; travelling in total from 1800 meters in Saas Fee up to 3800 meters. Once at the summit we are then able to put on our boots (which by this point are frozen inside), our helmet, gloves and goggles and head off onto the Piste. This is often easier said than done as in the cold your feet also slightly expand and all in all just getting ones boots on can become a right kafuffle.
It was now 9.15 and we headed down to drop off our bags, take a free run and then have a quick run through the necessary ‘off skis’ warm ups to put us in the best shape before the morning races (which start on Wednesday). We then headed for the very slow moving, intermittently stopping tee bar ski lift. 40 minutes later we were just approaching the front of the queue when the lift attendants finally decided that it was most certainly broken – closed the lift and made everyone head for 3 awaiting Piste Bashers, which were to take us up the mountain. I managed to get the only seat inside the contraption by sharing it with a very willing Dutch man (sometimes being small pays off!). Others were transported in what looked like crates attached to the front of the basher. For them it certainly looked an uncomfortable ride.
Rushing for a place on the Piste Basher!
Preparing to travel up the mountain
Lucky it wasn’t the main tee bar that had broken, so we were still able to ski. The rest of the morning went as planned with both groups managing to film two video runs. The delay with the lift, however, did mean that we were going to ski until 1 – slightly later than normal and slightly more tiring too.
Once fed, and after a break we started heading back down to the resort where everyone was to do Ski Preparation (more on what that entails later in the week), fitness and video feedback. Fitness was taken by Jaz today and comprised of several different coordination and agility exercises using the fitness ladders, hurdles and also the balance boards.
And on that note its supper time; tomorrow we will be training Giant Slalom again, but until after supper I won’t know the whole programme, so you’ll have to wait and see! Bye
Filed under: General, Saas Fee, Skiing, Sport | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Heathrow Terminal 5, Hotel Tenne, Kandahar Ski Team, Saas Fee, Switzerland
‘Terminal 5 is working’, those are the words of the latest BAA and British Airways advertising campaign in a desperate act to try and get people to book up and travel with BA. Our experience was definitely stress free, the queue for both check-in and security was minimal and passport control, despite being branded as ‘awful’ was 100% queue free. There was a very extensive range of shops, including Harrods, and the lounges were also clean, well laid out and beautifully modern. After a quick Starbucks tea and one of their splendid Cheese and Marmite breakfast pannini we thought we best head off in the direction of our gate; expecting it to be a 50 mile trek as in terminal 4, but no, it was just one escalator ride and we were there. Great! After our trip today, the Kandahar can honestly confirm that Terminal 5 is working!
Terminal 5 Lounge
Terminal 5 Bar
Once on the plane and settled, newspaper in hand, iPod plugged in, and my free BA drink ready and waiting it was time to get down to some hard rest! Geneva airport moved equally swiftly as Heathrow with only a short wait for skis.
Finally, after a short wait for the rest of the trainees to arrive off the Edinburgh flight, and a greeting from team manager Georgina, we were on our way to Saas Fee, a 3 hour drive in a mini-bus. At 5.15 we eventually arrived in the town, which, is very eco-friendly, so we switched the minibus for an electric truck to take out luggage to the hotel.
The Kandahar in Saas Fee
Tomorrow we will be skiing – and having just been given the programme I think it’s best I get some kip – we are getting up at 6.45; which for those of you that are in the UK that’s 5.45 you’re time – and they say its Half Term; This is not a holiday!!!!
Filed under: General, Saas Fee | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Kandahar Ski Team, October half term, Saas Fee, Ski Racing, Switzerland, Terminal 5
Hello! Welcome to my October ski blog. Before you laugh, yes, you did read that correctly, this really is my October ski blog. This year will be my seventh trip to Saas Fee in October, however as with any Glacier training, you never can be too prepared for change, be it changes in conditions, temperature or wind speed. This makes both packing and getting dressed of a morning quite a challenge (I have found the answer though – take too much stuff, get told off my Georgina but be comfortable in any conditions!)
Georgina is the Manager of the Kandahar ski team (the logo on the top right of the banner is that of the Kandahar Ski Club) and will this October be celebrating seven successful years at the helm of the ski club junior training. I was perusing through my copy of the Kandahar 2008 season review the other day and found myself engrossed in a very well written article by a man named Adam Ruck (who is the father of one of the Kandahar Trainees) – throughout the article he referred to Georgina as ‘Matron’ and I must say that is ‘G’ down to a tee!
Ski Racing comes with a lot of extra baggage – packed tightly in my massive red Atomic bag (which I must add must weigh no more than 23kg to comply with the strict BA regulations) is; my ski boots, my helmet, a pair goggles and gloves, shin pads for slalom, a chin guard, my lovely cat suit, a ski suit, thermals, a pair of trainers, fitness and swimming kit, ski socks, underwear, a hoodie and jumper, jeans, a few tee-shirts, my PJ’s and finally my wash bag (re-stocked and ready for another winter roaming the alpes!). I must add if I have forgotten anything important off this list it will be in there – fear not! But, where are my skis? Well they have been on a little holiday of their own for the last few months, in Devon. I left them with Rob, one of the Kandahar trainers after the summer training, and he assures me they will be in Saas Fee when I get there!
The giant bag!
Tonight I am in London staying at my friend Izzy’s house to save leaving Bristol at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. Izzy is also a skier, who will be travelling with me tomorrow morning out to Switzerland for the week.
Well that’s all until tomorrow, when for the first time, the Kandahar will be battling Heathrow Terminal 5 and we will be travelling up to Saas Fee itself. Bye.
Throughout the week your comments would be much appreciated, and Ben can, himself be contacted by email at ben@benclatworthy.com
Filed under: General, Saas Fee | Tags: Ben Clatworthy, Kandahar, October half term, Race, Saas Fee, Skiing, Training, welcome
Hello!
Ben is going to be ski race training in Saas Fee, Switzerland over the October half term (18th – 26th October). On this page he will be writing a daily blog illustrating just what it takes to be a ski racer training at 3800m in absolutely freezing conditions.
His first instalment will be published on Saturday October the 18th from the exotic location of London!
