Welcome to Midland Ski Club
What springs to mind when you think about skiing? The uninitiated probably think of Eddie the Eagle or James Bond. For most people it will be Ski Sunday where they watch Bode Miller hurtle down a vertical ice slope and think that's not for me. They're right! But as you have picked up this brochure I presume you know what skiing is really about. Or do you? I'm sure you know all about the standard ski holiday. You have probably done the package holiday with ski school, the pistes and the après-ski, but have you thought about what else is available?
What about skiing with mountain guides. If you're prepared to hike up the mountain a bit they will take you to wonderful hidden valleys the piste skier never sees and there is also the benefit that they take you to the front of the lift queue. There is off-piste skiing. It takes a lot of practice but there is no greater thrill than to swoop through knee-deep powder not knowing what lies under the snow ahead of you but knowing that you have the skill to handle it when you hit it. Then there is Ski-Touring where you put skins on the skis to walk up the mountains to stay in remote mountain huts. This way you can traverse the Alps from Austria to the Mediterranean. We know because MSC members have done it and will sell you the book. You can try Telemarking, the original form of downhill skiing which is now enjoying a popular revival. If you think that is a bit too energetic have a go at Langlauf, which can be anything from a gentle stroll on skis through beautiful scenery to one of the best aerobic exercises there is.
Where do you ski? Not only in the Alps. They certainly have the most extensive and some of the best skiing in the world, but there are many other mountains to fall down. America has the best organised skiing and the best groomed pistes. The Italian Dolomites have the most dramatic scenery ( and the best pasta). But MSC are even more adventurous. We have been to Chile and our latest venture was to Argentina. OK that was for the real enthusiast. You may wish to start more gently with less stress placed on the knees and the wallet. Where better to start than at our local artificial slopes. There is the Snowdome with real snow indoors. At Ackers in Small Heath there is an outdoor plastic slope where MSC meets regularly and qualified instructors can get you ready and able to ski anywhere.
How old are skiers? Don't you have to be a fit teenager able to ski all day and party all night? Well that would help but it's not essential. In MSC our youngest were put on skis almost as soon as they could walk and our oldest are still active in their 80's. They started in the days of cable bindings and lace-up boots and are now mastering the latest carving skis.
As for fitness, you have to be seriously fit if you are going to race and we have plenty of people who are prepared to do this. Our juniors usually progress by learning to ski gates and then moving on to our Race League teams and then into national races on artificial slopes and even further to race on snow in Europe. We have even had an Olympian or two and we have high hopes that some of our people will achieve this honour again. So fitness helps but you don't even have to be healthy. We help with the British Disabled Skiers Assocation where people with serious disabilities are given the chance to enjoy the thrill of skiing. Most of us fall somewhere between the two. We know that regular exercise and a healthy diet will help us get the most out of our sport, but we also know the pleasures of the mountain restaurants and the sun terrace.
The point of all this is that Midland Ski Club members are doing all these types of skiing and you can too. We would be delighted to show you how.