Christmas racing kids - Ben Clatworthy
Friday October 16, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

The Christmas holidays are in full swing for thousands of children across the UK, but not everyone stays at home for mince pies and late nights. 

The Kandahar ski team is just one of many British ski teams that head for the snow during the holidays; but this is not your average skiing holiday.

Many of the children who train with the Kandahar compete in numerous competitions and races every year, climaxing with the British Championships during the Easter holidays.  During the Christmas holidays many of the racers are training for the BARSC, also known British Alpine Racing Ski Club Championships which take place at the beginning of January.

Despite the lifts not opening until 9.00, the training day starts at 6.45 with an early morning run and stretch. 

At 8.00 the mini-buses leave for the slopes, brim full with skis  as each trainee has up to three pairs. 

By 9.00 training is in full swing, racers littering the near empty pistes, this year covered in so much snow that there are no rocks in sight.  One group even managed to train Super G on the empty slopes.  Gate training usually takes place in the morning, including a race to prepare everyone for the forthcoming championships. 

Unsurprisingly après-ski isn’t a word in the Kanda-dictionary; once skiing ends its back to base for fitness, ski preparation and video analysis.  Fitness is more often than not a run followed by stretches, core work and coordination activities.

HochZiger is a small resort with just 40km of pistes, the majority of which are red.  There is not one green in the entire resort (perfect for racing, not for beginners!)  The resort is also home to world cup skier Benni Raich, and after the cancellation of the mens slalom in Val d’isere, he arrived for a few days training, much to the admiration of many of the Kandahar trainees.

Training continues over Christmas and next week the Kandahar head to Petzen, Austria for the BARSC races.

PlanetSKI will be there to bring you the low-down on the races in this little known resort.

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