After the disappointment of the Olympics I decided to spend some well deserved time at home, recovering and working to recover funds for the 10/11 Winter season. Not wanting to lose touch with skiing totally during my ‘down time’, I started working part time as a ski instructor at the Sheffield Ski Village, a job which quickly became full time.
It has been a good change for me to start teaching people to ski and has made made me realise how much I take being able to ski for granted. With a group of three people, two of them may take to skiing straight away however the third may struggle. Having to think on my feet of other ways and methods to achieve the same exercise was definitely very rewarding and I also think that I can take some of the things I have learnt whilst teaching others to improve my own skiing.
Having been at home for 6 weeks whilst the season was still in full flow abroad, I made a very last minute decision to fly out to Laax, Switzerland for The British Championships. I missed the first 3 days of the competition but arrived just in time for the British ski cross championships. I decided to enter the ski cross championships as the sport really stepped into the limelight after the Olympics this year and was very surprised and elated to be crowned the British Ski Cross champion.
Now that I am home from Laax I only have one more trip planned for this season. I am going to Hintertux, Austria to take my BASI Level 2 alpine ski instructor qualification. Check back for blogs of my progress.
Tags: Andy Longley
We have seen a massive improvement in Oscar's skiing while he has been having lessons with Andy at the Sheffield Ski Village. Whilst supporting him in his Olympic endeavours and his instructor training, we look forward to him coming back to give Oscar more lessons. We would recommend any would-be freestyler/moguler to book lessons with him at the village. As well as getting lessons from a "Double British Champion" (Moguls and Ski Cross) you will be helping support him financially with his ambitions in a sport that is not as well funded as other sports in this country. Thanks Andy and have a great trip.