Getting fit for skiing

Hi Bandit,
Sorry, I meant ski touring as opposed to a lesson - in other words spend a day just ski-ing around the Three Valleys with the British Ski Club leader and fellow members. I've done it before and it's great fun

And 'yes' I am a member and I have pre-registered for that week, so hopefully I'll get a place.

I'm sure I can get fit in 4 weeks. I mean, I'm pretty fit now, I just need to increase my fitness level. For example, today I've spent about 2 hours hiking 6 1/2 miles on our coastal path (lots of ups and downs on rough ground) followed by a lunch break and then walked about 3 1/2 miles extremely fast on one of our beaches trying to beat the tide (it's springs at the moment and you can walk miles but it's pretty risky as the tide comes up so fast).

Ally

AllyG Ski touring takes place on touring skis, you use skins and touring bindings. What you will be doing could be described as piste leading by SCGB. You still need to check your insurance as Ski Club Reps are not insured for those they are leading AFAIK.
Good luck with the fitness regime.

Thanks Bandit,
I was worrying about this myself, and I'm going to ask the SCGB if I can ski with them on a day when they don't do any off-piste (or if they do it's somewhere that I can go around on the piste and meet them at the bottom). There seem to have been several deaths in avalanches this year, and as you said, the leaders aren't trained guides or instructors - just good skiers with the minimum of training for the job who love the mountains and sharing them with other visitors.

I reckon as long as I'm on the piste I should be safe enough with them

Ally

AllyG, AFAIK some of the SCGB Reps are qualified ski instructors, however they are not working in that capacity, so don't carry the right level of Insurance. They do attend compulsory training for their role with the SCGB.
There are deaths caused by Avalanches every year, some make the Press. Most are caused by the slope users through their own actions. It remains to be seen if this winter is any worse than others.

I've been shovelling rubble and taking it away in a wheel-barrow today, but I'm not sure if this is officially part of my 'get fit to ski' training program

Ally

AllyG wrote:I've been shovelling rubble and taking it away in a wheel-barrow today, but I'm not sure if this is officially part of my 'get fit to ski' training program

Ally

I think it counts.

snowb4ndit wrote:

AllyG wrote:I've been shovelling rubble and taking it away in a wheel-barrow today, but I'm not sure if this is officially part of my 'get fit to ski' training program

Ally

I think it counts.

Why thank you Snowbandit, kind lady Madame

Presumably you don't have to worry about getting fit to ski any more, because you get to ski every day

Ally