Eastern Region Ski Association
To: Snowsport England/ROTP. From: Jeremy Ayling
ERSA Chairman
Tel. 01449 768873
Jeraylin@aol.com
Dear Sirs,
SUMMER RACE CALENDAR 2003 AND OTHER MATTERS.
I am writing to you to you about some concerns expressed to me by the ERSA Committee at two of our recent meetings (the minutes are available on our website www.erskia.com).
Snowsport England INSURANCE
This debate rumbles on: Suffice to say that for 2003 - to partake in the ERSA Summer League race series, we will require that all athletes must be declared members of an ERSA Club (which according to our constitution the clubs in turn have to be members of Snowsport England) or be individually registered with the Snowsport England. It is up to the various Clubs to make sure all their representatives fall in to either of the 2 categories.
Whilst we do understand the reasons for the large increase in fees, primarily because in the hike in premiums, the bottom line is that many parents and athletes pay Snowsport England membership (or the part for the insurance premium) several times over per year i.e Take myself: My daughter is Snowsport England registered. We are members of the Vikings ski race team and pay our percentage of their Snowsport England “Small club” fee. We are also members of the Suffolk Slope ski club (pay again). We are members of the Snow Club this year (pay again).
One of the reasons for this may be because no one actually knows what is covered, when they are covered, etc.etc.
I understand Bassingbourn Ski club are in dispute with you over this matter and I have seen a copy of the letter you wrote to them dated
May I suggest a simple 1 side of A4 sent out with membership renewals and posted on your web site which explains IN CLEAR ENGLISH what the insurance does cover and how it works, who needs it, when it applies, how to avoid duplication etc. - it would be a great help in this respect. This is the third year of my daughters membership and we are yet to receive any form of document telling us exactly what membership covers – to date we have relied entirely on other verbal information (some from your own offices) – much of which is very conflicting. Perhaps publishing your insurance document on the web may work.
Snowsport England – AGM VOTING RIGHTS
Is apparent that individual schools which are members of ESSKIA have a vote as well as the vote of ESSKIA itself (quite a powerful block if used efficiently). On this basis surely each Regional Association in
Last year I attended the Snowsport England AGM with proxies from six or seven of the regions clubs and slopes and cast my vote according to their opinions. However if none of the clubs or slopes chose to award their proxy to me or any other ERSA committee member there would be no point in any of us attending an AGM as we would have no vote to cast.
INTER REGIONAL DUAL SLALOM
I think we speak for several regions when discussing the issue of the initial draw of teams at the start of this event. It is the view of ERSA that the draw should preclude the possibility that teams from the same region meet each other in the first round.
SUMMER RACE CALENDAR 2003
As you are well aware, but I will remind you nevertheless – the regional structure is your “grassroots” and without it the sport will fade. Over the past 5 years, despite the loss of Harlow and Becton slopes we have seen a steady increase in the number of people skiing and racing in our region. We have worked hard to sponsor or provide courses and training sessions to provide a number of new race officials, coaches, and junior coaches. We consistently support a higher standard of race meeting and promote a professional approach to running any of our meetings. We support the work of the slopes and ESSKIA in outreach to bring in new skiers. The results with both our athletes and officials speak for themselves.
We are therefore a little concerned that the summer calendar is becoming over full with other race meetings which will attract away athletes, officials and parents from our regions organized events. For example:
Whilst we fully support the holding of race meetings at Snowzone – and intend to organize our own there – our regional technical panel who attended the “fun” race there last year are well aware of the limitations of racing on that surface versus racing on snow or plastic.
Hence we have concluded it is practically impossible for us to hold a full ERSA summer league type of race there (140 skiers x 3 runs followed by dual slalom racing).
Thus if you (Snowsport England) organize a number of races which clash with regional race dates there is a possibility athletes will be reluctant to attend a regional event the same weekend or the week after, depriving us of the all important role models (and officials). We support the measures taken by ROTP at their last meeting – to limit the range of athletes attending any particular meeting – this makes sense given the limited number of racers you can efficiently put down the course but are wary these races could have a detrimental effect on our program.
USE OF HELMETS FOR TRAINING AND RACING
We have made it compulsory for any ERSA organized event in 2003 that helmets must be worn by all age groups.
Until this year we have had a rolling age group increase in compulsory use of helmets. We have always tried to strictly enforce the clothing and gloves rule as well as setting courses commensurate with the ability of the athletes taking part. As a result of this common sense approach we have had a noticeable reduction in common injuries associated with falling on a dry slope – there appears to be less falls and the injuries sustained in the falls we do have - are reduced due to the use of helmets.
Many of the slopes in the region are also requiring helmets to be worn – principally after feed back from their insurers. Should an accident result in a claim or undue criticism against us we are of the opinion our imposition of helmets rule goes some way to mitigation in that it shows we are pro-active. Imagine a bad fall to a non helmet wearer that resulted in a claim – and the injury would have been far less had the governing body insisted on helmets being worn.
The Snowsport England should make available to us clear and unequivocal guidance on this matter otherwise we are forced to make the decision ourselves (as have most parents already).
I am in consultation with other regions chairs and have suggested we produce and accident/incident reporting scheme that records the conditions, course, athletes details, injuries, reasons, and follow up.
These could be used to produce a better "risk assessment" for future decisions. I am prepared to produce a simple A4 form to be given to the
C.O.R at a meeting and I would collate and share the info. at years end.
Snowsport England AGM
With the AGM due to be held in May – should the election details be sent out already? Our committee have nominated Piet Van Kempen to carry our proxy
votes but the relevant forms have not been sent out yet.
We would also like you to clarify the position re tenure of the chairman – does the Snowsport England constitution have a time limit on the period a chairman can stay at the post and what is the position if there is no-one available to stand against
him?
I would be happy if you could provide me with your feedback/thoughts/actions on the above matters so that I may take some information to the committee.
Best wishes,
Jeremy Ayling.
ERSA Chairman
CC: File.
CC: ERSA Secretary.
CC: LSERSA Chairman.