BRITISH INTERNATIONAL ALPINE SKIERS

British International Alpine Skiers is a new specialised centre of excellence, dedicated to coaching young athelete's at the art of Alpine Ski Racing. We are currently in negotiations with several major Italian ski area's in order to secure a location that will enable us to offer year round snow training facilities, with full pastoral and schooling support. We have already been in discussions with several well known International Coaches with a view to open our doors at the beginning of the 2007-2008 winter season. At present, we are anticipating our first training weeks to be in late October.

BIAS intends to offer top class training facilities on a residential basis, to atheletes from the age of 11 (or Children 1 age group) right through to senior entry. Children of under 11, in the mini's age group, may use our coaching facilities, but on a "live-out" basis only. As well as mornings of race training, focusing on both advanced technical skiing and gate training in Slalom, GS and Super G, full tutor support will be provided during term time on six days of the week, with the exception of race weeks. All facilties will also be available to all age groups (space permitting) on a live out basis. Our coaches will also train and assist the trainees with ski maintenance and race preparation, as well as carry out a full fitness program. We will also provide a range of other activities during the evenings, such as ice skating, bowling, a weekly quiz night etc etc.

As well as our coaching staff, BIAS will boast full pastoral care, including at least one fully trained nurse, two qualified teachers during the winter term periods, and should there be enough demand, through the summer as well. Initially, we will be catering for up to 20 trainees residentially.

Bias will be attending all major British Snow Races throughout the winter, the trainees being supported by a small fleet of Mini-buses, fully equiped for winter Alpine conditions. For Junior trainees, there will also be a full FIS race program, covering races in Italy, Austria and France. Other nations further afield may be included depending on the demand. For this reason, we will only accept junior trainees residentially who have qualified for a Full International FIS license (ie under 270 BASS or FIS points in at least one discipline at Junior 1 level). Children and Mini's will be expected to show an advanced level of recreational skiing for their age.

Representatives of BIAS will be visiting Italy at the beginning of June to secure our preferred training ground, and will be releasing a comprehensive Web site shortly afterwards, detailing costs, training weeks and our full terms. As soon as next seasons FIS and British race calenders are confirmed, details of next seasons race camps will be posted. We anticipate our first exposure in British Racing to be at BARSC, in Les Menuires, France whilst our Juniors will race before Christmas at a set of Italian FIS Races.