New April Ski Performance Scotland Course

Due to more demand there is an extra Ski Performance Scotland course. It will run on 5/6 April and be based at Nevis Range this time to take advantage of the large amounts of snow on the West Coast.

Lots of great skiing

Its been a busy few days with limited time for blogging so here is a round up. Last Wed I was ski touring in Drumochter with Andrew. We went up Geal Charn (only a 20min walk from the road), did 2 diff descents from A' Mharconaich one from the ridge and one from the summit, we had spare time so headed back up and over Geal Charn to get a descent on the far side before back to the road. Then 2 days with Lochaber college students.We had a day in the Cairngorms heading over 1141 into Coire Raibert and around to Lurchers Gully, pretty windy on the plateau but a lovely ski down Lurchers and skis on all the way to the carpark. Then for day 2 we were at Drumochter, this time on the east side, we skiied up Cairn na Caim and down Coire Cam for some transceiver practice and back up and down Coire Uilliem. There were some very big cornice features about not always where you would expect them so caution is required. However there were lots of skiers enjoying the conditions and all the gully lines were skiable.

The weekend was a Ski Performance Scotland course. We chose Cairngorm for both days, despite it being a bit windy the hill was gradually opened up on Sat and we got a variety of terrain. On Sunday we had some fresh tracks low down first thing followed by some fresh tracks in the white lady later on. There were some queues but good skiing on both powder snow and variable conditions!

                             Skinning back up after skiing into Coire Cam, note the cornices!

                                                    Nice tracks in Lurchers

                                             Ski Performance Scotland - Fresh tracks

New Ski Performance Scotland Course

We now have an extra midweek course on 12/13th March. There are currently 4 laces left on this course. The course on 8/9 March is now full but there are still places next weekend on 1/2 March. Despite the current thaw there is loads of snow still neary to the top of the lift towers so plenty of potentailly excellant skiing when the weather calms. Book through off  piste performance. http://www.offpiste.org.uk/courses/ski-performance-scotland/

Awesome conditions at Nevis Range

After a weekend of winter skills for Glenmore Lodge at the weekend, this week is being spent teaching skiing at Nevis Range. The snow cover is superb, you can ski anywhere. Its busy but there is plenty snow for everyone and queues no more than 10 mins at worst. The sun has been shining with great views.

Geal Charn

Today was my last chance for a tour for a few days so thought I best get out. I also needed to train for skimo so this fitted the bill. There are 30 entries in the glencoe race just now with some top athletes and many others to enjoy the race, only three girls though, so come on girls there are 3 prizes so the chances are good! Today south facing seemed the way to go and was on the east so went for Geal Charn (monadhliath) from just beyond laggan. A very short carry, the usual heathery first section. Took the slightly longer ridge line round for the ascent then descended the south side. Firm snow on the descent provided lovely safe skiing. Potos not great as it was just me to take them. I will be running a winter skills course at Glenmore Lodge this weekend then teaching skiing for half term week. The next Ski Performance Scotland course is 1st March and still has spaces.

Chno Dearg

Yesterday Brian and I went for a tour up Chno Dearg from Fersit, We had some wild weather and poor vis making it necessary to ski the first bit of the descent on a compass bearing, lower down the skiing was good though. We skiied all the way back to the track at 290m the final section needed some scottish style heather skiing. There was significant windslab about so we stuck to easy angled slopes. Im hoping to get out again either tomorrow or more likely near Dumochter on Friday. With a high avalanche forecast on some aspects careful route choice will be essential.

Ski Performance Scotland Course

This weekend I was running the first Ski Performance Scotand course for Off Piste Performance. On Sat with Nevis Range and Cairngom shut we headed to the Lecht. The Buzzard provided ideal terrain and the guys were so focused on their skiing they didnt seem to notice the wild weather. On Sun with an equally wild forecast we headed back to the Lecht, this time we found some new snow off piste to practice on and the sun even made an appearance. The guys left with extra confidence and lots of new ideas to go away and practice.

We now have an extra course on 1/2 March and would consider a March midweek course if any dates are requested.