Archive

2015

Climbing on two legs again

This is a little piece done for us by LD Mountain Centre Friend Barry Hobbs, site manager for Go ape Matfen. We all hope to do the ativities we love for as long as we can, here is a positive example of surgery allowing someone to continue taking part in the sport they love.         After nearly forty years of self abuse through climbing and fell-running, I recently had a total hip replacement.  Although the surgeon said that climbing with it wasn’t recommended, he also explained what... Read More

Some Snowboard Basics

So you’ve bought your swanky new board set up with boots, board and bindings and you’re ready to shred the gnarl. The guy in the shops put your binding on for you but you’re still unsure about a few things. Let us help… Firstly, what on earth does this mean? Regular or goofy simply refers to what foot you lead with. Regular riders lead with their left foot and goofy riders lead with their right. If you’re wondering where the term goofy originated from then this is a matter of... Read More

Stay Safe in the Deeps and Steeps

        With increased numbers of skiers and snowboarders heading to the slopes each year, more and more of us are heading off the beaten track and venturing in to the sidecountry, slackcountry or backcountry. As we search for fresh snow, solitude and testing lines the risk of course increases. Without wanting to cause undue panic, the fact remains that 150 plus people are killed in avalanches each year so we really need to think about limiting the risks for ourselves, our group and to others. Like most... Read More

Could you become a ski instructor?

Did you know that it is achievable for an experienced recreational skier to gain a Snowsports instructor qualification? I explain how. It could be easier than you think! With the ever increasing number of UK “Snow centres” and the continued benefits of artificial ski slopes, the part time UK ski instructor market is still showing growth. Beyond that, school ski trips, European ski schools and a surge of interest in Japan means that considering training and qualifying as professional ski instructor could be something you may wish to consider? How?... Read More