News

The TWGGS Ski Team competed at the English Schools Ski Association (ESSKIA) Qualifiers at Chatham Ski Centre in September. Ellie, Eloise, Amelie, Clara, Gen, Tamara, Ursula, Julia, Betsy, Bella, Suzy, Jess, Lorraine, Ella, Bess and Lila took part as four TWGGS teams racing against other schools located within the South East. The team train hard and faced tough competition on the day, with three of the teams making it through to the English Finals.

 

TWGGS A, C and D made it to the ESSKIA English Finals and competed at Norwich Ski Centre on Saturday 12th October. TWGGS CAT 2 team, Eloise, Ellie, Amelie and Clara competed in the morning and in the afternoon TWGGS CAT 3 team (Betsy, Bella, Suzy and Jess) and TWGGS CAT 4 team (Lorraine, Ella, Bess and Lila) raced down the superb Norwich slope through a 14 gate slalom course. All were understandably nervous competing against racers from all over England on a slope most had never skied on before. Being the English finals meant the slalom course set was more difficult than ones they had competed on before, however the girls performed fantastically and were even more confident on their second runs. TWGGS CAT2 gained 3rd place in the years 7 to 8 category, both the CAT 3 (years 9 to 10) and CAT4 (years 11 to 13) performed to a high level with Jess and Lorraine both skiing up in higher categories. Lila placed 4th fastest female overall at the finals.

 

On Sunday 13th October, at the ESSKIA Open Championships, Ellie, Eloise, Amelie, Suzy, Lorraine, Ella and Lila competed against other racers on the even more difficult 15 gate slalom course. After warm up and a course inspection where Lila talked the girls through how to ski each gate and the combinations, the competition started with Ella and Suzy racing first, followed by Ellie, Lorraine and Eloise and lastly Amelie and Lila - all start numbers are randomly drawn at the Open Championships so nerves set in as you await your time to be in the start gate. There were 171 racers.  All improved on their first run times during their second run and smiles and relief were evident as they competed both runs and had not skied out. TWGGS A (Lorraine, Ella and Lila) (came 9th overall and TWGGS B (Ellie, Eloise, Amelie and Suzy) came 12th. Lila placed 5th fastest female overall at the Open Championships.

 

The TWGGS Ski Team now return to their weekly training at Bowles.  If you are interested in trying ski racing please contact Lila Ayton 18aytonl@twggs.kent.sch.uk or Lindsay Ayton via Mrs Ralph (helen.ralph@twggs.kent.sch.uk)

 

Please do talk to any of the team about ski racing and the fun they have.