Wot, no snow?? (Norfolk Ski Club)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Norfolk Ski Club
Date:	13/03/09 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All year round adrenaline rush!

Disadvantages: Still not the real thing.

Snowy mountains, chalets with log fires nestled amongst the trees, fresh air and that rush of adrenaline as you whizz through the fresh powder.....ahh, its what winter is made for.....

But what happens if you want to ski all year round? Or if you want to ski but can't afford the expense of a ski holiday? Or perhaps if you want to try it out before you commit to a family holiday that costs the price of a small car? Or perhaps you want to just have a bit of fun without travelling too far?

Norfolk ski club is one of the best dry ski slope facilities in the UK (many would say it is THE best) and allows skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities the opportunity to get their "fix" all year round without breaking the bank.

**Location**
Well, as the name suggests, it is in Norfolk - one of the flattest places in the UK, so not the sort of place you would expect to learn to ski. Ideally located just off the A47, this is an easy venue to get to from anywhere in East Anglia.

**Facilities**
The Ski club has a large club house, with adequate changing facilities, showers and toilets, together with a bar/coffee shop and a function room. There is a fully equipped kitchen which is able to cater for anything from business lunches to wedding receptions.

Outside, there is a patio area and bbq and plenty of car parking, together with a grassed area that doubles up as the playing field for the local primary school.

And of course there is the fun bit.......The main slope is a good length (well over 100ft) and has a drag lift running alongside, with 3 different "getting off" points if you are not confident enough to go from the top. Alongside the main slope is a fun park consisting of jumps and a quarter pipe, and a set of waves for those wanting a bit more interest! Next we have the "intermediate" slope - a little more gently in its gradient and not so long, with "travelator" moving pathways to get you to the top, and the nursery slope where every one will start their lessons. Finally Norfolk Ski Club has its very own mogalfield - so if you want the challenge of the bumps, then this is for you!

**What can I do**

As I said above, this club caters for skiers and boarders of all abilities.....

Taster sessions - these are "come and try" sessions that give you the chance to try skiing or boarding within a group, together with a qualified instructor. A session lasts about an hour and is a really good way of seeing if you want to commit to lessons. A session costs £8 for skiing and £10 for boarding. Many people give these as presents or just for a family trip out, as something different to bowling or the cinema!

Lessons - Beginners lessons are for those with little or no experience. Adult beginner lessons are for those aged 12 and over and cost £50 for a total of 6 hours. Junior lessons are for those aged 5-11 and consist of one hour per week for 4 weeks costing £34 in total, followed by an additional 4 weeks at a further £34 total if they want to continue. Boarding lessons are only for those aged 12 and over at the moment, and cost £60 for 6 hours.

Most people opt for weekly lessons, but they do have "ski in a day" courses, where you learn all the basics in one day - hard work, but very very popular!

I think that these are pretty good prices given that you are receiving good quality instruction from qualified instructors.

Improver lessons - there are a range of different improver lessons, from "improve snowplough" to "funpark for the terrified".....these generally cost between £30 and £40 for a course.

Private lessons - these can be provided for any standard and are for those aged 5 and upwards, so if you just want to refine an area of your technique or don't like being in a group, this could be for you.

Kindergarten - for 4 year olds to try skiing without the commitment of proper lessons. A bit of skiing, sledging and general fun and games is the order of the day!

Ladies Club and Mens Club - an opportunity to ski with other guys/girls without the children interfering or without being out-skied by your partner. Being of the female variety, I have only attended Ladies Club, but this runs every week on a Tuesday, and is split into 4 or 5 different ability groups, with a different area to work on each week. Technique improves dramatically, and the instructors are fantastic. The group is often oversubscribed with a waiting list, such is its popularity. And of course we can have a bit of a laugh along the way.

Junior Club.....

This is one of THE best areas in my opinion, and one that the club is very proud of. Every Saturday there are 4 different ability groups, for age 5 to 16, with a structured timetable, teaching a wide variety of skills to the skiers of the future. Every few weeks time trials are held in slalom and giant slalom races to assess ability, along with agility races and skier-cross races. Well over 100 children attend every Saturday, all year round, with many progressing to the race team. Junior Club has been the starting point for many youngsters who have gone on to represent their country in skiing.....not bad for a flat place with no snow.

Race team and "wannabee racers" - sessions are available for those who are racing for fun, and those who want to race regionally and nationally. Again, qualified coaches work on the techniques required to get through a slalom course at a rate of knots. We have a very very successful race team, and a lot ready to progress. Bode Miller, watch out!

Open practice - of course, you can just turn up and ski or board at certain times, not everything is structured! Open practice sessions will have an instructor there to supervise, but not to instruct - so you have to be of a particular level to do these session. During the winter season, they can be very busy as people get their "ski legs" back before their annual holiday, but it is lovely to be on that slope on a summer's evening too.....

Tubing sessions - fancy going down the slope in a big rubber ring? Well, now you can do so - these cost £8 for an hour and are great for groups of friends or birthday parties etc.

Cost:

This is a members club and relies very heavily on its members to volunteer in order that the costs can be kept as low as possible - you have already seen above how reasonably priced the lessons are. Other costs are:

Membership - junior (5-17yrs) £23 per year, Single (18+) £38 per year, parent and child £56 per year, and family membership (2 adults and unlimited children at the same address under 18yrs) £61 per year - compare this to many other sports clubs and you can see why it is popular.

Cost per session - An hours skiing costs £5.50 and includes skis and boots. BARGAIN! This is also the price for junior club - EVEN BETTER BARGAIN!! For ladies and mens club, add on £1.

You can also buy saver tickets so you pay for 9 but get 10 sessions.

One of the best things about this club is that it is run by the members for the members - we all have a say via the comittee, who have done an excellent job over the years. Members help out and for every hour you help, you get an hour free skiing. So whether it is the person fitting your skis, serving you your pint in the bar, or instructing you on the slope, the chances are that they are working for the love of their sport, not being paid for in cash, but in free skiing time for them and their children. This means that even those who cannot afford to ski, really CAN afford to ski. The members are a very very valuable asset! And because the staff are working for free, the bar prices are very very reasonable too.......

The club has events throughout the year, snowboard jams, race events, open days - keep your eyes open and pop along.

There is a website, www.norfolkski.com that has pictures and more information.

Summary: You'll just have to imagine the chalet and the log fire!