SSC Racing Cairngorm Training

Training in Scotland can be difficult to organise. Conditions can be fickle and unpredictable, although when the snow is good and the sun is shining, it does not get any better! It is essential that you join the SSC Race Training WhatsApp group for the latest information – get in touch if you need to be added.

We always aim to ski at Cairngorm: the funicular provides consistent access to the higher, more snow-sure fields of the Ptarmigan bowl, and the support from the operator, CMSL, allows us to run training in wildly varying conditions. However, if the picture is significantly better at other ski areas, training may be moved. SSC operates a network of huts at Cairngorm, Nevis Range, Glencoe, and Glenshee, so we have a good base at the biggest skiing areas ready and waiting!

When we train at Cairngorm, we usually meet at the top of the car park at the picnic benches outside the Daylodge building, ready to ski ahead of the first lift/train at 9am. We then split up into groups and head out for the morning. Some parents/guardians may ski nearby to the group and watch their trainees – this is fine, though unless you have very young children in the group we do ask you to keep a respectful distance and not interfere with the coaching process, of course.

The SSC hut (at the bottom of the White Lady – see picture for map) is our base for lunchtimes. We open up the hut for all SSC members, with a roaring log fire, and we usually have soup and rolls available for a small donation. We also have big screen TVs which we use for video analysis and to livestream World Cup races if they are on. It is often accessible by foot – around a 20 minute walk uphill from the Daylodge – up the vehicle track known as the “home road”, although in good snow conditions this can be a pisted ski run. Trainees are still expected to bring a packed lunch as the hut facilities require volunteers to run and should be considered a bonus – if you are a parent/guardian and want to volunteer, let us know!

We then ski again in groups in the afternoon, finishing around 3:30 depending on the conditions and energy levels of the groups. On very cold or wet days we may take extra breaks depending on how the groups are doing – younger groups are more likely to stop! Sometimes we may use the restaurant at the Ptarmigan for a warm-up mid-morning, so it’s often good if trainees have some pocket money for a hot chocolate.

We always communicate and confirm the plan, meeting times, and any extra requirements in the WhatsApp group for race training parents/guardians – get in touch to be added if you’re not already in it.

A typical training day at Cairngorm looks like this.

08:45: meet at the car park / Daylodge, booted up & ready to ski with lift pass
09:00: split into groups and head off
12:00: lunch at the SSC hut
12:45: afternoon training
15:30: end of training – meeting back at the car park / Daylodge

Training will go ahead whatever the weather – wherever possible on snow at Cairngorm, or elsewhere if the lifts are not running there. If Cairngorm and other nearby ski areas are stormbound, we will organise appropriate training off-skis at our Loch Insh base. See How to Sign Up for details. Any changes are always communicated by the Head Coach via WhatsApp.