October Camp 2025
Sat 04 – Sat 11 / Sat 11 – Sat 18 Oct 2025
Hintertux, AUT
The SSC October Camp is the perfect way to kick-start the winter season. Even without much early-season snowfall, the Hintertux Glacier offers a reliable, high-altitude training environment. The mountain operator’s work over the summer to preserve the snow and maintain uplift means they are ready to open to ski teams in the autumn, months before the season really begins. Ski racing is a huge sport in Austria so we are well catered for.
This camp is perfect both for seasoned racers or for a first time ski camp. Trainees will quickly learn the ins & outs of training on snow in an Alpine resort and will gain lots of skiing experience very quickly. As with all SSC camps, we will maximise time on-snow, but the October camp is also the perfect time to learn & hone in on ski tuning, fitness training for skiing, mental preparation for race days, and much more.
- Ski tuning demonstration at the hotel wax room
- Speed-agility-quickness fitness session outside the hotel
We will ski loads of miles in this action-packed camp in the beautiful mountains of Tirol. The uplift in Hintertux is very reliable, even during high winds. During the day the expansive Tuxer Fernerhaus at the bottom of the glacier is our base with big-screen TVs for video analysis and a large restaurant with hot food and picnic space. We have a private locked storage room and training lanes every day. Off the hill, the valley is full of adventure with dozens of international ski teams running in the forests or training in the open spaces and tennis courts. It’s a fantastic atmosphere.
About The Camp
Staff
Head Coach Calum Shepherd leads the team for this camp. Check out our coaching team here »
Felicity (‘Flick’) Houbert, a former ski racer and retired maths teacher, is the ‘house parent’ for this camp and will provide pastoral care for all inliers. All camp staff will provide support with schoolwork where possible.
Join This Camp
The camp is open to all good skiers aged U10-U16 (see GBSki for year-of-birth-based age groups). Athletes can attend the camp as an inlier (all-inclusive residential camp) or as an outlier (coaching on the hill each day only). We would encourage all athletes aged U12 and older to join on a residential (inlier) basis to get the most out of the camp. U10s are welcome as outliers, as well as any older trainees not joining as inliers. We do not normally take U8s on Alpine camps.
What’s Included?
Inlier (residential camp)
Outlier (on-hill only)
Outliers may be able to join some off-hill activities, however this cannot guaranteed. The coaching team will confirm this on a day-by-day basis on the camp.
Pricing
This camp is supported by the SSC Bursary, which provides funding to trainees to help with the ever-increasing cost of ski racing. More information on how much funding is available, and how to apply for funding, is coming soon.
Deposit
For inlier and outlier options, the deposit to confirm your place is £500 per week.
Inlier
£TBC per week
Outlier
£TBC per day
Insurance
Travel insurance, including specific cover for ski racing, is mandatory for all camp attendees (residential or not). You will need to provide proof (certificate of insurance). See our Camp Packing List for more information.
All coaches are qualified through BASI, Snowsport Scotland, or another relevant governing body. All coaches are PVG/Disclosure checked and first-aid qualified.
Further Guidance and Advice
We recommend that all parents read through Alpine Training Centre SCIO’s Parents’ Guide to Alpine Ski Racing. This resource offers advice and insight from sports scientists, coaches and other skiing parents. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Head Coach, Calum Shepherd, by email at coaching@scottishskiclub.org.uk to discuss anything you wish.
More About This Camp
Team Base
SSC staff and inliers will be staying at the Hotel Jakober in Vorderlanersbach. It is right at the start of the Sportbus line to the bottom gondola station, so is perfect for getting up the hill in the mornings. The hotel has space for team meetings, fitness indoors and outdoors, and ski tuning. All meals for inliers are included in the camp. Breakfast is a buffet at the hotel, we make packed lunches for each day on the hill (there is also an option to buy hot/extra food in the mountain restaurant), and dinner is at a nearby restaurant.
Whilst we don’t mind outliers staying nearby the team hotel, we would ask that outliers do not book in to the team hotel directly. If you would like your child(ren) to be a part of the camp at the team hotel, you can book them in as an inlier, and you are more than welcome stay together nearby at other accommodation.
Travel
Accompanied flights are available for inliers. You are responsible for booking these and should do so after receiving confirmation of your camp place. This confirmation will include instructions and all the details (inc. booking refs) you need.
Week 1
TBC
Week 2
Outbound: easyJet U23263, 1000 EDI – MUC 1320, accompanying adult Lauren Sargent (safeguarding officer)
Return: easyJet U23264 1355 MUC – EDI 1520, accompanying adult Lauren Sargent (safeguarding officer)
Airport transfers to/from the team base are included for all inliers.
Luggage
The team van will be travelling to & from Hintertux for this camp. We can take skis + poles (not in bags), and luggage, for £20 per pair/item of luggage each way. This is available for all camp attendees, subject to space being available in the van. Please, no loose items.
Kit can be dropped off for travel out in Edinburgh (and other locations TBC). The van will leave Edinburgh at the end of September/start of October, and return at the end of October. Please discuss collecting your kit on return with the Head Coach.
Training Objectives
One of the main objectives of the October camp is to increase speed. Particularly for those who have skied and raced lots on dry slopes but not much on snow, the wide free-skiing pistes allow us to work on areas of technique that can’t be developed lapping courses on dry mat. Hintertux is one of the largest glacier venues in the world and during October has conditions that teams all the way up to World Cup level travel across the world for. The athletes will have the opportunity to ski and train alongside teams from all over the world, including local ski clubs, right up to World Cup teams. Afternoons are packed full of fitness, recovery activities, and ski tuning. It is a full schedule and athletes need to be focussed, healthy and motivated to get the most out of this camp.
Equipment
Please ensure you are familiar with our Camp Packing List.
We are also based a 2 minute walk away from one of the world’s best ski race shops, Insider Sportshop. They have everything any ski racer could ever need, including ski tuning equipment, a renowned and reliable boot fitting service, ski testing and hire, and all SSC trainees get a discount in store. If you have any equipment needs, e.g. if you need new boots, your current skis are getting too short, or you require a FIS-approved helmet, Insider will be able to sort it no problem. Please get in touch to discuss this ahead of the camp, but don’t let any equipment requirements become a stress!