October Camp 2024
05-12 Oct / 12-19 Oct 2024 | 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 in Austria is like football in the UK so we are well catered for.
This camp is perfect for seasoned racers or for a first time ski camp. Youngsters will quickly learn the ins & outs of training on snow in an Alpine resort and will gain lots of skiing experience very quickly. Not only does the camp focus on ski training, but there is a huge emphasis on all-round fitness, which we take lots of time in the afternoons after training to work on. The hard pre-season snow also means ski tuning skills are learned and honed quickly.
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- Ski tuning demonstration at the hotel wax room
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- 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.
Felicity 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 appropriate.
Check out our coaching team here »
Join Us
You can book individual weeks or both weeks.
The camp is open to all good skiers aged U10-U16 (see GBSki for age group details). 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.
To confirm your place, you must complete the registration form and pay by bank transfer – see the registration form below for details. Please do not complete the form without making payment. After receiving confirmation of your camp place, you will be required to book on to accompanied flights if travelling as an inlier. Instructions will be included in the confirmation.
Email Head Coach Calum Shepherd at coaching@scottishskiclub.org.uk for more information, or call during daytime on +44 7769 187876 to discuss.
Prices
Inliner – TBC
Including on-hill coaching, lift pass, half-board accommodation and lunches, off-hill activities (fitness, ski tuning etc.), pastoral care and airport transfers.
Outlier – TBC
Including on-hill coaching only.
Insurance
Medical/travel insurance, including cover for ski racing, is mandatory for all attending athletes (residential or not).
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 also don’t hesitate to contact Head Coach Calum Shepherd by email at coaching@scottishskiclub.org.uk or call during daytime on +44 7769 187876 to discuss.
More About This Camp
Team Base
SSC staff and inlier 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 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 food in the mountain restaurant), and dinner is at a nearby restaurant.
Travel
Inlier flights to be confirmed. You will be required to book on to & pay for accompanied flights after booking on to the camp. With easyJet, you have to call customer services and quote the booking reference & name of the accompanying adult. Instructions will be included in the confirmation of your camp place or when available.
Group airport transfers to the team base are included for all athletes travelling on accompanied flights.
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
Our usual camp kit list applies.
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 bootfitting service, ski testing and hire, and all SSC camp 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!