| Ski lessons is a big business, and every ski resort | | | | racing clubs also sometimes accept casual visitors, |
| in the world has one or more ski schools which | | | | as long as they are proficient skiers. In the case |
| offer a variety of lessons at varying levels. | | | | of Whistler, all you have to do is call up the club |
| However, ski race training is a totally different | | | | ahead of time, convince them that your son or |
| kettle of fish. It is very rare to find a ski school | | | | daughter will not hold up the group, pay them |
| which truly offers race training: this is a very | | | | around $100 a day for the privilege and your |
| specialist skill which most of the ski school's staff | | | | progeny can participate in one of the world's |
| will not have. Race training is typically offered by | | | | leading race training programmes. You will never |
| specialist clubs or divisions of the ski school which | | | | find this option on the website of |
| are not usually available to visitors. | | | | Whistler-Blackcomb, which runs the resort; you |
| The Whistler Mountain Ski Club is a good example | | | | just have to know that it exists. Even on Whistler |
| of how a ski racing club operates. It is a private | | | | Mountain Ski Club's own website you won't find |
| members club in the top ski resort of | | | | this option available: it is an informal arrangement |
| Whistler-Blackcomb. It is open to anyone with a | | | | which is not publicised. |
| child who is already a highly proficient skier. | | | | So, if you are looking for a holiday in which your |
| Membership is on an annual basis. The Club | | | | child can get some serious race training, think |
| employs more than a dozen ex-racers as | | | | about Whistler. You can find great accommodation |
| coaches, and offers specialised race training | | | | deals at a number of suppliers, notably Holiday |
| throughout school holidays and at weekends | | | | Whistler, where the owner is also a member of |
| during term time | | | | the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (his son is a K1 |
| So if you do not live in or near a ski resort, how | | | | racer) and will give you all the contact information |
| can you get your children into a race training | | | | you need. |
| programme. Here's the secret: these private | | | | |