rollerski news - Les Parsons day

Les Parsons is one of the world's most inspirational cross-country ski coaches. The first coach to Beckie Scott - Canadian Olympic Champion - Les is passionate about the sport, and will be coming to London to give a masterclass on 25th August. He hopes to spread the word and promote the sport to a new audience.

For juniors, this would be a great introduction to the sport, and for adult skiers the ideal start to an autumn's training programme for winter holidays or racing. Coaching will be on rollerskis, which (for the uninitiated) allow you to practice all the techniques of cross-country skiing without being on snow.

If you are a cross-country runner, canoeist, mountain biker, swimmer or other endurance athlete, come and give the world of cross-country skiing a try.

09.30-11.30 - adult masterclass, Hyde Park, see map
11.30-13.30 - junior masterclass (13-21 year olds), Hyde Park, see map
14.30-16.30 - talk at the Mitre Pub, Craven Terrace, see map

Entry is £15 for adults and £5 for juniors. All proceeds will go towards The Woodland Trust. Rollerski equipment - if required - will be provided for free by The Rollerski Co, (the UK's only commercial cross-country rollerski school, which teaches rollerskiing in London and Windsor, and runs courses for schools and other groups).

For the junior session, no previous experience is required. For adults, a basic knowledge of cross-country skiing or rollerskiing is required, but don't worry if you're a bit rusty!

Les Parsons was the first coach of Canadian Olympic Champion, Beckie Scott - who won the 5k Classic + 5k Skate pursuit race at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, becoming the first Canadian and first North American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing. Les is currently coach to Canadian junior skier, Alex Harvey, and has been a mentor to Scottish skier Alastair Duncan (who's been living in Canada the past year, and achieving great results).

But perhaps more interestingly than Les's achievements is his huge enthusiasm for the sport, and his ability to bring out the best in the skiers he's worked with. According to Diane Duncan (mother of Al) Les is 'just brilliant at inspiring folk to push it to the next limit'. He is known in Canada as 'Mr Energy'.

We would totally recommend the training session and talk, as a great start to your winter season and autumn preparation. Les and the Rollerski London team will be on hand to give you some ideas on rollerski preparation and courses, XC ski holidays and XC ski races for first-time and more experienced skiers. (You can see our autumn courses at www.rollerski.co.uk/events.html).

The junior rollerski session is for children and students, and open to allcomers. The adult session is for people who have done a bit of rollerskiing or cross-country skiing before - proficiency is expected, but not an expert standard!
An interest in competitive cross-country ski racing and biathlon will be of benefit
Training will be in the skating style
Please meet at the Hyde Park venue - see map - about 20 minutes before the session begins to get fitted up for equipment if required
Numbers will be limited to 10 for the rollerskiing
Please can you fill in our standard safety form if you haven't been to one of our sessions before, and bring gloves with you

Les's talk will be held in the Conference Room of the Mitre Pub, on Craven Terrace, Bayswater (see map)
Les will talk about his experience motivating and coaching young people, and getting them to race
The talk will take place at 14.30, but please get there by 14.15