News - 27/12/9
Highlights of 2009 rollerski year
Another busy year in the world of rollerskiing - we continued to see more and more rollerskiers in and around London, with many of our skiers taking on exciting challenges on rollerskis and on snow.
JANUARY
Lots of skiers at Hyde Park and Dorney Lake courses
Our instructor Karolina Bicova wins the classic and shorter skating race at the Jizerska ski marathon in the Czech Republic (incredible performance a for UK-based skier)
FEBRUARY
Snow arrives in London - instructor Ivan Gorbenko goes skiing in Orpington - pictures
BBC's 'High Altitude' programme features Graham Bell taking part in the 160k Arctic Circle Race in Greenland - video - rollerski prep
Lots of good skiing at our on-snow cross-country ski course in Seefeld, Austria - pictures
Andrew Musgrave achieves an incredible top-10 position in the FIS Junior World Championships - see report
Iain takes part in the FIS XC Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic
MARCH
BBC's Mike Bushell reviews the Engadin Ski Marathon, with Lord Foster - report
APRIL
Annual club rollerski trip on the Bristol-Bath cycleway
5 skiers qualify for FIS Nordic World Cup in 2009/10 - Alex Standen, Callum Smith and Simon Platt join Andrew Musgrave and Andrew Young on the circuit - report
MAY
London rollerski race series gets off to a good start - report
Rollerskiing featured on Mike Bushell's BBC1 Breakfast News sports - report
JUNE
Marwe launches its new 610C rollerski - report
Rob Dorward wins the London 1-hour race for the London Hyde Park XC Ski Club - the club's first GB Rollerski Series win
Extra summer club training in Richmond Park, Hayes and Greenwich - pictures
JULY
James Cracknell & Ben Fogle's race to the South Pole screened on BBC2. Their rollerski preparation is featured on episodes 2 & 3 - pictures - watch on iPlayer
Rowing company Concept 2 launch the 'SkiErg' - essentially a cross-country ski double poling machine, based on technology from their famous rowing machine - report
Rollerskiing doesn't take place at the Eton Rowing Courses - the courses are cancelled due to swine flu
AUGUST
Richmond Park becomes regular club session
Club Facebook site goes live - most news now posted here, over 100 members signed up by the end of 2009
SEPTEMBER
Racer programme started - newcomers include rower Sergey Kleshnev, a former winner at the National Championships
We run the first of 3 rollerski sessions for London social club SPICE
OCTOBER
Club hoodies printed - over 50 hoodies are distributed to club members and supporters
4-hour race success - Felicity Bertram and Rob Dorward win the 4-hour race, completing 49 and 68 laps respectively, Iain finishes 1 lap behind Rob - results
Wessex / British Rollerski Champs success - we win the Mens' and Ladies' individual titles, and the Mens' team relay events (with novice Sergey Kleshnev racing after only 2 months on rollerskis) - results: 9k 6k 3k Mens relay Ladies relay
We make our first appearance at a show - the British Ski + Board Show in Birmingham. Several hundred people (mainly kids) have a go at rollerskiing. Nordic Challenge offered the chance to try cross-country skiing on matting and Concept 2 showed off their SkiErg.
Hyde Park skier Catherine Thomas becomes the face of the SkiErg - report
NOVEMBER
Peak time for rollerski lessons in Hyde Park - barely enough instructors to meet demand for lessons on some weekends...
...but worst rain in London for years dampens demand a bit
GB ladies' canoe team start 6-week rollerski course to prepare them for New Year cross-country ski training camp on snow
15 of our Hyde Park Skiers take part in an 'Arctic Biathlon' competition in Sweden, to raise funds for the Kids Company charity
DECEMBER
Ski marathon season begins
Rob Dorward wins 7.5k biathlon race and finishes second in the 15k classic race at the Royal Engineers Nordic Ski Championships - in just his first season on snow
GB Nordic Development Squad launch new website, www.bnds.org.uk
British entries for 2010 Engadin Skimarathon exceed 100 - here
Over 30 signed up for our on-snow courses in 2010
Welcome to new rollerskiers in January & good luck to all rollerskiers in 2010.
Website page views in 2009 = 138,467; visits = 34,748 (2008: 112,912, 25,719)
Rollerski Club members: +25%
What will your rollerski highlight be in 2010?
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