The English Ski Council (ESC) is the governing body of the
sport for English skiers.
Recognised and directly grant aided by Sport England, the ESC
has responsibility for fostering, promoting and developing the interests of
English skiers and all aspects of their sport.
Full membership of ESC is open to:
- Ski clubs
- Schools, colleges and universities or the ski clubs
- Youth organisations
- Other organisations with a commitment to skiing
Associate membership is open to:
- Tour operators, holiday companies
- Ski trade manufacturers, retailers and importers
- Ski slopes and centres
- Individuals who register with the National Coaching Scheme
Individual membership is open to anyone, not covered above,
who has an interest in skiing and who wishes to take advantage of the benefits
of membership of ESC.
Most of the activities arranged with the ESC are organised by volunteers. The Clubs and Regional ski associations put on race leagues, specialist training and coaching, skiing proficiency tests, holidays and social events. Much of this activity takes place on local dry ski slopes and local snow. People also travel to Scottish and Alpine ski resorts for many events.
There is a small professional staff who co-ordinate
activities with the regional associations and clubs and handle all the central
administration.
The Coaching Award Scheme is open to coaches, instructors, performers and officials and it covers participation in Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic and Grass skiing. People involved in the National Coaching Award Scheme are working to increase participation and establish standards and attitudes that will help skiers fulfil their individual aspirations.
Any English skier wanting to take part in competitions or to train as an instructor, coach or official can register with the ESC National Coaching Award Scheme. All registered skiers have the opportunity to train and participate in events organised by some section of ESC; they also receive regular information and are covered by a special insurance scheme.
Further details are in the National Coaching Award Schemes section of this website.
ESC administers several award schemes, catering for people of different ages and levels of ability and also for the different skiing disciplines.
Replacing the previous British Alpine Ski Awards, the new Snowlife Snowsport Award Scheme is a fun set of nine levels that can be achieved by participation, awareness and safety in your chosen Snowsport. The aim of this award system is to build Snowsport skills by introducing developmental activities to help the participant explore the possibilities available in all environments.
Further details are in the Snowlife Snowsport Award Scheme section of this website.
These take place all around the country at all different standards in Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic and Grass disciplines. Participation in a club or regionally organised competition can lead on t a higher level of competition, organised nationally. Dry slope racing and freestyle competitions take place throughout the summer and there are also roller ski races on appropriate terrain. Snow competitions take over in winter, with one of the major National events sited in Europe and other races and contests running in Scotland and the North of England.
Some of these competitions, and also other activities and events can be funded by sponsorship from tour operators, companies in the ski trade and many other commercial enterprises. ESC is always pleased to hear from any company interested in discussing a sponsorship deal.
The existence of the ESC National Coaching Award Scheme Instructor training syllabus means that most Instructors on dry ski slopes, whether professional or amateur, are now qualified, through ESC, as Artificial Slope Ski Instructors. Some instructors continue with their training to qualify as ESC Coaches, which entitles them to also work on snow with members of their own clubs and groups.
This Scheme is primarily for teachers or lecturers, and provides basic training in how to set about taking groups away for a skiing holiday or course. The syllabus covers all the essential information such as safety, equipment travel arrangements, programme planning and so on, and provides valuable background for the inexperienced group leader.
A five day Ski Leader Training Course, which takes place on snow, for the most experienced, provides a higher level of training and information including recognition of snow conditions, avalanche precautions and practical work on snow.
The Ski Course Leader Award is achieved after completing a training 'log' and three day assessment. The Ski Course Leader is considered able to lead and supervise his/her youth or school group within recognised skiing areas.
Further details are in the Alpine Ski Course Leader section of this website.
The National Squads are the major goal for club skiers and provide the vital link with international competition providing the focus of excellence in performance and coaching for all members of the National Coaching and Performance Development Scheme.
The Squads are selected annually from the nation's best skiers in the Alpine and Freestyle disciplines and provide a stepping stone link for juniors who aspire to international representation at a senior level.
ESC operates a ski club insurance scheme; two holiday/travel insurance policies; and a ski equipment policy. All of these provide cover that are possibly not available commercially and are available at favourable rates to clubs and groups and members who are ESC members.
Information and advice on many skiing topics is available from ESC. If we don't know the answer, we try to pass on the enquiry to someone else who can help.
ESC, either centrally or locally, is represented on many skiing or general sports bodies and committees. The wide variety of information which comes through membership of different organisations is co‑ordinated by ESC and passed on to the appropriate members who may be interested. Examples include new coaching ideas and techniques, changes in competition rules, access to the countryside and the development of new ski facilities, to name but a few.
To sum up, ESC is the English skiers own organisation - run by skiers for skiers, most of whom give their time and energy free, with a communal purpose of benefiting, by their efforts, as many of their fellow skiers as possible.