50 Years Of Dry Slope Skiing
50 Years Of Dry Slope Skiing
Published : 06-Oct-2013 08:23
This is a special weekend in the history of British skiing as it marks the anniversary of 50 years since the first permanent dry ski slope opened, at Torquay in Devon.
There had been earlier dry slopes, a temporary one in what was to become Lillywhites store in London's Piccadilly in the 1950s and others for shows and exhibitions dating back at least to the 1920s, but this was the first permanent slope that anyone could use, and it's still operating today with a healthy local ski club.
After the Torquay slope opened up to 150 more followed (the number peaked in the late 1970s, early 1980s) in the UK and hundreds of thousands, pethaps millions of Brits learned to ski, while British made dry slope surfaces were exported to created hundred more dry slopes all over the world. Around 60 are still operational in Britain.
Dry slopes have also been the launch pad of many British ski racing careers with most of the current British ski team started out on dry slopes.
The first dry ski slope in Britain was at Barton Hall, Torquay. Torquay Alpine Ski Club (TASC) - the club that operates it - is now one of the oldest skiing institutions in the country
"In 1963 a group of visionary individuals constructed the first outdoor ski slope in Britain. The philosophy has always been one of a club and after many years of passing the baton between dedicated volunteers, arch enthusiasts, quality instructors, supportive suppliers and selfless committee members the club continues to thrive – this is a truly remarkable achievement for an amateur snowsports club," said Ralph Howle, Chairman of TASC.
The idea was conceived by a group of local enthusiasts aided by the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR), who persuaded Fred Pontin (later Sir Fred) to set up the slope at his Barton Hall holiday camp in Torquay.
There was a grand opening ceremony at the slope which included demonstration of skiing by members of the British Ski Team and European Ski Instructors from the Swiss Resort of Champery. In honour of this historic occasion, Champery has sent two ski instructors to represent them at the anniversary dinner.
In addition to teaching thousands of local people to ski. The club has had outstanding success in ski racing competition over the last 30 years, in particular the last 20 years have seen national age group children's champions nearly every year and near continuous representation of the club in national teams. Most successful of the club's racers has been Jai Geyer who recently held a place in the British Senior Alpine Team, being one of a team of only six racers, which included Chemmy Alcott and European Cup Winner David Ryding.
Originally called the "Wessex Ski Association" and then "Wessex Ski Club", TASC has continued to be at the forefront of skiing activities in Britain and in 2012 it became the first club in the South West to be awarded the prestigious Snowmark award.
TASC celebred the anniversary with a dinner at the Grand Hotel, Torquay on the 5 Oct 2013 with Olympic and World Cup Ski Racer Chemmy Alcott and Olympic Ski Jumper "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards as Guests of Honour. Other guests included members of the club who were present at opening of the slope and who were part of the first ever group to qualify as UK Artificial Slope Ski Instructors.
"The opening of the first permanent dry ski slope in 1963 is a major milestone in British Skiing and marks the first time that skiing became widely accessible. Since then hundreds of thousands of people have learnt ski on these types of slope and it all started with Torquay slope and the club that operates it. The heart of our sport in the UK is based around clubs and it's great to know that this club is still going strong after 50 years," said Tim Fawke, CEO of Snowsport England.
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