2010 Welcome Information

Posted Wed, 12/05/2010 - 1:12am

 Greetings for the 2010 Season

Welcome to all TSRC Members and Friends of TSRC for the coming 2010 season. The club is currently preparing for another busy season.

This letter contains a lot of information about the coming season. We would ask you to read it carefully. Also attached are the forms to be completed for membership renewal plus (where applicable) forms for our training members and their parents to be completed. We would ask that all forms are properly completed and signed and monies be paid by cheque to the club’s Treasurer before 15 June, 2010.
 
AGM
The Club had a modest turnout to its AGM on Thursday 26th March. The mid week meeting was clearly not popular and the Directors have resolved to return to a Sunday late morning AGM next year. All current Directors of TSRC (except Christine Stevens who has retired from the Board after 10 years most appreciated service) made themselves available for the 2010/11 year and were elected unanimously. In addition we welcome Jamie Neill and Andrew Hoffman as new Directors. Both Andrew and Jamie and parents of Under 12 and Under 10 training members and bring some younger blood to the TSRC Board.
 
The Directors for the 2010/11 year are:
Stephen Weeks – President
Rodney Payne – Vice President
BJ Kaufmehl – Club Captain
Robert Schuitema – Secretary/Treasurer/Registrar
Dr Felicity Bidencope – Committee (Uniforms)
David Chrystal – Committee (Trophies)
Greg Lewis – Committee (SSA/FIS Points)
Colin Hodkinson - Committee
Markus Mueller - Committee
Mark Pilat – Committee
Andrew Hoffman - Committee
Jamie Neill – Committee
 
A week after the TSRC AGM, Greg Lewis and Mark Pilat were elected as Directors of Ski and Snowboard Australia (SSA) , Australia’s peak winter sports co-ordinating body. In mid April it was tabled that directors of SSA could not be directors of member bodies such as TSRC. This issue is currently subject to a legal dispute. TSRC reluctantly accepted the resignation of Rod Payne (a TSRC and SSA Board member since 2008), Greg Lewis and Mark Pilat in late April. At the time of writing this note there remain significant unresolved issues with the composition of the SSA Board.
 
2009/10 Northern Hemisphere Season
TSRC Members had a busy season training and racing in Europe and North America. The Club would like to congratulate the following members who represented Australia in various competitions:
 
Olympians – 2010 Vancouver Olympics
  • Jono Brauer (Training Member 1989-97) – 30th in Downhill & 39th in Super G
  • Scott Kneller (Training Member 2005-7) – 7th in Skier Cross
 
National Continental Cup Team
  • Lavinia Chrystal (Training Member 1999 – 07)
  • Elizabeth Pilat (Current Training Member) – competed at World Junior Champs
  • Bryce Stevens (Training Member 1995 - 05)
  • Hugh Stevens (Training Member 1996 - 06)
 
National Junior Team (Age 15-19)
  • Toni Hodkinson (Current Training Member)
  • Tom Lewis (Current Training Member)
  • Alexandra Pilat (Current Training Member)
  • Sam Robertson (Current Training Member)
 
National Children’s Team (age 11-14)
  • Max Hough
  • Adam Podgorski
  • Hannah Sugarman
  • Oliver Thompson
 
TSRC was a major contributor of athletes for the Australian National Alpine team and the National Age group teams who competed in European and North America during November 2009 to March 2010. This is a fantastic achievement of which everyone in the club should be immensely proud.
 
InterSchools
The Interschools races are separate to the SSA races however the majority of our Training Members compete in these races. In 2009 TSRC Training Members won 10 of the 30 Alpine medals across the 5 Divisions at the National Champs at Falls Creek and won 15 of the 30 Alpine medals at the NSW Champs at Perisher. Similar results were recorded in the Skier Cross races. Many more Training Members were members of teams who finished in the first three teams for their division.
 
2010 Season
A copy of the TSRC Calendar for the 2010 season is attached to this letter. This calendar incorporates the National Alpine Committee (NAC) race schedule and TSRC training schedule. The Rest Days over the three week school holidays for the coaches is indicative at this stage and may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
 
The NAC is currently overhauling the National Children Race series (for Under 14’s and Under 12’s). We understand that additional races may be added to the Season Calendar however at the date of this letter, these races have not yet been added.
 
Approx 85% of last years’ Training Members have indicated that they will be returning for the 2010 season. The Club has received applications from 8 new members wishing to join for the 2010 season. At this stage the distribution of Training members for the 2010 season looks like:
 
FIS:  16
14 & Under:  26
12 & Under:  11
10 & Under:  7
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The Club, in conjunction with KT has appointed Mr Joe Draxal as Coaching Co-ordinator for TSRC for the 2010 Season. This will be Joe’s second season with TSRC as Coaching Co-ordinator. During the off-season Joe has run a fitness training programme for members in Sydney on Sunday mornings.
 
Other coaches returning to TSRC for the 2010 season are Peter Palasthy, Luke Glossop, Paul Hottersall and Pippo. The Club is currently finalizing the appointment of the FIS coaches. The Directors have affirmed the criteria for new training members for the 2010 season. All training members must be born before 1 January, 2002 and meet minimum skier skills criteria. The suitability of any new skier will be determined by the Coaching Co-ordinator, President and Club Captain.
 
Uniforms
All Training Members are required to own and wear the Beyond X TSRC Jacket and Pants. The club has purchased soft shell black jacket for the FIS training members. This may be purchased from the club and worn instead of the club jacket. During training, Training Members may wear their race suits and short pants however these should be in club colours, where possible. FIS training members may wear a black outer garment during training.
 
Both the TSRC Jacket and soft shell jackets should have all club sponsors logos sewn onto them.
 
New Jackets & Pants are obtainable from Australia’s Beyond X representative, Colin Hodkinson on (02) 9440 3688 or colin@beyondx.com.au.
 
The Club holds a number of new black soft shell jackets for FIS training members. The Directors are currently considering whether to make a club raincoat (to be worn over the ski jacket of ski suit on race days) as part of the club’s uniform policy. A decision will be made shortly and parents advised.
 
If you have any enquiries on Uniforms please contact Felicity Bidencope on 0419 231 490 or woodhome@bigpond.net.au
 
Code of Conduct
The Directors recently reaffirmed the Club’s Code of Conduct. It is important that TSRC Training Members adhere to the Code of Conduct. Our Training Members are very visible both on the mountain and in the village, hence the Club expects a high standard of behaviour at all times.
 
We would ask parents to have the Training Member read the Code of Conduct before signing it in front of you, and ask that parents/guardians also sign the Code of Conduct.
 
Fees
The training fees for the 2010 season have been increased by $200 for FIS members (to $3,200) and $300 for Age Group members ($3,000). The increase in training fees is the first since 2007 and covers three years of increased input costs, particularly coaching costs. A schedule of fees payable is attached. Fees for the 2010 season must be paid by cheque as the treasurer does not have any credit card processing facilities in Sydney.
 
The club has again included race fees for the TSRC Cup in the fees to be paid at the start of the season. Provision will be made to refund these fees should a racer provide appropriate advance notification that they will not be competing or are injured.
 
For other race events, including TSRC FIS races and other interstate FIS races, the Club in the past has paid the race fees, accommodation & lift tickets in advance and sought reimbursement by the members. The Club will continue to do this however reminds all members that it seeks prompt reimbursement.
 
A comprehensive package of Membership Forms, Waivers, Code of Conduct for members to complete for the 2010 season is attached to this letter.
 
Job Roster
As part of our contract with KT (a very comprehensive document which the Club Directors enter with KT each year), TSRC is obligated to run or assist in the running of 9 race days at Thredbo, namely:
- SCECGS Redlands Cup (13 July)
- Interschools/ Sydney Division (16-17 July)
- TSRC Cup (24-25 July)
- Australian FIS National Champs (9-13 August)
In order to run these events, the Club needs to provide significant people resources. The Interschools and Redlands Cup events will require a smaller number of specialist positions (starters, chief marshals, timers) as Redlands and Interschools provide gate keeping, course workers and slippers, however TSRC Cup and National FIS Champs requires approx 25 course workers, gate keepers and slippers each day in addition to the specialist positions. A work schedule will be put in place by the Race Volunteer Co-Ordinator for various events.
 
Use of Ski Storage Facilities (at bottom of clubrooms)
The area where parents have been able to store skis and boots has unfortunately been taken by KT to extend its retail area. The Directors are currently looking at a replacement area and will advise parents if a suitable area has been found.
 
TSRC Scholarship
Due to significant cost increases for the club’s major inputs, the Directors have resolved to maintain the training fee increase to a minimum, hence has saved $7,000 by not offering Scholarships for the 2010 season.
 
TSRC Sponsorship of Thredbo Ski Patrol
The Thredbo Ski Patrol is a voluntary organization and provides a wonderful service assisting injured skiers on the mountain. During the course of a season our Training Members are collectively, frequent users of the Ski Patrol services. TSRC continues to make a generous donation to the Thredbo Ski Patrol to support their activities. If any member would like to make a donation to the Thredbo Ski Patrol Association the contact person is Michael Harries on michael@activecreative.com.au
 
TSRC Website
The TSRC website is www.thredboskiracing.com The club battles to keep this site up to date and would appreciate any volunteer to take over the administration and updating of the site.
 
Upcoming Events
For the June long weekend, the clubhouse will be open and lockers would have been allocated with names on each locker. Training members may also start storing there equipment in the clubhouse.
 
The first official training day will be Saturday 26th June.
 
The Presentation of TSRC Awards for 2010 season has been set for 5pm on Saturday 3rd July at the Keller.
 
Gabi Robertson has kindly offered to organize the TSRC Snow Dance in Thredbo in the first couple weeks of the season. The date is currently being finalised and parents will be advised.
 
On behalf of my fellow Directors, we look forward to another busy and successful ski season. May the snow gods provide good skiing conditions for us all.
 
StephenWeeks
Club President