My Skiplex Story, by Lauren Aley

14 April 2015

 

 

My name is Lauren Aley and I'm 9 years old.
 
Why Skiplex?
I live about half a mile away from Skiplex Reading and my mum spotted the centre on Facebook.
 
What came first?
I really liked skiing at Bracknell on the dry slope and had 2 lessons when I was 7 and then I tried a real snow centre and didn't like skiing AT ALL - it was too cold and too slippery!
 
And then:
I went to La Rosiere with my mum and dad and big sister twice in 2 years. I was ok at skiing and completed the improvers level by the end of the second week in the Evolution 2 ski school.
 
What happened last Summer?
My mum took out the Platinum Skiplex membership and so during the summer holidays in 2014 we started coming to Skiplex 2-3 times per week to make the most of the membership. I really wanted to tick off all the Skiplex levels and Ollie and Kyran, my instructors were brilliant.
 
Did you know about the kids Skiplex Race Camps?
My mum spotted the flyer for the race camps which were taking place in Basingstoke from last September (2014) and I really wanted to try it.  I went every Sunday morning and then they suggested I take part in a weekend of technical training in Landgraaf in the Netherlands.  I went with Kandahar Ski Club and got to practise my race starts and skiing round poles.
 
And then:
My mum and dad had booked another week of skiing in the Christmas holidays (December 2014) and this time I jumped right up to the top advanced group at ski school on the first day! It just shows that all my training at Skiplex had really improved my level. We also heard about the BARSC championships in Les Arcs so I was able to go from my holiday over to the races, which ended up being moved to Tignes. There were lots of racers and I think I came 4th in one of my races (picture below).
 
What's Next?
I still come to Skiplex most weekends but I have finished all their levels now so I really come just to keep working on my fitness and skiing technique. I wish there was a Skiplex race team but at the moment they don't have one. I would like to get in to my school ski team but most of the skiers are in Year 6 so it's going to be hard for me to compete against the older girls but I'm going to try my best.  I have also now joined Hemel Ski Race Club and am going to compete in the ERSA summer league.
 
Would you recommend Skiplex to a friend?
Yes!!