SNO!zone - Castleford

November 2007
Won the YSF Moguls in the Masters category with a stunning (!) 9.50 points. On the plus side we put in some excellent training sessions at SNO!zone Castleford. The number of skiers from outside the squad that are starting to ski in Moguls sessions on Sundays is increasing and there are some promising new athletes emerging.

The Yorkshire Ski Federation (YSF) Moguls Championships were held over from June, however when they finally took place the bumps were in excellent condition, thanks to Mick, and the field was of a high standard. Hopefully next year they will be integrated back into the full Championships, alongside the Alpine events.

I had my first big film release as a Director this month. “kinetic potential” looks at skiing as a moving form taking kids from beginners to internationally competitive athletes. It was submitted for the Ford Film Challenge and while it didn’t win it received good press. Go to http://fordfilmchallenge.telegraph.co.uk/site/ to view this and other entries. I will release the film on the internet in December after a re-mastering.

October 2007
After a pretty poor performance in the British Moguls Championships at SNO!zone Castleford where I hit the first mogul so hard that I almost stopped, it was back to routine training on a Sunday evening. We have incorporated the Snowlife Awards into the training programme and some awards will be made in December.

I did a lot of media work including a live TV feed from the slope to Montreal for Discovery Channel Canada. I’m hoping to get hold of the DVD soon. I also did a feature on skiing and SNO!zone for a programme called the Naked Scientists (broadcast on BBC Radio York and then on the internet) as well as work for ABC Radio Australia.

The highlight of the month was the first broadcast of my TV programme called Engineering Gold for Teachers.tv. Some of stills for the programme that was filmed in part on location in Tignes are shown below.

Note the clever marketing ploy in the third shot! Despite being filmed at Sheffield Ski Village the SNO!zone logo is prominent! The full programme can be seen at www.teachers.tv then searching for “Engineering Gold”. You will need to register to use the site but it’s free! News of a new film will appear in my November and December postings!

Ski Profile
 
Name: Peter Handford-Styring
Nicknames: Pierre
Age: 46
Stance: Coach, leaning on sticks
Sponsors: Sno!Zone, S10 Health
Hometown: Sheffield
Favourite place: Tignes/Val d’Isere
Favourite snowboarder/skier: CR Johnson
Other interests: Music/Guitar/Film Production
 
When did you start and how did you get into snowboarding/skiing? 
At University, I was President of the Ski Club and a member of the Alpine racing team. Competed in Europe and UK on snow, plastic and grass.
 
First snowboard/ski setup?
Head SC Slalom Skis (200 cm!) with Tyrrolia bindings and Salomon SX91 boots!
 
What setup do you now ride?
Salomon CR Johnson pipe skis (180 cm) or K2 Public Enemy Skis (160 cm) with Atomic B90 boots (soft flex for moguls hard for piste)
 
What do you like best about snowboarding/skiing?
Closest thing to flying!
 
Who/what are your influences?
Coaches Pete Silver-Gillespie (BASI) and Simon Ashton (Moguls)
 
Who is your favourite rider/s?
CR Johnson
 
Favourite place to ride?
Les Deux Alpes (parks) and Tignes (bumps)
 
What type of riding are you mostly into?
Moguls
 
Last trick you learnt?
Kicker into bumps
 
Favourite trick to impress the girls/boys?
Riding pipe
 
What injuries have you had?
Broken thumb, torn tendons, dislocated ankle & shoulder, broken tooth, dented pride.
 
What do you think about when riding?
Think?
 
You’re stood above the biggest kicker/rail you ever will hit. How do you make yourself try it for the first time?
Ski into it not realising how big it is!
 
24 hrs before all the snow in the world melts, how would you spend your last dream day and last ever trick of the session?
High speed runs then through the bumps.  Last time to try an invert!
 
Proudest/most memorable moment in snowboarding/skiing?
Qualifying as a Moguls Performance Coach.
 
Biggest thing you’ve missed to go snowboarding/skiing?
Wedding anniversary (twice!)
 
How do you feel about riding for SNO!zone?
It gives me the chance to improve my skiing and coaching whenever I need.  It also means that I can work with the media on snow without having to go out to the alps for short shoots.  It gives be the opportunity to find new talent to bring in to the Yorkshire Freestyle development teams.
 
If you could spend a day with anyone famous, dead or alive, who would it be?
Isaac Newton on twin tips: show him how to really use gravity!
 
Plans for the future?
Coach the kids to Olympic Medals in Freestyle.  Make more TV documentaries about skiing.
 
Thanks and shout outs?
Sno!Zone for having the foresight to create indoor moguls fields.  S10 Health in Sheffield for gym access.  Wildfire Snowsports for access to new ski technologies.
 
Please fill in the totals below:
 
Number of hours riding per week?  5-10, some at the Funpark in Sheffeild.
Number of hours thinking about snowboarding/skiing per week?  Far too many as I also work in ski technology and the media.
Number of snowboards/pairs of skis owned?  Around 12 Pairs of skis (!) and one snowboard (that I never use)
Number of girl/boyfriends lost to snowboarding/skiing?  Lost count, but married now!
Number of jobs lost to snowboarding/skiing?  None, it has created some though!
Number of broken bones?  One, but in three places!
Number of countries ridden in?  4
Number of years snowboarding/skiing?  25!