Ski Club of Manchester and The WEA - An Exciting New Project

Reporter: Ian Harford

A new initiative to be launched after Easter will provide opportunities at the Chill Factor^e slope in Trafford for minority ethnic women to learn how to ski. The British Asian Active Women’s project is part of the WEA’s Festival of Learning programme.

Organised jointly by the Ski Club of Manchester (SCoM) and the WEA, it is being financially supported by the WEA and Link4Life, Rochdale’s healthy living body. Chill Factor^e instructors will run the initial three training sessions.

Ian Harford, SCoM chairman said “This course is the first of its kind in the country and challenges cultural stereotypes. It is a great opportunity to extend the sport of skiing to black and minority ethnic communities in the northwest. We are delighted that Reena Kaushal, the first Indian woman to ski to the South Pole has agreed to support the project”.

The ten participants will be drawn from the local community in Rochdale, with whom the WEA works and will become members of SCoM for the year. After the course they will act as ambassadors for the sport in their communities. The project will initially involve attending 3 two hour courses with a trainer on the nursery slopes.

For the two sessions on the main slope the women will be supported by three SCoM women mentors who are all experienced skiers. Participants will be encouraged to become active members of the Club in future years.

Practical Details:
The course will be run in the day time to suit those women who need to fit in with school timetables for their children. Travel to the course will be by coach leaving Rochdale at 9.15 am and returning to Rochdale by 3.00pm.

Sessions have been fixed for Mondays with the three training sessions scheduled for 19th April, 26th April and 10th May; and the two sessions on the main slope fixed for 17th May and 24th May. All equipment and clothing will be supplied as part of the project.