Skiing
The School is home to some highly-accomplished skiers and expert coaching staff. We’re fortunate to have the Suffolk Ski Centre within easy driving distance of the School, where students can learn the sporting and teamwork skills involved with skiing and also have a great deal of fun.
From learner to expert
Keen skiing students are able to regularly attend training at the Suffolk Ski Centre a short drive from the school, overlooking the marinas and nature parks just outside Ipswich. Miss Hinton, an avid skier, leads a series of regular training sessions to further the experience of racers of every level – from novice to GB representative.
Format
Team training takes place at Suffolk Ski Centre on Fridays after school. Pupils leave school at 16:15, have an instructed session from 17:00-18:00, and return to school at 18:30. Training takes the format of slalom coaching, with a race instructor, with techniques and race practice forming the core of the sessions.
The teams train together at the slope, but in competitions are segmented into U11, U14, U16 and U19 teams, mixed or girls and boys teams. They race on a slalom course, set by international coaches looking to select skiers to represent England at the ISF Gymnasiade World School Games every two years.
Competitions
Notable results:
- In 2019, the girls U19 team qualified for the National ESSKIA finals, finishing seventh in the country.
- In 2018, the same team competed in Flaine at the British Schoolgirls Races, coming away with Silver and Bronze medals.
- The boys have also been successful, with U19 Boys and U17 Boys Gold and Bronze medallists respectively in the ERSA Competition in Norwich.
Special events
An annual week long ski trip takes place in the Easter holidays to the Stubai Glacier in Austria, one of the largest all round ski areas in Europe. Beginners, intermediates and experts are all welcome.
Notable achievements
Woodbridge School skier, Honor Bartlett, is taking international events by storm. A member of the current GB Ski Team, her recent results include:
- U14 British Female Super Giant Slalom Champion.
- U14 English Champion in Super G, Slalom and Overall.
- Member of British Children’s Ski Team representing Team GB in Andorra and Italy 2019 and Andorra and Japan 2020.
Connections
We enjoy a productive relationship with Suffolk Ski Centre, as well as key personnel around the GB national squad.
Meet the staff
Lucy Hinton (Head of Skiing and Teacher of MFL)
The ski racing team is managed by Lucy Hinton, who has over eight years’ experience with both the Woodbridge Prep and Senior School teams, as well as managing the ESSKIA training squad for four years.
Granddaughter to the national race coach of the Hungarian performance ski team, veteran of a season as a chalet girl and all-round ski addict, Lucy also organises the Senior Ski Trip, swapping destinations between Austria, Italy and France.
Want to see for yourself?
In addition to our open days, we welcome visits from parents and children looking for the right foundation for life ahead. We’ll be happy to show you around and answer any questions you have about our School, staff and the support we offer our students.