I Board-X Snowboard Festival

8-10 Nov 2002.

Alexandra Palace. London. 020 8365 2121. Fri noon—7pm; Sat—Sun 10am—8pm. 9212. Enjoy the ultimate snow experience as top riders and skaters from around the globe do their thang. Top DJs. breakdancers and up- to-the-minute retailers complete the vibe.

I Braemar Telemark Festival

8-10 Mar 2003.

Glenshee Ski Centre. Braemar. 01339 741

WEATHER FORECAST

I General overview www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather

I Regional weather as well as special interest forecasts www.0nlineweathercom wwwskicentralcom

Ceefax p421

Glencoe Centre Report: 09001 654658 Glenshee Centre RepOrt: 09001 654656 Nevis Range Centre RepOrt: 09001 654660 Cairngorm Centre Report: 09001 654 655

242. This three-day bonanza is for all standards of telemarker. Expect

masterclasses. race training. talks and an

open race event.

I British Snowboarding Championships

21 -23 Mar 2003.

Aviemore. British Ski Association. 0131 445

2428. Free to watch.

Arguably the most exciting wintersport event in Scotland as the UK's top boarders strut their stuff in both Alpine and freestyle events.

fiNQWfiQ/flfifl i’QWEMG Let’s go fly a kite . . .

what all the fuss is about.

the hill.

Both ice climbing (sheer ice faces) and mixed climbing (rock. snow and frozen tun) can be done on any steep ascent. Although pure ice routes are not as common as in the Alps. long passages of ice are usually found in the many gullies and are a pretty good substitute.

NEED SOME HELP? There are a number of winter activity centres across Scotland as well as AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors) approved individuals who organise tailor-made mountaineering COurses and mountain guiding. Glenmore Lodge Aviemore, lnvernesshire. 01479 861 256. www.glenmorelodge.org.uk. This is one of the leading mountain training centres in the world. ideally situated in the heart of Scotland's climbing playground. It boasts a huge range of top notch courses including winter climbing and winter mountaineering. Being the creme de la

22 THE LISY 31 Oct—14 Nov 2002

creme. mountains are not the only thing that come steep. but it is the top training centre in the country. Five-day courses start at £530.

Outward Bound Trust Loch Eil, by Fort William. 01397 772 866. enquiries@outwardbound- uk.org. www.0utwardbound-uk.org A variety of courses for 18-years + including introduction to winter climbing, avalanche awareness and winter mountain craft. Courses run from Jan to early Apr. Prices start at £1 50/weekend and £349/week.

C-N-Do 32 STEP, Stirling. 01786 445703. info@cndoscotland.com. wwwcndoscotland.com.

.Bfl‘ my

Lecht Centre RepOrt: 09001 654657

I Climbing

www.winternet-scotland.co.uk

For climbing in the western Highlands: Climbline 0891 333 198

Metcall Mountain 0891 500 441

Metafax Mountain 0336 500 441

For climbing in the eastern Highlands: {3 Climbline 0891 333 197

Metcall Mountain 0891 500 442

Metafax Mountain 0336 500 442

Professional guided walking holidays and activities. See website for dates and prices.

WHERE TO GO?

Scotland is your oyster when it comes to climbing and hillwalking. so much so that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are some hotspots:

The Northern Corries. Cairngorm Mountains. North face of Ben Nevis, Fort William. Ben Udlaidh, Glen Orchy. Argyll. Loch Avon Crags. Cairngorm MountainsLochnagar. Braemar. Liathach and Bein Eighe. Torridon, Highlands. Glencoe.

Junior Mountaineering Club of Scotland, Glasgow Vicky Stewart 0141 334 6859, secretary@jmcs.org.uk. www.mech.gla.ac.uk. This is not just a Club for youngsters. despite what the name might suggest. it's for anyone from 18—60 plus. The club goes away fortnightly (less during

If you're looking for a new challenge this winter and fancy revitalising the boarding/skiing experience with no-holds barred. then snowboard kiting is the wintersport for you. We caught up with Lift instructor. Mark Sankey. to find out

Mixing snowboarding and kiting is surely a bit like patting your head while rubbing your belly? Yeah. it's a bit of a mix. But the name says it all. You're just combining snowboarding with sailing and kiting. It comes under the heading of traction kiting. You can do it on a kite surfboard. which is the lightest. or on a snowboard that‘ll take you right round

Scotland's not known as the sexiest of geographical locations. Do you think there’s a place for such an innovative new sport here? Absolutely, there's always someone out there who wants to try something new. exciting or scary even. Snowboard kiting‘s got all those things going for it. With wintersports you totally get back what you put in. Snowboard kiting is probably for a slightly younger person. But then again. I've seen a group of ten-year-old lads be just as enthusiastic as a 60-year-old woman. Any top tips for the winter? Don't be scared to try something new. If you're already a winterspOrts fan. things like snowboard kiting and deval karting are likely to give you a new challenge and keep you interested. If not. Scotland's one of the most beautiful and accessible places to learn any of the basic sports like ice climbing and skiing. Most of all, enjoy it it's just childsplay after all. (Anna Millar) I For more information log on to wwwkitesnowboardcouk or contact Mark at mark@kitesnowboard.co.u/<.

some periods of the year). and meets every two weeks in the Ben Nevis Bar in Argyle Street. Every Tue members meet at the lbrox Climbing Wall (see below). Phone Vicky to check details. Annual membership: $212 (plus 532 joining fee).

Scottish Mountaineering Club, Edinburgh John RR Fowler (secretary), 4 Doune Terrace, Edinburgh EH3 GDY. If you are a serious climber. you have probably already joined this club. It's a private club for committed Scottish climbers. and has rigorous entry requirements: yOU have to be a pretty serious Munro-Dagger and all-weather sportsman. To be considered for membership. write to the secretary with your reasons for applying.

Junior Mountaineering Club of Scotland, Edinburgh Neil Cuthbert 0131 466 1521, memsec@edinburghjmcs.co.uk. www.edinburghjmcs.co.uk. Like its Glasgow counterpart. this is >