SASA Interschools
Held in May every year, this is entry level racing, designed to get as many children involved. Much like our winter series, it is very low key. Schools can enter team in two categories (Primary: up to year 6, Secondary: years 7 – 11). (In this race the categories are either Primary – Years R-6 or Secondary – Years 7-11).
There is no minimum age and there is no team size limit (within reason!!) The teams need to consist of a minimum of three skiers in an individual age category to make up a team, but if you can’t get enough racers together for a team, you can still enter as an individual as long as you are a SASA member as there are also prizes for individual performances. Its worth asking around at the slope as you may find other children from the same school to from a team – it has been known for sufficient individuals from the same school to enter and unwittingly form a team!
The three best times of three runs means that the teams need to think about skiing to ensure that sufficient members of the teams get a time.
SASA Southern Schools Open
This is held in June every year, teams of three or four compete in a relaxed environment. We have three age categories – CAT 1- years R -6, CAT 2 – years 7 -10 and CAT 3 years 11 and 12 and SASA members can enter individually.
This is excellent preparation for the ESSKIA schools race (see below) as the ESSKIA scoring systems where the team with the lowest aggregate score of the three fastest times from two runs is used. Team tactics are even more important here as at least three out of the four team members need to get a time in each run.
ESSKIA
In September, teams of three or four compete for a place in the English Ski Schools Association (ESSKIA) finals that are held in October. The age categories are the same are for the SASA races and mixed teams can compete, but only single sex teams can progress to the finals. The ESSKIA age categories and scoring is the same as the SASA Southern Schools, but this is a more formal race setting than SASA’s race. This is another race where you’ll see officials with clipboards!
