The Snowsport Section are organising the Championships in Saalbach / Hinterglemm with the assistance of Andreas Wernig of IXXALP, who is our contact and accommodation provider within the Resort.

This is a new venture for the Section to organise the Championships out with the expertise of SkiWorld Special Events and we hope that this will give greater scope for competitors and friends and family to attend this prestigious event. This venture will hopefully reduce the costs to those attending whether competitors or supporters.

Andreas Wernig was for many years one of the contacts within the Tourist Office of the Resort. He has set up accommodation and holiday company within the Salzbergerland of Austria. His e-mail address is a.wernig@ixxalp.com and he is at present setting up a website which will be at www.ixxalp.com in order that customers can view the accommodation and book online.

There are links to both Munich and Salzburg from the UK with Ryanair and other operators. Once details of the travel arrangements have been made Andreas will organise uplift and transfer from the airports to the resort.

The resort offers excellent snowsport conditions and has linked runs of 220 kilometres which cater for all standards of skiers and snowboarders. Uplift is being modernised and expanded with 6 person high speed chairs and gondolas being introduced.

Foreword by PSUK Snowsport Section Chairman William Rae QPM, Chief Constable Strathclyde Police

Dear Skiers,

Once again the Snowsport Section returns to Hinterglemm Austria with assistance this year from Andreas Wernig and his company ixxalp, looking after us in the resort. As always we are assured of a warm welcome from the local hoteliers and we look forward again to excellent accommodation, food and of course the après ski. The racing events of Alpine, Nordic and Snowboarding will once again be with the assistance of the Austrian Ski School. The race calendar will incorporate a GS Individual, GS Team and Slalom, a Nordic Individual and Relay Team Event. This year the Snowboarding Events will be a GS Timed Event, a Dual Slalom and Boarder X with a floodlit beginners/snowbladers fun race.

Last year 25 Forces took part in the competition and the Committee are encouraged that more will take the opportunity of taking part this year. Although there are many racers participating they range from recreational skiers to competent racers. There are, however, also many friends and family who enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie of the week and we would hope that many more colleagues and friends will join us.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Gordon Macdonald, who worked and encouraged for the inclusion of Snowboarders in the Championships. His enthusiasm and dedication for his Sport was infectious and without whose hard work the Championships and Indoor Event in Milton Keynes would not be as successful. The Committee wish Gordon the very best of luck in his new life and work with the State Police in Calgary, Canada. I and the Committee welcome Richard Wall from Bedford, who is taking on the mantle of Snowboarding Organiser.

Once again my thanks to the organising committee for their hard work over the year and wish you all a successful Championships.

Report by Stuart Paterson, Race Organiser

As Race Organiser I wish to welcome all past and future competitors, friends, family and supporters of the event.

Although the resort is fairly low we have had excellent snow conditions over the last 3 years. The resort start making artificial snow in November to build up a base on the race piste. The Alpine race pistes are situated under the Zwölferkogelbahn gondola with the Snowboarders using a variety of runs near the resort depending on the discipline. The X-Country loops are a 5 minute bus ride (free) to the top of the valley and there it is hoped that they may get use of the Saalfelden loops at the end of the valley about 15 minutes away by bus. These are used in Olympic events. I hope that we can build on the number of Alpine, Snowboarders and X-country competitors who will participate so that we can capitalise on the last few years. The accommodation in the resort is varied and I am sure there will be something for everyone from 4* Star hotels to self catering apartments. The cuisine is excellent and so is the après ski.

I would ask you to make sure that all racers take out Race insurance and this is available through a number of companies.

The Races are run under the F.I.S. rules to ensure that we are covered by insurance as are the Ski School who set the club courses for us and at present the minimum ski lengths for racing are 150cm for ladies and 160cm for men with a 5cm degree of flexibility.

There is also a requirement now for all competitors in Alpine and Snowboarding to wear Ski Helmets. Since this ruling was brought in last year there have been 3 instances where skiers wearing the helmets during recreational skiing, fell and damaged them, therefore we would strongly recommend that these be worn at all times and not just while racing.

Over the week we try to organize as many races as possible for all standards of skiers. The Alpine event has a GS Individual and Team event. The racers are divided into seeded groups with a medal for the best improved skier in that group. A slalom and on one evening we run a floodlight fun race. The Snowboarders have a timed GS race a Dual GS and a Boarder X. The Nordic run a Relay Race and an Individual Race which includes a Team event and there are medals for the best Combined Nordic and Alpine Points.

The Scottish Forces organize, run and fund their Regional Event in Scotland normally in March with the responsibility of organizing taken by each of the Forces in turn. The organiser for 2006 will be Ewan Henderson, Northern Constabulary. The English Forces take their Regional Results from within the framework of the Championships which necessitates the difference in Entry Fees as medals and shields require to be purchased.

I wish to thank SkiWorld Special Events Staff especially Nick Vine, Jamie Gibson, Stuart and Nicco Harvey and Valerie who have assisted and supported us in the last six years and helped to make it the success it has become.

The Nordic Event has been successful in having 40 competitors in the last few years and we now have a Forces Relay Event on the Monday prior to the Alpine Events. This comprises of 3 Nordic skiers per Force competing over 4kms. The Individual Event is run over 4km for Ladies and 8km for men. This also includes the Team Event, and is run on the Friday with 4 skiers per Team. Skiers who compete in both the Nordic and Alpine Events also have a chance of winning a Combined Medal.

This year we are hoping to organize the event in Saalfelden which has Olympic loops and is 15 minutes from the resort.

Last years’ medal winners together with all other results are listed on the PSUK website.

The Snowboard competition consists of 3 separate events - Slalom, Dual slalom and Boarder Cross. There are prizes for each individual event as well as the overall winner but there is no obligation to enter each event.

Although competing in separate events, the ladies and men's competitions are held at the same time guaranteeing many spectators, so creating an excellent environment to compete.

The ability of racers varies, we have had people enter and comfortably complete the courses with only 1 weeks experience on a board, it is up to you how fast you go!

The courses are professionally planned and marshall's are provided for safety and timings, the only requirement to race is that you wear a helmet.

Races take place every other day so in between there is time to practice with advice and race tips provided by the more experienced competitors, the atmosphere is extremely friendly with the objective being the enjoyment of all those competing.

This will be the fourth year we have been in the resort and a good knowledge of the mountain has been gained by several snowboarders who will be happy to impart their experience and advice on where to ride. The resort is extremely snowboard 'friendly' with a fun park available as well, the terrain is very well suited to free riding with excellent off-piste opportunities.

Each year the number of entrants for the Snowboard competition has grown, ages and abilities of competitors vary but everybody is welcome.