The British Ski Academy creates stepping stones for athletes aiming to achieve a world class level of performance in Alpine ski racing.

No other training group in the UK comes close to the BSA in helping young racers to bridge the gap from aspiring child ski racer to national team junior. The BSA sports programme involves technical ski training, free skiing, gate training, strategy, psychology, video work, all aspects of fitness conditioning and cross-training in other sports.

From mid December the BSA opens its Les Houches doors to competitive young British ski racers preparing for the Anglo Scottish and BARSC New Year races.

During BSA 'term time' the racers ski in the mornings and study in the afternoons. The BSA attends British run (BASS) events such as the Welsh Alpine Championships and the British Schoolboys Ski Races at the end of January. See www.britski.org for event details. The British Inter-School Ski Challenge is always a highlight - this season due to be held in Les Houches on 12/13 March 2012.

At the end of the season racers train with the BSA at camps for the British and Scottish Junior and Children's Ski Championships. (Some trainees return to their clubs for school holiday programmes and race support.)

Racers have a daily routine of stretching and regular conditioning supervised in groups of six by their coach for the week. The BSA gym contains ski specific exercise machines, balance, strength and co-ordination equipment. To make the very most of their stay at the academy, racers are encouraged to work towards a high level of fitness before arrival. Trainees are taught how to prepare and maintain their ski equipment. BSA coaches ensure that all trainees' ski equipment is regularly serviced and prepped to race standard.

At an elite UK level the BSA includes a programme for children racers, who we register in the French national system in order to compete against the best racers of the same age in Haute Savoie - the "Mont Blanc" region. This preparation for international competition is ideal for British children racers and comes at no cost to school study time, but is reserved for racers spending consequential periods at the BSA winter base.