Everything you need to know...

Ski racing can be a complex world and we're here to help you navigate your LSR membership, how to enter races and understand the rules and seed points, as well as some more practical guidance on equipment and ski preparation. 

All trainees must have a profile created on our ClassForKids system - you control you and your child's data! Our coaches will send class specific updates through this system. To access your account on ClassForKids and see information related to your account payments, term dates and to book extra training sessions and camps, follow the link below and log in with your details. 

Facebook is one of our main communication channels and all events, updates and results will be posted through this channel, so please do jump online and follow us. We also have a WhatsApp Community which members can join, this is outbound communication only where coaches and committee can send important links and updates.

While the information online is useful the best people to speak to are your peers and coaches, from across the entire ski community.

What kit do I need?

Around 75-80% of the kids will use their own kit on a Thursday early session, but there is no obligation to have your own kit and hire kit is prefectly fine.  We would encourage getting your own kit as it will be better than the kit from the hire, but it is not a necessity. Some kids who are on a Thursday Early have been with LSR for 4years+ so have had plenty of years to build their kit stores up.

As ski racing can be a dangerous sport, we would always advocate safety equipment above everything else. The main ones being a good quality helmet and a back protector.

The first bullet list below is all the kit that would be recommended for racing/training for a U10/12, the second list is extra bits and bobs that are not a necessity, but some trainees do have them.FIS certified helmet – This is a racing helmet that meets the safety requirements of the Federation Internationale de Ski. The chin guard is optional.

Back protector – Optional but recommended by all coaches to have one of these.

Boots – There is a massive selection of boots available from dozens of companies. Best thing to do is speak to the suppliers and coaches, between them they can advise on the type and spec of boot to get that suits his age, development and ability.

Race skis - There is a massive selection of skis available from dozens of companies. Best thing to do is speak to the suppliers and coaches, between them they can advise on the type and spec of ski to get that suits his age, development and ability. Unless he is planning on training extensively aboard it would be best to get Slalom skis.

Poles – Not a necessity but are much better quality than Hillend poles.

Shin Guards – Protection advised for those who are U14 and above, but not a necessity for a U12.

Pole Guards - Protection advised for those who are U14 and above, but not a necessity for a U12.

Arm Guards – 100% optional, only really used by the oldest trainees.

Upper body Armour – 100% optional, only really used by the oldest trainees.

Lower body Armour – 100% optional, very few trainees wear these.

Armoured Gloves – 100% optional. Lots of trainees have these as it provides a wee bit more protection to the hand. Any gloves will do the job to start with.
If you are looking to get kit most of the names listed below provide discounts to LSR Trainees, this can vary between 10 and 20%.

Alpine Imports – https://www.alpineimports.co.uk/ (shop opposite petrol station at bottom of Hillend, website is great)
Ski Bartlett – https://www.skibartlett.com/ (shop is in London, website is great)
Ski Racing Supplies – https://skiracing.co.uk/ (shop down in Sheffield area, wesbite is great)
My-Race – https://my-race.com/ (shop down in Gloucestershire, website is great)
Craigdon – https://www.craigdon-edinburgh.com/ (shop is on the Edinburgh City Bypass, webiste is not great)
Blues – https://www.tiso.com/blues (shop is on Rose Street Edinburgh, wesbite is great)

You can also find Facebook pages which sell race kit such as - LSR Ski Sale https://www.facebook.com/groups/291590527941653 and Skibay https://www.facebook.com/groups/skibay/

Race Introduction

LSR is a race club and you are strongly encouraged to participate in some form of racing throughout the year. LSR organises four races a year at Hillend that are open to all skiers from all over the country and beyond. These are the Twin Peaks (May/June), Scottish Championships (September), LSR Craig MacFie Classic (October) and LSR Bairns and Lassies (November/December).

There are a number of other races throughout the year on Artificial slopes, Indoor Snow and Alpine races in Scotland and abroad. Races are fun and it is what you have been training for so please make sure you enter some races over the year.  LSR supports as many of these races as possible, sending coaches to support trainees.

Races fall into two categories:

• Mini/Bairns races U12 category and below which are competed over a “stubby” course and is non-seeded.
• Seeded races are for competitors in the U14 and older categories. One of the aims of ski racing in seeded races is to improve – i.e. lower your seed points. This gives you a direct comparison versus other racers in your age category. It also gives you a better start in races.  The lower your points the better.

Details of all races, including Entry Forms, can be found at http://www.gbski.com/. It is important to familiarise yourself with this website as you will refer to it many times!

Also keep up to date with Scottish Schools races at http://www.sssa.com. Find out who organises the ski teams at your school and make sure they have your name!

Entering Races

Entering a Ski Race

All races are found on www.gbski.com, www.snowsportscotland.org or will be updated on the LSR calendar. We will send out emails to inform you when entries are open for LSR races at Hillend.

Please try and compete in races when you feel ready. This can be on outdoor artificial slopes, indoor snow slopes (eg. Braehead) and outdoor snow slopes – home and abroad. Please make sure you enter in your correct age category. If you have any questions ask any coach.

Note it is your responsibility to enter races. Some races have limited spaces available or may not allow late entries.

In order to race you must be registered with Snowsport Scotland (U14 and older) to get your competitor registration number. You are not allowed to compete in a race without this. This will cost you an annual membership fee to Snowsport Scotland. If you are a U10/12 you can join Snowsport Scotland for free and have a competitor registration number, but it is not strictly necessary. Your competitor registration number will be a 5-digit number beginning with a “3”.

Race Insurance: If you are a member of LSR and competing in the UK then you are covered by LSR. For races abroad it is important that you have your own insurance even if you are just race training. If you have a winter insurance policy already, it is worth checking this covers races and race training. This is quite specific and the standard polices do not always cover this.

LSR Race Fees: LSR organises three races at Midlothian Snowsports Centre each year (in addition to our own internal Club events) which are open to racers from across the UK. The entry fees for these races are set periodically by the LSR Treasurer in conjunction with the race organisers and should be paid in advance of the race. Fees are set at a level to cover the cost of running the race. They include uplift, use of practice slope and race slope and hire of equipment from Midlothian Snowsports Centre when required.

Please note that race entry fees cannot be paid by cash or cheque on race day.

Seed Points

Seed points only apply for U14’s and older, with everyone starting on 999.99 points.

You will have a separate set of seed points for different surfaces.

BASS – Snow races, you will have different points for SL, GS and SG.

oBARTS – Outdoor artificial slopes

iBARTS – Indoor snow

Calculating seed points is based on your race time against the winner of that race, with an applied penalty. So, if you do well in a race against someone with low points, then your ranking is improved significantly.

Seed lists are updated several times a year and can be seen on www.gbski.com

FIS racers have their own set of points.

Age Categories

Age categories change each year, transitioning between April and May.

The age categories for the current season (April 2025 - April 2026) are as follows:

Minis

U8	2018 and later

U10	2016 and 2017

U12	2014 and 2015

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Mens/Ladies

U14	2012 and 2013

U16	2010 and 2011

U18	2008 and 2009

U21	2005 to 2007

SEN	1996 to 2004

MAS	1995 and older

U12 and below are non-seeded.

U14/16 compete in Children’s Races.

U18 and above compete in FIS races (Federation International du Ski) if they have a FIS licence (snow only).

Please make sure that you tick the correct age category box on the Race Entry Form or your entry might be invalid.

Race Day

Races can only go ahead with considerable amount of hard work from the LSR Committee and volunteers. If you wish to help, please offer to shadow an experienced official.

If you are interested in committing further, Snowsport Scotland runs courses designed to explain different roles on race days - eg. Starter, Finish Marshall, Gate Judge, Time Keeper, etc.

If you are interested in helping please contact LSR at race@lothianskiracing.co.uk.

Prior to race day make sure that your racer has been booked for Race Support. This means they will be looked after by one of our LSR Coaches.

After your racer has crossed the finish always check protocol, to see if they have been disqualified, even if they think they have had a clean run. If a mistake has been made, you can challenge this decision, together with your coach.