The British Army Telemark Association is once again looming for the 2011 season, yet again Communication Specialists will be sponsoring this event with our equipment of 15 two way radios.

We sponsored the Combined Winter Sports which was held in Meribel, France on the 2nd - 6th February 2010.

The number of Telemark skiers across the Services is growing. Whilst many are „old hands‟ with arctic warfare experience, an increasing number come from pure alpine or ski-mountaineering backgrounds; whatever their history, they all share a passion for Telemark skiing.

The Army Telemark Ski Association (ATSA) was formed in 2007 to gather like-minded people together for racing and further development of the sport. Now in its fourth season, ATSA is the acknowledged heart of Army and Service Telemark skiing.




For the Alpine skiers, the Army will again be looking to exert their domination at team and individual level. Last year they were chased all the way by the RAF!

2011 Telemark Event Dates

Army Championships (Rauris, 8-19 Jan 11)
World Cup (Rauris, 21-22 Jan 11)
Inter Services (Meribel, 29 Jan - 05 Feb 11)

As usual, entry is also open to RN and RAF skiers and UK civilians. Novice telemarkers are welcome. BFBS Sport

The Championship comprises three types of races:

1. Classic. The cornerstone of Telemark racing: a course of up to 40 gates, with a number of features unique to Telemark such as the Reipeløkke, a jump and a skating section. Top racers will complete the course in around two minutes. One run only.

2. Sprint Classic. A shorter, more spectator-friendly, version of the Classic. Two runs.

3. Giant Slalom. A more traditional race format, with up to 40 gates and a jump. Two runs.

4. Mountain Race. A team or individual race, with a ‘Le Mans’ start. Racers use skins to make their way uphill (and off piste) around a turning mark and then back downhill via some control gates, to finish near the start.

Telemark turns must be made through all gates, except where there are yellow flags. Time penalties apply.

Reipeløkke: A banked 360° turn.
Skating: Flat or slightly uphill and roughly 1/3 of the race time.
Jump: 25-40m of ‘air’. Time penalties are awarded for failing to clear the distance line.

For further information about the British Army Telemark Skiing event please got to ArmyNet

Combined Services Winter Sports

We sponsored the Combined Winter Sports which was held in Meribel, France on the 2nd - 6th February 2010. Our involvement was to provide communications for the whole event so the skiers, commentators and event management could keep in contact with one another, without costly mobile phone bills at the end!

Portable Motorola Radios

For the Alpine skiers, the Army will again be looking to exert their domination at team and individual level. Last year they were chased all the way by the RAF!

It is also a big year for the Navy who are hoping to give some of their young up coming skiers the a good test, in events they have struggled with over the past few years.

This time as well as the Downhill, Super G Giant Slalom and Slalom events there will be a fifth race the SC Slalom, designed to give the speedsters and slalom experts an equal chance of success.

The presence of the "Battle Back" competitors was also be much looked forward to. They are hoping to use the championships as a springboard for future Winter Paralympics ambitions.

Snowboarding continues to grow in popularity and a record number of forces competitors are expected in Meribel. The snowboard park in Meribel is one of the best dedicated tracks in the Alps and offers plenty of challenges for all the competitors. The main event remains the Snowboard Cross with thrills and spills of racing on the tight track. But another great attraction is the Parallel Giant Slalom held under the floodlights, which adds extra spice. The Slope Style is the final event, which allows the riders to show off their skills with the board to the full.

The event is over a course of 5 days.

Meribel is once again pulling out the stops for the top service skiers and snowboarders.

Go into any of the bars and restaurants here and the prices hit you between the eyes! One bar was advertising its prices on labels on the tables. A pint of beer 4 Euros, in Happy Hour! The shops are as friendly and helpful as ever.

A link to the whole event and the bloggers is listed below, we hope you enjoyed the event and look forward to next year!

BFBS Sport

Home Office Scientific Development Exhibition

Communication Specialists and CommVert will be attending the Home Office Scientific Devlopment Exhibition on the 16th - 19th March in Farnborough. We will be on Stand U28 if you want to come and pay us a visit :)

Background Information
The HOSDB 2010 exhibition is the UK's only secure event for displaying the latest security equipment for law enforcement and public security. It focuses on the four key Home Office business areas:
Crime and Policing
Security and Counter Terrorism
Identity Management and Border Security

To meet the demand from exhibitors and visitors HOSDB 2010 is moving to Farnborough in Hampshire - just over half an hour away from central London by train and from Heathrow airport by road. The new venue offers a secure facility with ample on-site parking and local hotel accomodation.

In 2009 visitors from 44 countries attended, with 230 exhibitors. This year HOSDB and the organisers, A|D|S have joined forces with UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) to invite senior policing and government security representatives from around the world. They will be hosted on a formal government-to-government basis.

There will be around 3,000 security products in over 150 different categories on show with products ranging from microchips to body armour.

Senior government officials will be running a series of one hour workshops to provide briefing on key areas of government programmes - open to all exhibitors at the event.

In recognition of the increased level of formal overseas delegations the event will run for three days.

Because of the specialist nature of this exhibition, entry criteria is strict. Visitors must be employees or agents of the police service, government security and law enforcement agencies - plus military and some select providers of Critical National Infrastructure.

For more information on visiting or exhibiting contact Ruediger Kanne of CommVert or call him on +44(0)1256 766 600.

Visitors may also register online for the HOSDB exhibition