Skol!

When we founded Penguin's ski club after finishing our active racing careers, we did not expect that the first kids that we have taught to tame their skis would once help us in the club as instructors.<

Yes, it's been 20 years since we first tried to show children the wonders of this amazing sport.

The main aim of our activity is a most professional approach to teaching skiing. Our coaches are university-educated teachers or alpine discipline coaches/instructors, who are members of the Czech Ski Association. All instructors of the Penguin's Ski Club follow further education, both as to their teaching skills, and as to their sports and skiing skills as well. Professional education of coaches ensures the application of new trends in skiing education and training.

Teaching and training of skiing is based on the Swiss model. Our motto is that ski racing should a pleasant and fun activity, rather than a stressful event! After all, we are talking about children! All of our trainees participate in an all-season Penguin's Ski Cup - public club races, which are an excellent preparation for other races.

Although skiing is an expensive sport, we try to keep costs at an acceptable level. We are working closely with 4ski.cz - a specialized shop in Ostrava, and also with different ski companies, especially with Elan.

If you share our values and want your child to master the sport, we have some suggestions and recommendations on how to get started:

• The age of your child - does not matter, much more important is the physique and the child's ability to take care of him- or herself, or say what he or she would need. Generally speaking, the youngest trainee is 4 years old.
• The length of training - skiing is not a short-term effort and it is not even possible in the form of teaching we use. The season includes 6 week-long camps, which should also be accompanied by your family skiing. In order for a proper ski training, it is absolutely essential to take most of the practice during the year and at least three training camps per year for about 4 to 5 years.
• Season schedule - training activities start in September by training on trikkes and in-line skating in the Komenského sady park located in Ostrava, during the fall we spend time in the gym where children go through gymnastics lessons, and they also attend the first two camps on a glacier. During the main ski season (December, January, February, March), children attend four week-long ski camps and training in the gym and on skis (in case there is snow in Ostrava Skalka ski centre). In spring, the training continues in the park and the last training camp is scheduled for April, on a glacier. The season ends by a series of summer fitness camps in Croatia by the sea including water sport lessons and two bike camps in Beskydy.
• Where we ski - the times when all camps were organized in the Czech Republic/Slovakia are gone - these days, all camps are organized in Austrian or Italina Alps. We mostly go to Austria in Autumn and Spring to ski on the Stubai glacier. In the main season, we had to sunny Italy, especially to the ski resorts of Passo Tonale, Aprica, Livigno and St. Caterina.
• Equipment - when the child enters his/her first ski season, carving of the skis is not so important as the child learns to maintain stability and confidence. It is very important for the skis to be sufficiently short and for the ski boots to be comfortable and to keep the child's foot firm so that the child can play along with the instructor.
• But as soon as the child starts being able to go down the slope and turn on his or her own, the skis become an essential element of skiing equipment. Carving ski technique allows the child to turn "correctly". It is also important at this stage to change the ski length as the child's growth and his/her skills require it.
• For the results of our work please see video/photo gallery, where you can find photos and videos from the individual training camps and seasons.
• Results - although our effort is primarily oriented towards sport skiing, we also have a number of good results from alpine and grass ski races to show for, as in each season some of our kids ended up among the winners - for more on this, please visit our website, section News.

We are also able to change our kids' skis as necessary, both old and new, using skis after other kids from the club based on an exchange through our website and advertising. In case of any trouble, we can always provide service! Because we know how important good clothes are for the kids when it comes to a trouble-free mountain activities, we also offer proven club wear.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Penguins ´s ski team