| History |
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"The birth of the club - It was the particular harsh winter of 1962-63 which provided the inspiration for the club. Snow lay thick and heavy on Devon Hills for nearly two months, in which time dozens of ardent skiers in Torbay and Exeter made the most of the condition to indulge themselves in their chosen sport. When the snow finally melted in spring, enough local interest had been created to prompt an open meeting at which the feasibility of building an artificial ski slope was discussed. The meeting proved successful and the first chairman Group Captain A. W. Barrett and committee were elected and the name "Wessex Ski Association" agreed.
The consensus of opinion was that the idea was viable, provided a suitable site could be found. The answer was provided by holiday camp supremo Fred Pontin, later to be knighted for his services to the British holiday industry. Sir Fred provided a suitable sloping site in the grounds of his Barton Hall holiday complex, but after the initial layout was viewed decided the slope was to small and arranged to have it double in size. For the opening ceremony in 1963, he was ebullient, turning up for the ceremony in his private helicopter. Britain's first outdoor artificial ski slope was up and running and over the next few years the club became something of an advice centre for dozens of others throughout the UK, with requests for not only starting on slopes but for an instructor training syllabus. To further the regional development a member of the South Western Council for Physical Recreation was co-opted on to the committee. The Regional work of the committee soon became out of proportion to the running of the Ski slope and a paper was read at the Ski Club of Great Britain outlining the formation of a national body with control of regional development. Thus was born the National Ski Federation of Great Britain. In 1964 the club hosted the very first Artificial Slope Instructors examination (A.S.S.I.) to be held in the country. With the regional aspect now under control of the N.S.F.G.B. the Wessex Ski Association was able to give more time to developing and running the slope. The more localised activities were appropriate to a club and so the name was changed to "Wessex Ski Club". To celebrate the millennium the club once again changed its name to ... Torquay Alpine Ski Club...T.A.S.C. and an enjoyable task it has proved to be over many years. Ron Batley President |