Courses
Return from Injury Ski Camp
Great News for the Injured Skier! Once again, the Warren Smith Ski Academy and Wimbledon Clinics will be offering Europe’s only return from injury training camp aimed at intermediate, advanced and expert skiers. The venues will include Pre-ski training in Wimbledon, and on snow training in Verbier. The camp will run in the first week of December for the skier returning from injury.
In January 2007, professional British freeskier Warren Smith injured his knee whilst skiing. Warren had regular contact with Jonathan Bell and Claire Robertson from Wimbledon Clinics (www.wimbledonclinics.co.uk) since meeting them on one of his Academy courses, two years earlier. Aware that Jonathan is one of Britain’s leading knee surgeons he asked for urgent advice. After assessment and scans Jonathan advised that it may be possible to rehabilitate the knee without surgery. Claire’s vast experience of physiotherapy and treating elite skiers meant that she was soon able to get Warren back to full fitness.
Jonathan Bell and Claire Robertson consult at the Wimbledon Clinics, a musculoskeletal clinic with a particular emphasis on sports injury, and within it an experienced group of practitioners dealing with skiers. Warren has skied with several thousand skiers over many years of ski coaching. His style of coaching has evolved modern ski technique, bringing in an understanding of ski biomechanics, embracing the physiology of sports training.
Warren experienced rapid, accurate assessment by experts in their field who are themselves advanced skiers, in the excellent facilities at Wimbledon Clinics. Warren realised the high level of integrated service he received for his injury should be available to all, not just professional skiers.
Warren, Jonathan and Claire started talking about developing a ‘Return from Injury’ ski clinic that would work with and combine as part of the Warren Smith Ski Academy’s famous 5 day courses. With a bit of refining to accommodate the intermediate and advanced level skier, a course was created, the first of its kind, offering Warren Smith coaching combined with Jonathan and Claire’s expertise of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation.
Other professional skiers that have benefitted from this service are Nick Southwell, Britain’s leading Big Mountain skier who competes on the IFSA Freeskiing World Tour and Naomi Edmondson, Britain’s No.1 Freestyle skier. Nick and Naomi have been through the ‘Return from Injury’ system already after their recent knee injuries. They were recommended to Jonathan and Claire by Warren and used Warren’s coaching to get them through the final stages of rehab on the mountain.
The ‘Return from Injury Ski Camp’ consists of a thorough assessment at Wimbledon Clinics prior to travel, allowing time for adjustments to the skier’s recovery program. During the week on snow in Verbier the same specialist will be available, working alongside Warren Smith during and after training sessions.
On return to the UK follow-up advice and treatment will be available to ensure the skier returns to full skiing performance using the correct technique safely. The Warren Smith Ski Academy and Wimbledon Clinics will design a recovery programme that at all stages is tailored to the individuals’ needs. This programme will suit skiers of intermediate, advanced and expert ability and above who are recovering from injury, and wish to get back on skis this winter with the correct technique and confidence.
For all enquiries including whether this course is for you email ski-rehab@wimbledonclinics.co.uk
For further information about courses available with the Warren Smith academy, please see the course locations and dates.
