news
chairman's update - december 2024
We held the first scheduled board meeting since the AGM on 4th December and, as your newly appointed interim Chairman, I wanted to provide the membership with an update on some of the key things discussed and the actions that we are taking.
Supporting British Racing
Kandahar and GB Snowsport jointly hosted the Madonna di Campiglio World Cup organisers at the Oriental Club at the end of November. The event, funded by the MdC Organising Committee, was a great success with over 90 people attending to learn all about the history of the famous MdC night slalom races, and about our club and British racing from Will Lunn and Vicky Gosling respectively. The event culminated in a lively Q&A session with Kandahar member Billy Major, who will be competing again at MdC in January 2025.
The generosity of members at the Centenary Ball auctions raised around £30k, which has been topped up by the club to provide £2k to each of the 16 current British World Cup and Europa Cup racers.
We continue to liaise actively with GB Snowsport to work out how Kandahar can most effectively support top level alpine racing in the UK.
K Racing
Matt Shepherd attended the meeting to provide a further update on his vision for K Racing, which had been previously outlined in his email to the membership at the end November. Following its General Assembly on 25th November, Matt Shepherd and Michael Barker have been formally appointed joint managers of K Racing and our former Captain, Richard Fawkes, has been appointed its Chair. They have set out a new vision for K Racing focused on fostering club camaraderie, community, friendship and fun through racing, centred around Murren and providing grassroots training for our members.
The board supports this vision and will confer with the K Racing management team as it develops a business plan to achieve its planned transition over the next few years from being entirely volunteer-led to growing the programme and recruiting a full-time manager, with the potential to increase Kandahar’s annual grants to K Racing during this period of rebuilding.
The Palace Hotel
The board of Murren Investment and Management AG, who are developing the hotel, have been updated on the outcome of the EGM. A number of members have indicated that they would be prepared to make donations directly to our club to be deployed towards an investment in the Palace project with a view to achieving the other objectives of the previous proposal, including in particular direct input into a personalised clubroom for enjoyment by members. We are investigating exactly how this may work and I will write to everyone setting out more detail on the options and our recommendation as soon as possible.
Governance
The board agreed to launch a review of its governance and has asked Richard Bartlett, who joined the board at the AGM, to lead this process with a small sub-committee. Richard has served on and chaired a number of boards in the UK and internationally and brings experience from both commercial and voluntary sectors. He would welcome any input, observations or comments that any members would like to make and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Supporting the Club
We are very fortunate to have members who are not on the board who support the club with a wide range of skills and expertise in their own time and are critical to the smooth functioning and success of the club. I would like to extend my thanks, and the thanks of the board, to all of you.
A number of people have also put themselves forward for co-option to the board since the AGM. Whilst the governance review is ongoing and pending its recommendations, we have decided not to co-opt any further directors onto the board, but I have written to each person to thank them for volunteering and to discuss how they can assist the club pending the outcome of the governance review.
Wishing everyone a super Christmas break and plenty of snow for those of you heading to the slopes.
Mungo Wenban-Smith
Kandahar's Scottish Drinks
Kandahar's annual Scottish reception was held at the Archers' Hall in Edinburgh.
Annual general meeting
centenary book launch
The 2024 AGM, combined with Centenary Book Launch took place at the Oriental Club on Friday 22 November.
Susie Berry OBE
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Susie Berry OBE in the early hours of Saturday 19thOctober 2024.
She was a towering figure in our Club and in the British and International skiing world. She was a well-respected International Technical Delegate and reached the public eye when she was appointed the start judge at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics - it was a moment for which she was rightly proud.
She served our Club with immeasurable energy for decades leading or being an integral part of many activities including, but not limited to, Junior Training (and after it was hived off, Kandahar Racing), the Kandahar Martini Races, the Kandahar Masters, health and safety at events and hostess with the mostest looking after the Clubhouse over Christmas, Inferno Week and February half terms. Most recently she has been involved with our centenary celebrations, speaking to the assembled company one evening during the week of the centenary itself and performing a sterling job hosting the Clubhouse for several weeks during the season. All done with great aplomb, aided by her memory which was second to none.
We will miss her and our world is smaller without her. Our sympathies and thoughts are with her sons, Mark and Julian.
Ski ExchangE
Kandahar has secured discounts for its members with Ski Exchange Ltd. More information, including discount codes can be found on the Reciprocals & Offers page .
- Ski Test open to the general public
- Over 500 pairs of next season’s ski models to test, before they are available to buy!
- Based in Pila, Italy in March 9-15 2025
- £100 sign up discount for any Kandahar member if signing up in 2024
- Quote ‘Kandahar’ when booking or enquiring.
- Lots of Half Board options, including transfer from £1350 per person.
legendary Cleeves Palmer DL
Made in Bern, a marketing organisation for the canton to promote the self-image, interviewed the legendary Cleeves Palmer DL after over 50 happy seasons skiing in the region - you can find a German Language interview HERE
12th September 2024
Hot Off The Press!! The long awaited Kandahar Centenary book is on its way!! Please make sure you order your copy on the Events Page on the Website HERE so we can deliver them this Autumn.
One Hundred Years Old
Today, the Kandahar Ski Club celebrates the 100th Anniversary of it foundation.
Centenary Celebrations
7th May 2023
MPI Insurance
Don’t forget us for your summer trips…
MPI are known for our wide ski insurance cover and extensive knowledge of wintersports. But did you know our Insurances are for travel as a whole and wintersports is just one element?
We can help with short trips, longer trips and for those who go on multiple trips during the year, for individuals, couples or families, summer and winter.
Many of you enjoy the alpine scene during the summer months too and we thought we would let you know about our cover for summer alpine activities.
Road cycling - as standard under our policies – if you’re keen on those uphill slogs!
Mountain biking - amateur non-competitive low grade road and off road mountain biking, provided personal protection is worn – if downhill is more your thing.
Watersports - white water rafting up to level 3, kayaking & canoeing, SUP and canyoning – keeping cool in the alpine sun.
Via Ferrata and low level indoor and outdoor climbing - with instructors - if heights is your bag.
Also don’t forget insurance is still a necessity for your beach and city breaks too – it doesn’t all need to be adrenalin filled!!
If there are other activities you would like to have covered you can always call us on 01428 778000 or just go online for our online discount and a donation to Kandahar - http://retail.mpibrokers.com/kandahar
30th April 2023
ClubHouse Bookings
Online booking for the clubhouse have been suspended. Please login and see the bookings page for details.
22nd January 2021
Oriental Club EXPRESS
You can now enjoy the food from the Oriental Club's kitchens, delivered to your home. Designed as generous servings for two people, or two meals for one person. Delivery anywhere in the UK Mainland. From £37.50.
The Oriental Club are delighted to extend this service to Kandahar Ski Club members at Member prices, which equates to a 15% discount on those quoted. If you log in, you can access the discount code. To order click here or use the QR code in this PDF.
https://oriental-club-express.myshopify.com/
2nd December 2020
VISITING Mürren?
Some websites that might provide useful information:
- Mürren Tourismus
- Einwohnergemeinde Lauterbrunnen Information - Lauterbrunnen Community - in German
- Schilthornbahn News
- Ski Pass price list
- Top4 Ski Pass
20th October 2020
Oriental Club
The Oriental Club is open - Reservations necessary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..