User:Hawkesd

EST

"The Elite Ski Team (EST) was established in the fall of '06. Banded together in recognition of the need to cope with extreme slope conditions and often unique situational ski manouveurs, the team has recently added 'mercy runs' to their core program of offerings.

The team often skis in diamond formation.

The Team

Currently staffed with four team members, entry criteria is notoriously high with extended trials offered to a rare few.

Current Team Members (last update 13:00 GMT 21/1/09) Leo Kublai Hoare aka 'Smurf' - 33. 5"3, 12.5st. Prakash Patel aka 'Mav' - 33. 6", 12.5st Jeremy Keith Hodgson aka 'Bones' - 32. 6", 12.5st Martin Thomas Jose aka 'Minty' - 32, 6", 12st

Reserve: Jonathan Hodgson aka 'The Flop' - 34. 6"4, 17st

The Substitute and 'Dropped' case

In January 2009, it had been recognized that Jonathan Hodgson had put in a number of valuable perfomances in stark contrast to his previous years' efforts and he was openly pushing for a place in the full team. Using S.M.A.R.T. objectives, his abilities were openly assessed, and metrics were utilised to adjudge what extra usefullness he would bring to the EST. The EST is a team constituent of it's members' very differing characteristics and it's always been a tenet of the team makeup that there is no need for duplicating performance. By the very nature of an 'elite' unit, only the best can enter and not multiple versions of it. Hoare and Patel are both extraordinarily, Olympic-standard quick, but their pace comes in different formats. Hodgson (junior) is a boarder and Jose is the unit's Audio/Visual Technician offering documentary evidence for key situations and arbritration purposes.

However, as Hodgson's (junior) performances had started to tail off (most likely due to fatigue) during the close season, the three other team members had no choice but to hold a tribunal advising him that his position was under threat and that he was in an extended play-off for his place in competition with his older brother.

On Monday 19th January 2009, whilst on a prelimary reconnaisance run, Extended Support Crew member James Lawrence aka 'Rotter' was found in a semi-conscious state by the patrolling Jose and Hodgson (junior). It had been noted that Hodgson (senior) had skied past. The two team members aided Lawrence whilst he was rescued and then set off to make sure all other extended team staff and support were able and skiing well.

At the final tribunal on Friday 23rd January 2009, the decision was made to uphold Hodgson's (junior) position on the team in recognition of his act of that day. It was acknowledged that Hodgson (senior) had come very close, and in the words of Patel, "...you should be proud of your overall performance and you have come far. Whether or not you skied past Lawrence on the 19th Janury 2009 out of ignorance or in competition with your brother to make it down to the bottom faster regardless of an extended team support's condition, is not for this panel to ruminate over, but it has been noted. We ask you to keep trying and apply for a position next year.".

Equipment

The EST have one primary sponsor - The North Face - however in general regard are agnostic in reference to particular OEM suppliers. In fact it is a central theme of the team to be able to utilise any piece of equipment to deliver key performance in all scenarios.

Strategy

The EST often work in a 'diamond' - 1-2-1 formation. Generally led by Jeremy Hodgson, Patel and Hoare will ski in a cross-path style. It may seem extremely dangerous to the external observer but is carefully choreographed. Jose keeps to the rear, monitoring all activity, manning the A/V equipment and telephony. Early precursors to the EST trialled a number of formations resulting in a high collision rate, but this has been formulated over the years, defining the current unit as one capable of responding to any situation, on any slope, anywhere in the world.

JEST

The Junior EST (JEST) contains younger and/or newer members to the Extended Support Crew who have been marked out for future EST status. Michael Williams aka Work and Derek Hawkesworth aka Harpoon are key fixtures in this unit. Full training for these individual members will run into 2011. William and George Hodgson have had their membership qualified and their subsitute fees paid in advance. Their training regimes look to commence in 2018. They are the future.

Extended Support Crew

This is the wider 'army' from where the pool of recruits to the EST are sourced. Ably led by Mark Zaretti, over the years the numbers have fluctuated but once a member, always a member. James Lawrence is a long-serving stalwart of this division and often test-beds new uniforms and styles that 'trickle' up. ESC contains the breeding ground for new techniques and team ethos.

Additional Reading

The Tigerkoi Chronicles - http://www.tigerkoi.com