DHO COGGINS & EAGLES
COGGINS For further information or to join the Coggins programme contact Bob Eastwood in the DHO hut next to the Wengen ice rink at 5.30pm any day but Saturday (Telephone +41 338 55 13 75), or in the UK, Club Secretary: Sarah Hoyle. You can also join the DHO by contacting the Membership Secretary. For older children interested in race training, see our Racing & Training pages. For further information or to join the Eagles programme contact Bob Eastwood in the DHO hut next to the Wengen ice rink at 5.30pm any day but Saturday (Telephone +41 338 55 13 75), or in the UK, Club Secretary: Sarah Hoyle. You can also join the DHO by contacting the Membership Secretary. For older children interested in race training, see our Racing & Training pages.
Coggins is unique to the DHO in Wengen. The origins of the name are lost in the mists of time, but it is thought to refer to the little cogs on the railway.
Skiing
Fun, fast skiing for kids. When they are bored with ski-school or the parents are just too slow.
Developing speed and control in recreational and pre-race training kids. The emphasis is on fun and activity-based learning. Although the trainers are selected from the Swiss Ski School, Coggins is definitely not ski school (no 'one at a time exercises!). Coaching is given on the move with constantly changing tasks and variety of terrain. We do a lot of skiing and the trainers know every jump and bump on the mountain.
Parents have commented not only on what their kids achieve with skiing but also on the development of personal confidence and social skills.
Kids just say "It's cool"!!
Group Size
We try to keep the group size to a maximum 8 or 10. However we will organise as many groups as we can so that group standards are more even.
Racing
Coggins can expect to take part in a race during their week for which they will all receive a certificate and there are prizes for the winners. The prize giving is also where we present the coveted Coggins Badge.
Timing
Meeting at 9am and returning to resort at 3.30pm. The kids are taken to lunch by their trainers at Kleine Scheidegg where they can bet met by skiing or non-skiing parents if necessary.
Age - 7 to 13. We will take exceptional 6 year-olds if they are of the required standard and have the stamina.
Standard
Good Ski School class 3 or "Supersonic snowplough". They should be able to ski red runs with few falls and be both brave and keen. We are not able to take beginners or cautious snowploughers.
Coggins should be able to look after their own lunch money and go to the loo by themselves and in time!
Clothing
All Coggins wear suitable helmets, provided free by the ski hire shops, and DHO tabards for easy identification. Parents are responsible for making sure that coggins have suitable clothing for the conditions including warm gloves and proper eye protection, sun-screen etc.
Costs
70 CHF per day, if booked on a day-to-day basis. 6 days booked in advance 350 CHF. One parent must be a member of the club.
Staffing
Organised by Bob Eastwood (Snowsport England Development Coach) and staffed by himself and a variety of young and funky Swiss Ski School instructors.
They are often assisted by older teenage club members acting as sweepers.
EAGLES
What to do when kids grow out of Coggins?
Something that is definitely not Ski School and definitely not Coggins.
They still want to develop their skiing. They want to ski fast and hard, on and off piste, have a laugh and meet people. Their parents would still rather they were under some sort of supervision.
We organise a group of like-minded individuals to ski with a top-class, young Swiss or British ski teacher.
It's a great way to meet people and the group usually socialises together in the evenings as well, while parents are happy that they are in a supervised group.
Skiing
Fun, fast skiing over the whole mountain. Off piste as conditions allow. Perhaps they will try blades for a day.
The group will ski as much of the region as possible.
Sociable lunch stops.
If the group wish they can compete in the weekly DHO race.
Age
13+ with mature standard of behaviour.
Standard
Good, confident skiers. Happy to ski on black runs but perhaps not yet confident in all conditions off-piste.
Timing
Meeting at 9am and returning to the resort late afternoon.
When?
This group will be organised during the New Year week and main half-term week. Other weeks are possible subject to demand.
Advance booking is essential as it is not possible to get the right leaders in busy weeks such as college and school holidays.
If there is a group running it may be possible to join in resort but a place cannot be guaranteed.
Costs
CHF 300 for the week (up to 6 days in any one week). Eagles need to be members of the DHO.
Lunch is not included.
