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LATEST 2025
Northern Masters Athletics Championships, Gold, Long Hurdles
& selected to represent the Northern Area in the High Hurdles at the England Inter-Area match
High Hurdles Gold, Singapore International Masters Track & Field Championships 2025
High Jump Gold and new National Record holder, Welsh Masters Championships 2025,
and Silver medal in the Triple Jump
2 x 4day re-introduction to skiing, for MS sufferer
Very successful 3 week Advanced Coaching camp in Hokkaido, Japan
Return to skiing and technical work for ACL recovery client
2024
July Advising Instructors and Snowsports enthusiasts in Singapore
Triple gold at the Singapore International Masters Track & Field Championships 2024
May/June. Training teachers & coaches in Phuket, Thailand
April. End of season training France
February / March. Performance coaching; All-Mountain Skiing, Japan
Hokkaido, March
January. 3 weeks, assisting with ACL recovery, rehab and return to skiing.
2023
`Ski Conditioning for Injury Prevention & Performance` Amazon Kindle ebook
now at number 63 on the list of `Best Sports Science Books of All Time`
July, Knee assessment and advice for skiing doctor's in Singapore
June Smashed the Championship Record for 300H at the International Singapore Masters Championships
World Ranking: 8th. European Ranking: 5th.
British Ranking: 2nd.
(Plus Coach Development for throws events in Singapore athletics)
Delivering a training course for 6 trainee ski instructors in Thailand, for BCIS
Feb-March Japan, invited to develop & run, bespoke skier-biomechanics coaching camps in Hokkaido
Aims
Supporting advanced and advanced intermediate skiers; to develop all mountain, all terrain, all conditions skiers.
Creating a strong bespoke foundation and then accompanying, guiding and supporting individuals to do their preferred skiing, better and with evidence of progression.
Objectives
Awareness and understanding of key performance factors
Skiing in control
Skiing with ease and style
Lifelong, effortless skiing
Saving your knees and back
Skiing the steep and deep with flow
Nurturing adventurous skiing
Via reviewing current skiing skills, assessing movement limitations and applying evidence-based coaching and sports science to be able to effectively drive not just ride the skis, with appropriate tactics in varied and more challenging terrain & conditions.
Starting analysis and coaching off-snow and supporting applications on snow:
Explaining, assessing and increasing kinesiological & biomechanical, fundamental skiing movements capacity.
Removing barriers to progress.
Applying, practising and challenging fundamentals.
Increasing awareness, effectiveness, efficiency, agility and dynamism.
Considering Where? When? What? How? & Why?
Situational coaching for functional technical and tactical skills.
Bespoke video analysis and feedback
Specific development plan.
In particular, featuring bullet-proof medium and short-turns for control in all situations by moving the ski in the best direction at the best time on the sweet-spot of the ski(s). Developing this in all-terrain by increasing control of pressure (via better flexion and extension)
Starts with skier assessment workshop.
Ergonomics: Fundamental stance, posture, alignment and balancing skills in boot/binding/ski set up.
Kinesiology underpinning fundamental Rotational skills
Edging skills
Pressuring skills
Extras: Knee and Back, stability & robustness testing
----
2023 - Training programming for International competition
Consulting in Thailand; International School Phuket, developing snowsports, physical education, safe & effective coaching on ski machines, plus instructor education.
Level 4 Performance Coach Licence renewed
August, European lowlands Ski Championships 2022; 5th Female Overall & U14 Champion.
Volunteer Coaching Malvern St James ski team for the British Schoolgirls indoor championships
Singapore masters International Championships 2022; Long Jump 1st, 300H 1st (Championship record), June
In a skilled event, until you make technical improvements you won't optimally improve performance
(you need to move in the most effective way for you, to generate and manage safely the best forces)
Types of coaching input:
A top performer gives you inspiration and tips
A well qualified & experienced instructor gives you advice
A well qualified and experienced teacher guides you
An experienced, highly qualified coach directs you
A coach who has worked with elite performers across many sports mentors you
A senior coach educator, with the above, adds applications of biomechanics, motor control, exercise physiology, sports psychology, nutrition & coaching science
Welsh Masters Triple Jump champion 2021
`fantastic analysis...lucky to have you helping...`
`...your 2 week 1 to 1 coaching in Switzerland made an amazing improvement`
(2021 Triple National Ski Champion)
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/Suppl_1/A55.3
http://themagicacademy.buzzsprout.com/205642/2287427-season-3-episode-18-with-david-murrie
What can invasion games and team sports coaches take from coaching in skiing individual sports?
The speed, space, obstacles, hazards and terrain are not constant, you need to scan, interpret, align and adapt to the changing environment in front of you as it unfolds in real time.
Give (constructive) feedback given after every attempt / run.
Dave Ryding Britain’s top racer, spent a summer training indoors concentrating on the turn of his less skilful foot to prevent it holding him back.
Individuals learn even basic movements, balancing and stance at different rates. Allow for it.
Errors are not necessarily down to technique, but are highly affected by fear and confidence.
Catastrophe theory - performance doesn’t just decline with anxiety in inverted U fashion - it can complete drop if the challenge is too extreme or causes a crash - and confidence will only be rebuilt slowly.
Copying drills / circus tricks may show quick gains in the task but do they really transfer to overall performance.
Female to male ACL injury rates in elite skiers are close (5%) unlike in teenagers in most cutting sports females 4-6 times more likely; possibly due to the focussed work on alignment, coordination & strength.
Great to be invited to do a podcast on Coaching and Coach Education for the Magic Academy, from here in Niseko.
http://themagicacademy.buzzsprout.com/205642/2287427-season-3-episode-18-with-david-murrie
A shoutout to those who opened the door to me expanding my teaching & coaching into skiing; Eddy Kirk of Alpine Snowsports Aldershot and Jane McGarry of Chatel & ISIA. And an acknowledgement of the ski coaches who made a particular impact on me: Emma Carrick-Anderson (Snoworks) Lynn Mill, Val d’Isere, Alex Armand Les 2 Alps, with ‘Podiumski’s’ Dave Morris, Tom Waddington and most recently Blake Williams. Along with the interesting publications and innovations of Harald Harb (USA) that influenced me plus the excellent work of Dr Stuart McGill (Canada) that underpinned my coaching and presentations on injury prevention.
November, 3 weeks of support & knowledge transfer; sharing and discussing applications of sports science with ski coaches, instructors & racers.
Topics; warm up, tapering, injury risk reduction, core balance testing, knee stability testing, reconditioning low back and knee problems, limitations in range of motion, acquisition of motor skill, changing faulty techniques, mediational learning.
5th November. Start of the winter season beginning with a road trip, 3 weeks training in Austria, 4 weeks coaching Japan, then 4 months French Alps
October, interesting athletics and snowsports coaching conversations in Singapore
September 14-15th, UK Snowsports Coaching Conference.
Reference
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CP3GYQE
Sept 14th Presentation, Summary Notes
Sept 15th Practical Workshop, Handout
Extra Reading, article
https:/www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.00111/full
Collaborating on a paper for the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness: Time zone effects in travelling to and competing in Japan.
July, Welsh Masters Championships; 1st Triple Jump & High Jump.
April, Alice produced an 11th place in French Junior Championships GS, 2nd in GS at the British Championships and Gold in the Pro Slalom.
March, 3 weeks of coaching and Invited to present on `Performance Analysis` and deliver Personal Performance Workshops at the 2019 UK Snowsports Coaching Conference
February, a month of skiing, coaching and guiding in Hokkaido.
A little fun racing in Murren, between giving plenty of coaching support, prior to this year`s Japan tour.
5 & 16th Sept. Presenting at the UK Snowsports Coaching Conference.
July. One gold and one silver at the Welsh Masters and the North of England championships despite having to withdraw through injuries.
Ski Coaching
16th February, 8 year old Alice gets Silver in the U10`s Giant Slalom at the National Championships
"Thanks Dave"
November 2017 to February 2018, advising Singapore Snowsports, the Instructor Association, the Sportquest Snowsports Academy and the Snowsports Club, plus coaching members, both in Singapore and at resorts in Japan (Niseko, Rusutsu, Moiwa, Tomamu, Appi).
https://www.facebook.com/david.murrie.3/videos/pcb.1526370144137531/1526388854135660/?type=3&theater
September - Finally, finished and published the `Fixing your Low Back` eBook. If your low back keeps being irritated it's likely a lack of stability & balanced strength (not lack of flexibility). One of the most effective ways to develop stability is the reverse-plank; developing isometric strength-endurance in your low back, glutes & hamstrings. Stop it recurring.
The Knee and the Ski Fitness ebooks are now available as `print on demand`
August - Promoting Snowsports, advising and facilitating on the development of a National Association for instructors, teachers & coaches of skiing & snowboarding, a National Snowsports Club, and a performance pathway. Also delivering instructor & coach education courses plus presenting at the inaugural Ski Travel Expo and judging at the first ever Singapore Open Ski and Snowboard Competition.
`Knee & Back, Injury Prevention & Longevity, in Snowsports`
New instructor & coach`s CPD credit / Revalidation workshops available (endorsed by BASI, SSS, SSW, and SSE)
Venues - Flaine, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Castleford, Tignes, Morzine.
`Injury Prevention & Longevity in Snowsports`,
with particular reference to knee & low-back issues.
BASI SSS, SSE and SSW endorsed CPD workshop.
This full workshop design is practical, but off-snow, and has been aimed at mainly level 3 & 4 teachers or coaches (more experienced and older coaches, those who deal with children, or with older clients would find it particularly interesting) but is available to all.
The content is underpinned by evidence and research and then evolved with practice over the past 5 years. Following initial presentations and discussions at Interski, two International Congresses of Science in Skiing, and then workshops held in France and with the ESI, it aims to inform and to reduce knee and back problems in recreational snowsports enthusiasts, racers and instructors. That ongoing review has included the publishing of the practical guides based on hard evidence `Ski Conditioning for Injury Prevention...` (2014), `...Bulletproof Knees` (2015) and the newest book on 'Fixing your Back Ache...' 2017).
The workshop will,
A) Review extent of the problems in the sport (for both instructors and their clients) the factors involved injury risk, the evidence for injury reduction and the latest advice for managing, preserving and continued use of strong knees and low backs in the sport, including contraindications of common specific exercise routines.
B) Give the opportunity for personal testing and understanding the functional tests of asymmetry and weaknesses that can predisposes people to long term problems.
C) Offer practical guides and personal advice to reduce injury, for the candidates, for their fellow instructors and their clients, including young racers.
February, private coaching in Switzerland
October - January Coach education and private coaching in Singapore, Japan and France
Apologies, Amazon Kindle eBooks are not available in Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia, unless you download the app in a country that Kindle works in first.
13th August Singapore`s first ever Olympic Gold medal
Olympic record with an outstanding first 15m
RIO2016 Fastest in heats, fastest in the semis (ahead of Phelps) fastest time in the world this year, new National record new Asian record...and fastest off the blocks,...so proud to have been asked to help with Joseph`s starting 4 years ago.
England Football underperform again in a tournament. Euro2016 - The home nations (with the exception of Scotland!) all did well getting through to the knock-out stages (helped it should be said by the expansion of the tournament so that more teams progressed) and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, went on to put in top performances to be proud of. England however underperformed, with the team, `stars` and manager putting in dreadful, broken performances from their last half match of the tournament. Stress response - freezing not thriving! The brittle legacy and lack of confidence will be harder to turn around than the recent world class improvements in the competitiveness of England Rugby Union and Cricket, especially as the competition is bigger.
Nice to have been able to and asked to help 6 more skiers with their injury, fitness and balance problems.
http://skiblog.chaletsdirect.com/skiblog/2015/11/ski-fit-its-not-rocket-science.html
Modern ACL surgery review:
New BA degrees in `Football Coaching & Management`, `Sports Business & Coaching`, `Physical Education` and an innovative MSc in `Football Science` in association with Tony Strudwick, being finalised for a new campus at the Etihad, Sports City, Manchester.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/02/science-fine-tuning-elite-footballers?
23/9/2015 `Saving and Reconditioning your Knees for a Lifetime of Sport & Activity` Masterclass at Wembley Stadium.
20/8/2015. Visit to Manchester United`s Aeon training ground and sports science provision. Toured facilities and discussed football science with Tony Strudwick, Met Victor Valdes in the recovery suite and watched Daley Blind in the gym (and saw Marouane Fellaini, Tyler Blackett, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney come in from training).
9/8/2015 Delighted to see, on Singapore`s 50th anniversary, the swimmer I was employed to develop the starting skills of, breaks national records and wins a historic bronze medal in the World Swimming Championships (with a great start).
Performance analysis advising for technology company `Motionmetrics` in relation to ski instructing and coaching.
Copenhagen University, the Danish Ski Federation and the National Danish Ski School (for Ski instructors education) have indicated that they are very interested `in a large scale project to prevent knee injuries` in collaboration with myself, building directly on my review of the evidence and intervention experience in this area.
Manchester United finish 4th in the Premiership, as predicted back in September.
Offered the new position of Head of School (in Applied Coaching Sciences) at the College of Football Business UCFB, London, based at Wembley Stadium.
Advising William Sichel on preparing for his attempt to complete the World’s Highest Ultramarathon –`The High` – 222kms/134 miles over the mountains of Ladakh in the Himalayas in August, with an average altitude of 14,500 feet/4400 metres, and 2 mountain passes at 18,000 feet/5500 metres ( but having not previously run or trained at altitude!). William (British record holder) competes first in the World 6 Day Trophy in Hungary.
7th March New - available now - knee injury prevention & restoration, eBook
" Your Knees and Exercise - Bulletproof Knees!" £6.00
New article contribution http://blog.basi.org.uk/2015/02/strength-and-conditioning-for-telemark/
Invited talk for the British Schoolgirls Championships on gender considerations in injury prevention & strengthening your knees and back for performance skiing (26th January).
NEW - comprehensive 12 x knee & back, injury-screening biomechanical assessments, plus personalised rehab conditioning and sports equipment advice.
"Aching Knees and Back Pain? Give your body a break with sports specific training" Article co-authored with Chris Fellows, published in the Winter 2015 edition of `32 Degrees` the PSIA-AASI's award winning professional ski instructors journal pages 56-60.
Public Lecture Series
10-15th Nov - a week supporting and mentoring Tutors delivering the Snowsports Science and Theory at The National Outdoor Training Centre, Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore, Scotland.
23rd October Delivering ski Coach Education workshop at Hemel Snow Centre`How to screen for knee & low back injury risk`.
New E-book for keen skiers, "Ski Conditioning for Injury Prevention and Performance" Sports specific and relevant fitness preparation to ski better, harder, longer [see `My Books`]
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NUST) have proposed that `fitness age` is a better indicator of longevity than chronological age. I took their test and came out with the fitness of an average under 20yr old (even less than their lowest estimate of 35 for my chronological age) ... !
Lecturing in Sports Biomechanics & sport employability in the School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, Bangor.
National Taiwan Sports University - great venue for an athletics training camp (Taoyuan, Taiwan).
Manchester United - Their `pre-season` success and tactics, against top opposition, were not just because it was a `friendly` tournament. However, now the season has started, there has been a continuation to the story of too many injuries to 1st team essentials, too many squad-level `only` wide players & impact forwards, and not enough speed & strength in central defence / midfield. Lacking power & star quality in central midfield, and without a settled spine through the team; United, without starting Van Persie, Rooney, Mata, De Gea & Jones fully fit cannot make up for the weaknesses. Other teams know it and the players are losing confidence again especially at Old Trafford. The new team need to become hard to beat (with new defence signings getting in the team quickly). I predict a 4th place Premiership finish.
11 months ago a complicated, competition knee-injury meant I couldn't walk downstairs. Other issues followed, 8 months ago I still couldn't walk in a ski boot. Following my own carefully designed programme of rehab, exercise and then sports reconditioning; I have lost the 8kg excess weight I put on, regained two thirds of the fitness I lost, despite the pelvic and spinal twist, can now run for over 80 minutes, can run up and down steep hills (and ski hard).
Work in progress...
William Sichel becomes the oldest person to complete the World's Longest Certified Footrace – The Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in New York last week, in a time of 50 Days 15 hours 06 minutes and 04 seconds. William has now run further in a single, measured race than any other Scot, any other British athlete, and/or anyone over the age of 60 – ever. In doing this William set 58 records, including 20 National records.
Don`t fall for the hype or the misguided rationalisations: The latest gimmick, latest exercise kit, following an elite athlete`s fitness programme, or indiscriminate `core & flexibility`-won`t optimise your sport performance. Appreciate the real demands of your sport and your own needs Train Intelligently
World Cup; Germany - best team at getting free of defenders and creating space for strikes on goal from corners.
June: Back to Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore to deliver injury screening and mentor tutors on the
BASI theory course .
15th June William Sichel starts his attempt to become the first Scot, first Brit, and first person over 60 to complete the world’s longest certified footrace - the Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race -
within the 52-day time limit.
The World Cup and cramp - cramp is a local fatigue / protection issue arising from insufficient specific fitness; a problem that can be associated with electrolyte imbalance (e.g. potassium) but is not specifically dehydration more a fatigue in the nervous system unable to keep switching the muscle to relax.
Up to Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore to mentor and quality review * the BASI theory course ( * Teaching, Learning, Assessment, Administration, Resources and Facilities ).
Player-Manager is not really viable at a major club. But as a player If you are fit enough - you are young enough:" Ryan Giggs is getting quicker! ... His fitness levels and enthusiasm at 40 are unbelievable."
John Hartson (BBC Radio 5 live)
6th May
Hope you don't regret the retirement and early move to management...
Competition Final preparation – the pre-competition planning:
“The idea that we would give these game-changers to our athletes right before the Olympics and they get to the line and feel like they had an advantage, that did not work"- Late introduction of new race suits, the squad's high-altitude training program, and a lack of data collection at the root of the team's historic poor showing at the Sochi Olympics...
Executive Director of U.S. Speedskating, Ted Morris.
February, new edition -
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP3GYQE
If you have already purchased this book you can update your version of this book by going to`Manage Your Kindle`: Find the book in your Kindle Library, click on the "Update Available" link next to the book's title, and then follow the update prompts. All your devices that have the eBook currently downloaded will be updated automatically the next time you connect to wi fi.
“I’m a student of the sport. I analyse the top skiers and I focus on what I can do to go faster” - Ted Ligety
Sochi Winter Olympics 2014:
Watch closely Ted Ligety`s turns (and his competitors) in GS and take on the commentators at real time and slow-mo analysis (anticipate nothing, so that you can see everything). See when and where edges are not equal angled, the extent and timing of hip flexion instead of extension, where weight is not equal on the skis, where there is more weight on the inside ski, where the upper body is not square to the skis, where shins are not parallel nor skis parallel – to time / tactical and biomechanical advantage.
Invited by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, Alpine Sport Education Manager, Ron Kipp, to collaborate on a study to assess the potential long term back problem of the US Snowboard Team (as a consequence of the established bilateral leg strength discrepancies between the front and rear legs).
18th Dec - Jan 3rd (2013/14) Across the New Year, 6 day road race in Phoenix, Arizona: William Sichel sets 17 new records in this race, including the outright British National 500k road record and a new 6 day World Record for his age category.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GCSJO2O
December 16th & 18th 2 presentations at the `International Conference on Science & Skiing` St Anton, Austria within 5 Keynote Lectures, 19 Sessions with a total of 103 presentations (& 4 Poster Sessions with 63 presentations).
`Testing Knee and Back Functional Fitness of Snowsports Instructors`. Presentation
`The Ashes`, cricket;
"England have an 82-page booklet on what to eat but one guy comes in and bowls at 90mph and they can't handle it."
- Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
Focus on and prioritise key performance factors !
16th Nov: England v New Zealand
`That New Zealand prevailed was simply down to their superior skill set and greater pace. They were just so much sharper in attack`. Steve James, The Telegraph.
November: The new eBook is out. A little handbook for training smart to run faster.
`This isn't so much a text book but a summary, an overview of all the key points to be aware of
in a highly focussed volume`
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GCSJO2O
Available on your computer, tablet or smart phone via the (free) Kindle app from Amazon
"I want to see England inject more pace into the game, react to situations and the referee faster, get into position faster, think faster, play faster"
- Sir Clive Woodward speaking about the Autumn Internationals.
FOR OUTSIDE the UK: go to AMAZON.COM, Kindle store, select YOUR REGION and SEARCH by code (B00GCSJO2O)
Lecturing in `Sports Biomechanics`, `Exercise Physiology`, Sports Science Employability and coaching athletics at Bangor University.
September: Speaking on sports science in elite performance, coach development and sports education at the University of West Florida.
`Americas Cup` dramatic comeback (1-8 to 9-8) by Team USA - orchestrated by replacement Tactician, British, 4 time Olympic Gold Medal sailor, 5 time Olympian with 5 medals overall; Sir Ben Ainslie.
Aug 19th-23rd Delivering Sports Psychology and mentoring Sports Science & Conditioning Tutors, on the
BASI Level 3 teacher`s & coach`s Theory course in Scotland.
Aug 18th IAAF World Athletics Championships final day: The skills of the 4x100m Relays
Perennial problems cropped up for the United States, British and French teams.
The essence of the event is an internal pursuit race with careful practised handicaps.
Perfecting the roles and the timings of the outgoing and incoming runners, plus the essential composure of the
outgoing runners in particular, is more fundamental to success than baton `technique` and can avoid the
overreliance on (and need to rely on) the "hand!" shouting ... Practice smarter!
Aug 17th coaching & performance management:
William Sichel (59) former World ranked no 1 (currently no 3) sets a new World M55 6-Day (Track
record at Radley College [ in addition to a new British M55 500 Mile track record ] with 830km (515.7 miles)
at the first 6 day race in the UK since 1990.
Project165.com William will attempt to boost his current total number of official records to 165
before his 65th birthday on 1st October 2018]
21st July Chris Froome wins the 100th Le Tour de France with
Nairo Quintana 2nd, `King of the Mountains` & Best Young Rider.
Being born, living and exercising as a youngster, at altitude (Nairobi & Johannesburg / Combita) gives a distinct
advantage in endurance events conducted with altitude demands.
7th July, Andy Murray finally ends a 77 year wait for a British Male Wimbledon Champion in uncommon heat.
training for competing in hot conditions
May 19th, Sir Alex Ferguson retires as Manager of Manchester United
- what can be learned from successful Performance Managers ?
Paul Scholes and David Beckham also retire from football. Beckham, and Scholes like Kevin Keegan before them, practiced long and hard to develop their skills.
This is what Ronaldo had to say about Scholes and skill:
Lecturing in `The Physiology of Elite Performance` and `Sports Science for Coaches`
`Performance Analysis in Skiing`
Now publishes on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP3GYQE
Optimised for Kindle Fire
[or download the free Kindle App for Amazon to your computer / tablet for full hyperlink functionality]
FOR OUTSIDE the UK: go to AMAZON.COM, Kindle store, select YOUR REGION and SEARCH by code (B00CP3GYQE)
Snowsports Conditioning article published in BASI News
Snowdonia, North Wales
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