Over two thousand children are expected to get their first taste of skiing and snowboarding next week as part of the second ever National Schools Snowsport Week sponsored by Visit Andorra (www.nssw.co.uk).
Taking place from 24-30 April 2017 the Snowsport England initiative, which is backed by Winter Olympians Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, Dave Ryding, Aimee Fuller and Graham Bell, aims to give young people the chance to experience the exhilaration of snowsports for the first time.
Pipe Snowboarder – Amy Fuller, Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards and Alpine skier – Dave Ryding
25 slopes across the country will offer schools and school-aged children ski and snowboard taster sessions throughout the week, as well as other winter activities including rollerskiing, luging and sno-tubing. All the sessions will be at affordable prices, with many slopes including Runcorn and Silksworth in Sunderland offering sessions for as little as £1, or even for free in Tamworth and Norfolk.
National Schools Snowsport Week ambassador Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards commented ahead of the week: “I started skiing when I was 13 and have lived and breathed it for my whole life. I am proof that anyone – no matter what their age or background is – can get into snowsports. I am proud to support National Schools Snowsport Week and hope it brings lots of young people into our brilliant sport.”
Delancey British Alpine Team skier Dave Ryding said: “It will be brilliant to see so many children trying skiing for the first time next week. I started skiing on a dry slope when I was at school and loved getting out on the slopes whenever I could. It is so addictive, and even though I have been doing it all my life, I never get bored, it is such a great sport.”
Winter Olympian and GB Park and Pipe Snowboarder Aimee Fuller has been a long-term supporter of the initiative: “Both skiing and snowboarding have so much to give socially and are a great way to stay active. If you wanted to consider taking up skiing or snowboarding as a profession, the younger the better, but it’s never too late! Being able to start at school is the perfect intro.”
Graham Bell, five-time Olympian and presenter of BBC’s Ski Sunday commented: “I wish every child could have the chance to give snowsports a go and enjoy that feeling of sliding down a slope, adrenalin rushing through your body. National Schools Snowsports Week is such a great idea and I hope that those children who get the chance to try it during the week will keep coming back.”
Slopes participating in National Schools Snowsport Week 2017:
Ackers Adventure, Birmingham
Alpine Snowsports Centre, Southampton
Alpine Snowsports Centre, Aldershot
Bracknell Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chill Factore, Manchester
Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre
Gosling Ski and Board Centre
Norfolk Snowsports Club
Precise Racing at Brentwood
Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre
Rollerskiing at Dorney Lake, Eaton
Runcorn Snowsports Centre
Sandown Snowsports Centre
Silksworth Ski Slope
Skiplex, Basingstoke
Skiplex, Reading
Ski Rossendale
SnowDome, Tamworth
Snozone Castleford
Snozone Milton Keynes
Stoke Ski Centre
Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead and Hemel Ski Racing Club
To find out more about sessions at each slope visit www.nssw.co.uk .
You can also engage with National Schools Snowsport Week on social media using the #SchoolSnowsport hashtag or by following the action on Facebook/SnowsportEngland, on Twitter @SnowsportEng and on Instragram @snowsportengland.