A new 'National Schools Snowsport Week' is launching next month at 21 ski slopes across England.
The initiative is the latest from Snowsport England, who have been working to increase the numbers of people giving snowsports a try, with initiatives like GoSkiGoBoard.
Snowsport England work with the country's indoor snow centres and dry slopes to offer free or discounted lessons for first timers, and the plan is much the same for the National Schools Snowsport Week' which will run from 22 – 29 April 2016. Some activities will be free and others will be offered to schools at affordable prices. www.nssw.co.uk
The number of schools taking children away on ski trips has dropped virtually every year for the past two decades and is now a fraction of what it was in the 1980s and 1990s. Snowsport England believe that the new national initiative will bring thousands of pupils into skiing and snowboarding. It is being backed by Visit Andorra as 'destination partner of choice' with the principality keen to promote its credentials as a good destination for school ski trips.
Throughout National Schools Snowsport Week there will be a range of events at different slopes including taster ski and snowboard sessions for all pupils, alternative snow activities such as tobogganing and tubing and even freestyle or racing taster sessions at some slopes. There are also expected to be guest appearances from snowsports stars and celebrities throughout the week.
The activities at different slopes are open to all school ages and to any school keen to get involved.
Schools can join in with whole classes, whole year groups, or even with just a handful of students.
"If you want to snowboard professionally then getting into it when you are young is key," said Winter Olympian and GB Park and Pipe Snowboarder Aimee Fuller, adding, "Skiing and snowboarding are also really social and fun sports, through snowboarding I have met some of my best friends and had the opportunity to travel the world competing. It also is a great way to stay fit and strong. It is great seeing big school groups at the slopes in the UK, and hopefully this initiative will get even more schools giving it a go."
"Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most addictive and exhilarating sports around, and we find most children who give it a go are hooked. We are expecting hundreds of pupils to get involved, and hopefully get addicted," Tim Fawke, Chief Executive of Snowsport England commented.
Slopes involved in National Schools Snowsports Week:
Ackers Adventure, Birmingham
Alpine Snowsports Centre, Southampton
Bracknell Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chill Factore, Manchester
Gosling Ski and Board Centre
Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre
Impulse Racing (at The Snow Centre, Hemel)
Mendip Snowsports Centre
Norfolk Snowsports Club
Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre
Silksworth Ski Slope, Sunderland
Ski Rossendale
Ski Torquay
Skiplex Reading
Skiplex Basingstoke
SnowDome, Tamworth
Suffolk Ski Centre
Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre
The Snow Centre/ Hemel Ski Race Club
Yorkshire Rollerski Club (York Sport Village)
www.snowsportengland.org.uk
www.goskigoboard.org.uk
www.visitandorra.com