Returning for its third year, ’30 Days of Snowsport’  (www.30daysofsnowsport.org.uk), part of Snowsport England’s GO SKI GO BOARD campaign (www.goskigoboard.org.uk), returns to slopes up and down England from Saturday 24^thSeptember until Sunday 23^rd October 2016. The initiative aims to give people new to skiing and snowboarding a taste of what they are missing, and provides an opportunity for everyone to hit the slopes and get excited about the upcoming winter season.

Supported by Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports (www.ellis-brigham.com) for the first time, 30 Days of Snowsport will celebrate the start of the winter season with 25 dedicated events at 19 slopes and facilities, with at least 70 free or discounted taster and recreational sessions running throughout the campaign. During the campaign, free taster sessions are happening at Sunderland Sports Complex (25^th September & 10^th-16^th October), Pendle Ski Club (4^thOctober), Ski Kidsgrove (8^th October) and also in the build up at Kendal Snowsports Club (18^th September).

As well as taster sessions, the 25 dedicated events compromise of open days, races, competitions and freestyle events. The sessions and fun, family-friendly activities are open to all ages, with many of them suitable for beginners and those looking to take up a new sport. For people who already ski or snowboard, there will be a chance to get the ski legs back or have a go at something different – whether that be freestyle, ski racing, rollerskiing or another discipline.

30 Days of Snowsport has become an important part of the UK slopes calendar, with the autumn being a key time to give people the chance to try skiing and snowboarding. Dean Randall, General Manager at Sunderland Snowsports Centre is a big supporter of the 30 Days of Snowsport Campaign: “This is a great way to help raise the profile of our facilities in Sunderland and get members of the community engaged in snowsport.  It's an exciting time for us with the refurbishment just round the corner so hopefully this will be a chance for people to see how great a facility we have and hopefully getting more people trying skiing and snowboarding.”

Steve Lawless, Chairman of Kendal Snowsports also commented on the campaign:

“30 Days of Snowsport is a great idea to get people up, about and active. At Kendal, we are fully inclusive and welcome anyone young or not so young to take up skiing and snowboarding. Our Open Day, which is running during the 30 Days of Snowsport campaign, is aimed at getting as many of our local community hooked on snowsports, and then keeping them hooked by offering on-going taster sessions.”

30 Days of Snowsport will also coincide with Sportsaid Week from 26^th September until 2^nd October (www.sportsaid.org.uk/sportsaidweek), which is aimed at raising money and awareness about the charity that supports rising stars of the sport. At Stoke Ski Centre, there is dedicated Sportsaid charity event in the form of the Freestyle Jam & Open Day on 22^nd October. Justin Taylor Tipton, GO SKI GO BOARD ambassador and organiser of the Charity JAM at Stoke Ski Centre said: “The Charity JAM for Sportsaid at Stoke Ski Centre is part of 30 Days of Snowsport and will help start winter with a bang. We want the next generation of snowsport lovers to find out all about freestyle by coming down to watch. Who knows next year it could be them!”

Specialist snowsports retailer Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports (www.ellis-brigham.com) have come on board as the main partner of 30 Days of Snowsport for 2016. With a strong interest in growing snowsports and nurturing young talent from this country, Snowsport England are delighted to be working with one of the UK’s main snowsports retailers and with such a well-know and well-established brand.

Participating slopes in 30 Days of Snowsport include:

Ackers Adventure, Birmingham

Aldershot Ski Centre

Bracknell Ski and Snowboard Centre

Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre

Chill Factore (Cross Snowsports Club)

Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre

Kendal Snowsports Club

London Region Nordic Ski Club

Mendip Snowsport Centre

Pendle Ski Club

Snozone (Cas/MK)

Ski Kidsgrove

Ski Rossendale

Southampton Alpine Centre

Stoke Ski Centre

Sunderland Sports Complex

Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre

York Uni Cycle Track (Yorkshire Dales and ‘Go Rollerski’ clubs)

Wolverley School Slope

30 Days of Snowsport Free Taster Sessions:

Kendal Open Day, 18^th September (Active Cumbria)

Pendle Ski Club Open Day, 4^th October

SkiKidsgrove Open Day, 8^th October

Sunderland Launch Day, 25^th September

Sunderland Taster Week (all activities from Mon 10^th – Sun 16th)

Offers running at the following slopes throughout 30 Days of Snowsport (Taster sessions, Recreational sessions & Tubing):

Aldershot (Every Weekend during 30 Days bar Half Term)

Kendal (Every Weekend during 30 Days)

Mendip (Every day during 30 Days except Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Ski Rossendale (Every weekend during 30 Days)

Open Days during 30 Days of Snowsport (Taster sessions, Recreational sessions, Tubing & Future Booking Discounts):

Bracknell, 24^th Sept

Gloucester 24^th Sept

York ‘Go Rollerski Club’, Beginner Race, 25^th Sept

Cross Snowsports Club Open Day (Chill Factore), Thurs 6^th & 13^th)

Southampton, 8^th October

Swadlincote, 9^th OctoberAckers, 16^th October

Chatham, 22^nd October

Stoke Ski Centre – Sportsaid Charity Freestyle Jam/Open Day, 22^nd October

Yorkshire Dales CC Ski Club, Beginner Race @York, 23^rd October

For more details on all the events listed above, to find your nearest 30 Days of Snowsport event or to learn more about the campaign visit www.30daysofsnowsport.org.uk