The inaugural ‘National Schools Snowsport Week sponsored by Visit Andorra’, kicked off today with activities on offer for school children at 22 slopes across the country. From Sunderland to Torquay, hundreds of pupils are expected to benefit from affordable sessions and activities over the eight-day initiative.

To celebrate the start of the week, which is organised by National Governing Body Snowsport England, celebrity Stacey Solomon and GB Snowboarder Aimee Fuller joined pupils from Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, with Aimee showing them all how it is done!

Stacey Solomon said: “It is so important to get children active and what better way than through skiing and snowboarding. I loved it the minute I started and I have continued to do it ever since. It is one of the only sports I can do with the whole family.”

Aimee Fuller said:  “Starting skiing or snowboarding when you are young is a brilliant idea – it is so much fun and really social. 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. I am sure National Schools Snowsport Week will give more schools the chance to give it a go." 

‘National Schools Snowsport Week sponsored by Visit Andorra’ will run from today until next Friday, 29 April, and is primarily aimed at encouraging more schools to introduce their pupils to snowsports. As well as beginner taster sessions, several slopes will be offering race and freestyle sessions, plus events for school children will also be running during the week including the Eastern Region Schools Race at Suffolk Ski Centre in Ipswich on Sunday 24 April and the Independent Schools Association Race at The Snow Centre on Monday 25 April.

National Schools Snowsport Week is supported by Visit Andorra (www.visitandorra.com) as title sponsor and destination partner of choice, as well as school tour operator of choice, Equity (www.schoolski.co.uk) who offer affordable skiing to schools aimed at developing confidence in young people.

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

Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre

Silksworth Ski Slope, Sunderland

Ski Rossendale

Ski Torquay

Skiplex Chiswick

Skiplex Reading

Skiplex Basingstoke

SnowDome, Tamworth

Stoke Ski Centre

Suffolk Ski Centre

Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre

The Snow Centre/ Hemel Ski Race Club

For more information and dates visit www.nssw.co.uk and on Twitter @SnowsportEng #SchoolSnowsport