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. 

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.