The excitement about the start of the winter season has already started on home soil as Snowsport England confirmed that 1000s of people have already engaged with skiing and snowboarding since the start of autumn.

Snowsport England’s season-starting participation initiative, 30 Days of Snowsport (www.30daysofsnowsport.org.uk), which ran throughout October, saw 21 snowsports clubs and facilities offer 596 opportunities to participate in skiing or snowboarding. This meant 8500 people engaged with snowsports during the month long initiative, 1500 more than in 2017. 

Tamworth SnowDome and Kendal Snowsports Club saw huge numbers passing through their doors throughout October, and at North Staffs Ski Club those new to snowsports were able to try it for the first time for free. In York people were encouraged to try roller skiing for the first time with open sessions at the York Go Rollerski Club. There were sessions at Snozone Castleford for visually impaired skiers and there were taster sessions on offer at the Ski and Snowboard Open Weekend in Chatham.  

Dan Norgrove, Marketing Assistant at SnowDome said: “30 Days of Snowsport is a great addition for the SnowDome during October. The additional taster sessions and beginner lessons we put on are always hugely popular and 30 Days of Snowsport helps raise awareness of those lessons and our facility. The event helps kickstart the winter season and gets more people involved in our exciting sports."

First time participant at York Go Roller Ski Club Session Christine said: "We loved learning how to roller ski and we were thrilled to find out at the end of two hours that we looked like cross country skiers...from the waist down! Such a fun evening for all involved, thank you!”

Tim Fawke, Chief Executive of Snowsport England said: “30 Days of Snowsport has again played a key role in exposing new people to skiing, snowboard and roller skiing, as well as giving people who haven’t been on the slopes for a while the chance to try snowsports again. We are proud that that initiative continues to stay strong in its fifth year.

“We are also delighted to confirm that National Schools Snowsport Week will return for 2019. Just as 30 Days of Snowsport gets new people into the sport, National Schools Snowsport Week is an even more targeted campaign aiming at school and college students, giving them free or low cost opportunities to get their first taste of snowsports.”

National Schools Snowsport Week will run from Monday 23^rd June to Sunday 30^th June and Snowsport England are already encouraging slopes and schools to sign up. 2018 saw 3410 participants from 103 schools and youth groups taking advantage of one of the 104 sessions run and 20 slopes or clubs across the country. For more information and to register interest visit www.nssw.co.uk

Snowsport England continues to bring new people into skiing and snowboarding year round as part of their ongoing participation campaign Go Ski Go Board. The website www.goskigoboard.org.uk continues to be the hub of everything to do with getting into snowsports. The website includes a guide on getting into skiing and snowboarding, a UK slope map, a club & activity finder and information on getting into competitive snowsports.