With the UK swept up in ski and snowboard fever, outdoor ski and snowboard slopes and indoor snow centres have never been busier with people eager to give snowsports a go. On Sunday Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre ran out of snowboards due to demand, the Chill Factore in Manchester was at maximum capacity all day last Sunday, Snozone Castleford had 240 people taking TRY ski and snowboard taster sessions in one day and learn to snowboard lessons at Mendip Snowsports Centre filled up until mid-March.
The GO SKI GO BOARD campaign aims to get more people into snowsports*
GO SKI GO BOARD (www.goskigoboard.org.uk), Snowsport England’s national snowsports participation campaign, gives people of all ages the chance to try skiing or snowboarding at an affordable price. GO SKI GO BOARD sessions offer total beginners and those wanting to get back into skiing or snowboarding value for money all-inclusive sessions which include instruction, slope time, equipment and at some slopes, snowsports clothing. Courses are 6 hours of tuition generally over 6 weeks – the optimum time to engage someone in a sport according to Sport England.
Over 35 of the UK’s indoor and artificial snow slopes are now offering GO SKI GO BOARD sessions at four levels ; TRY SKIING or BOARDING taster sessions, GET SKIING or BOARDING for beginners, GO SKI or BOARD for those wanting to get back into the sport and JUST SKI or BOARD for recreational skiers and snowboarders. Costs of all the courses will vary between slopes, but will offer value for money with no hidden costs. Prices at outdoor slopes start at £30 for six hours (Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre) or £135 at indoor centres (Snozone Milton Keynes).
Tim Fawke, Chief Executive of Snowsport England said: “There is a huge buzz around snowsports at the moment and there has never been a better time to get people skiing and snowboarding. We hope by offering value for money,
all inclusive sessions as part of GO SKI GO BOARD we can give more people the chance to give the sports a go – whether it is their first time or they are trying them again after several years.
“GO SKI GO BOARD is supported by funding from Sport England and we have a clear goal to increase the number of people regularly skiing and snowboarding at facilities across England over the next four years. With what is happening in Sochi, we are convinced that we can hit our targets and get more people catching the snowsports bug.”
On the GO SKI GO BOARD website, www.goskigoboard.org.uk, people can search for their nearest course and slope using the “Find My Nearest” search. The new campaign is run by national governing body Snowsport England and supported by the Tirol Tourist Board as exclusive destination partner. GO
SKI GO BOARD has its own Facebook page – www.facebook.com/goskigoboard and can be found on Twitter by searching #goskigoboard.The Snowsport England website also has information on getting into skiing or snowboarding, including extra information on getting into freestyle skiing and snowboarding – www.snowsportengland.org.uk
GO SKI GO BOARD is supported by funding from Sport England as part of Snowsport England Whole Sport Plan. Over £1.1 million is being invested in increasing participation into Snowsport England over the next four years.
With the aim of increasing the number of people regularly skiing and snowboarding at facilities in England. This is the largest ever investment Sport England has made into Snowsport England. www.sportengland.org