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How to ski for free in the UK this October

Skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities can make the most of free sessions in October - This content is subject to copyright.
Skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities can make the most of free sessions in October - This content is subject to copyright.

Snowsports England, the governing body tasked with increasing participation in skiing and snowboarding in the UK, has launched an initiative to encourage more people to hit the slopes before the first snow of the winter starts to fall.

The project, 30 Days of Snowsports, offers free and discounted sessions for all abilities and ages at indoor snow centres, dry ski slopes, snow-sport clubs and roller ski venues across the country.

The initiative has successfully been running for the past four years. In 2017 over 6,000 people took advantage of the sessions on offer at 20 different venues and clubs. This year, following Team GB’srecord-breaking success at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang back in February organisers are hoping more people than ever will have been inspired and will want to give the sport a go.

Running from October 1 to October 30 there are over 300 sessions on offer, including ski or snowboard taster sessions at Chill FactorE in Manchester, a free taster day at North Staffordshire Ski Club, beginner sessions at the SnowDome in Tamworth, a cross country skiing open day at Manchester Cross Country Ski Club and chance to try roller skiing at Dorney Lake in Eton.

roller skiing
Roller skiing is just one of many activities being offered for free in October

"The 30 Days of Snowsport campaign is a great opportunity for Snowsport England to shout about the numerous opportunities available to try skiing and snowboarding on home soil," said Luke Williams, heads of events and campaigns at Snowsport England.

Some of Great Britain’s best skiers and snowboarders, members of the GB Park and Pipe team, will also be hosting a day dedicated to all things freestyle at Kendal Ski Club on October 6 as part of the Futures Project.

The session, part of a series of events organised by the British Ski and Snowboard team, aims to give aspiring freestylers, aged six to 18 years old, a taste of life on the competitive circuit, with talks and coaching from the team.

Later in the month athletes from the British team will also be at The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival, held in Battersea Park, taking part in Q&A and meeting fans – all in an effort to boost the popularity of skiing and snowboarding in the UK.

At the event visitors will also be able to try taster sessions with instructors from Chel-Ski, a London-based indoor slope that moves under skis like a giant sloping treadmill and is made of astroturf-like material, sprayed with water to give it grip.

The UK’s indoor and outdoor ski slopes are used by holidaymakers as a means of warming up before they head to the mountains, or learning the basics before a first trip, and also by professional athletes for training. Snowsports England and ambassadors such as Winter Olympian Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards are keen to increase the profile of these facilities, believing they play an integral part in securing the future of snow sports.

Investment is already on the up following the announcement that the derelict site of Sheffield Ski Village, which was destroyed in an arson attack, is set to receive a £22.5 million makeover as part of plans to open a new action and adventure sports facility, including a new slope. The site was once the local facility for Winter Olympic freestyle skier James ‘Woodsy’ Woods, who now credits his training there as fundamental to his success.

"We hope that the 30 Days of Snowsport campaign will inspire people to try something new, or otherwise help people to get onto the slopes ahead of an upcoming holiday," said Williams.

30 days of Snowsports is part of a series of initiatives run by Snowsports England that aims to get more people into winter sports. This includes National Schools Snowsports Week, an event that is held in April and targeted at getting school children onto the snow. See the full list of sessions and discounts available at goskigoboard.org.uk.