Skiing and snowboarding are exciting, adventurous and expensive sports. Each year approximately 1.5 million people in Britain go on a skiing holiday. There is a large range of destinations to choose from throughout the world. Whether you fly or drive, stay in hotels, catered chalets or self-catering apartments, the costs of ski/snowboard hire, ski equipment, lift passes, insurance and perhaps even ski lessons ensure that skiing holidays do not come cheap. However, on a smaller budget you can still ski without leaving the country. There are resorts in Scotland and plenty of dry ski slope centres throughout the UK.
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING INFORMATION
What are the sports?
Skiing and snowboarding are the most popular types of winter sports and can take several forms. There are three main types of skiing - Alpine, Nordic and Freestyle. Alpine skiing is the most popular of these sports but snowboarding – which evolved from skateboarding and surfing – is quickly catching on, especially with young people. There are three types of snowboarding, Slalom, Freestyle and Snowboardcross, which require different equipment. Your feet are attached either in hard or soft boots to the board by bindings. There are different styles of boards, but the most popular one to begin on is a freestyle board with soft boots.
Equipment
Skiing: Ski boots, skis, poles. You can hire these (£50-90) at all resorts and the cost may be included in a package holiday.
Snowboarding: Snowboard boots, hard or soft (from £100), snowboard (from £150). You can hire these (£50-100) at all resorts and the cost may be included in a package holiday. Snowboard hire tends to be more expensive than ski hire.
Other equipment: Goggles, ski gloves, ski trousers and ski jacket.
You will also need a lift pass (£70-110) and insurance, which varies depending upon your destination - Europe is cheaper than America - and the length of your holiday.
You may also want to join a ski school. Lessons in both skiing and snowboarding are provided at most European resorts (and again can be pre-paid) and are also available at dry ski slopes.
UK DRY SKI SLOPES
Other than the highlands of Scotland, the only other place to learn to ski or snowboard in the UK is at dry ski slope centres. These are located throughout the UK. Ifyouski.com has a comprehensive guide to the dry ski slopes in the UK. It provides you with detailed information (when available) about each centre, such as contact information, the number of slopes each has, the length, width and the material of the slopes, whether it caters for beginners and advanced skiers, if ski and snowboard lessons are available for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiiers, and whether extras such as jumps and half-pipes are available for snowboarders.
SCOTTISH RESORTS
Although many Britons go abroad to ski, there are ski resorts at home. Ski Scotland provides general information about ski schools, equipment hire, accommodation and après ski in the ski areas in Scotland. The five Scottish resorts are:
Nevis Range
Glencoe
Glenshee
The Lecht
Cairngorm
SKI HOLIDAYS
Visiting your local travel agent and picking up brochures is the one of the best ways to choose a resort, allowing you the time to browse through all the options. However, many of the skiing holiday companies now have online brochures and booking facilities.
SKI/SNOWBOARD CLUBS
Ski racing in the UK is organised by a number of regions. Most regions have a race development squad, made up of the best skiers of all ages competing in a number of inter-regional competitions. A list of the ski clubs and dry ski slope centres throughout the UK can be found on the UK Ski Clubs website. There are also around 35 Scottish ski clubs affiliated with Snowsport Scotland, whilst Snowsport Wales provides a list of all its Welsh ski clubs.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
If your child displays real talent at skiing you can combine his/her education with ski training on snow during the winter. The Thomson British Ski Academy is a centre of excellence for young British skiers ranging from aged seven/eight to 20. The fees can range from £950 for two weeks to £4850 for 11 weeks, with discounts available for members of the British Children’s Ski Team.
SKIIING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
History
Skiing for people with disabilities has expanded since the 1970s when it was limited to cross-country skiing for the visually impaired and Alpine skiing for leg amputees. Today, children with many types of impairment can become involved in skiing, either for fun or with an eye to Paralympic competition. In the past year, the National Association for Handicapped Skiers has been wound up, but its activities have been taken over by the Uphill Ski Club, and their website is a good place to start.
Methods & Equipment
Disabled skiers can use special equipment or work with a trained guide depending on their needs. Wherever possible standard equipment is adapted but in some cases specialist equipment is needed; the Uphill Ski Club has a list of contacts for equipment, as well as recommended organisations and resorts. The British Ski Club for the Disabled (BSCD) recommends the Sitski site’s pages on adaptive skiing. (See too what the British Adaptive Ski Team is up to!)
Learning to Ski
You can learn the basics on dry ski slopes, which are located throughout the UK. For more information about the facilities and opportunities in your area contact your regional British Ski Club for the Disabled (BSCD) centre.
Skiing Courses/Holidays
The Back-up Trust organises summer and winter skiing courses in the UK and abroad and the BSCD offers several skiing holidays each year. Ski holiday specialist company Erna Low also arranges adaptive skiing holidays for skiers with physical impairments. These are generally aimed at people who already have some experience of skiing, but the company has advice for those who are just starting out.
Paralympics
Details of the Paralympic sports, which include Alpine skiing, wheelchair curling and ice sledge hockey, can be found on the International Paralympic Committee website.
More Information
The British Ski Club for the Disabled
British Winter Sports Commission promotes Winter Sports for all disabled people.
National Handicapped Skiers Association
The Back-up Trust, a charity for people who have been paralysed through spinal injury
The International Paralympic Committee
Get Kids Going is a charity that gets young disabled people up to the age of 26 involved in sports. They help provide disabled people with ski equipment and the costs of sports training, whether they are beginners, competing for fun or serious competitors. If you are interested in receiving help please contact them for an application form on .
The contact details for the charities and organisations dedicated to sport for disabled children throughout the UK can be found in our section on Leisure for Disabled Children.
ORGANISATIONS
Snowsport GB, the governing body for skiing and snowboarding
Snowsport Wales, the governing body for skiing and snowboarding in Wales
Snowsport Scotland, the governing body for skiing and snowboarding in Scotland
Northern Ireland Ski Council (NISC)
International Ski Federation (FIS)
International Snowboarding Federation
British Snowboard Association
English Schools Ski Association
British Universities Ski and Snowboard Council
Ski Club of Great Britain
British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School British Winter Sports Commission
The British Ski Club for the Disabled
The International Paralympic Committee
For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit your Local Authority’s website. It can provide details on activities, attractions and services available to you and your family.
See "Skiing with the Family", a helpful factsheet from the Ski Club of Great Britain.
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