Amidst the 2010 Winter Olympics, Sport England and Snowsport England have revealed that Manchester’s Chill Factore and Ski Rossendale are among the ten ski facilities and clubs that will be at the heart of their drive to get more people on the slopes throughout England.
In the past year, more than 1,500 schools from across the North West have taken part in activities at Manchester’s indoor real snow centre, with many building snow sports tuition into their school programmes.
Home to a highly qualified instructing and coaching team, Chill Factore offers a range of tuition – from lessons for complete beginners, right up to expert race training for the country’s most promising young talent. The venue is also working hard to make snow sports more accessible, for example by creating links with local authorities and school sports partnerships and through its support for the Manchester Healthy Schools programme. Youth and community groups are also given access to snow sports through partnerships with, amongst others, Manchester City Football Club’s ‘City in the Community’ scheme.
Ski Rossendale has several clubs who operate at the slope with over 200 active members: Ski Art focus on developing personal performance; Kids Club operates ski and snowboard lessons for 4- to 16-year-olds; The Kommittee are developing the Freestyle scene.
Many of the country’s top snowboarders came through the ranks at Ski Rossendale, including Steve Bailey, Stu & Si Brass and Danny Wheeler. And the prospects for the coming years look good with talent such as Collum Mytton and Joe Tomlinson, who is already a British Junior Big Air Champion. Diane Scott, Operations Manager for Ski Rossendale, said:
“Ski Rossendale has some truly promising talent but we also provide very basic and welcoming opportunities for new skiers and boarders. We’re delighted to have been named as a priority area for growing participation in snow sports and look forward to building on our successes.”
Snowsport England, the national governing body for snow sports, is receiving £985,000 of Government and National Lottery funding to get more people skiing and snowboarding in high quality environments. Some of the funding will also be used to helped talented athletes move closer to their dreams of competing in the Winter Olympics.
In particular, Snowsport England is:
- Working with the charity Snow-Camp , to give more disadvantaged youngsters the chance to try snow sports, by helping them expand into new inner city areas and introduce participants to established ski clubs
- Working with universities to tap in the keen student market
- Expanding its work to offer more opportunities to snowboarders
- Employing dedicated staff to develop snow sports across England
- Developing a clear route for talented school-aged skiers to progress including new competitions and leagues.
Snowsport England’s Chief Executive, Tim Fawke, said:
“The record level of investment going into grassroots snow sports in England is helping us create even more opportunities for people to take part in and enjoy our fantastic sport. We hope the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will inspire more people to take up skiing and snowboarding.”
Richard Lewis, Sport England’s Chair, said:
“Snow sports in England have moved on a very long way from the days of Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards. Chill Factore and Ski Rossendale are fantastic facilities and there has never been a better time for local people to take to the slopes and experience the thrill of snow sports.”
The Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, said:
“It is great news that this extra funding from the Government and the National Lottery will help improve facilities for winter sports – giving more people the chance to experience skiing and snowboarding without even leaving the country.
“Many people in England will have seen more snow than theyexpectedthis winter, but this is a happy reminder of how it can provide the setting for a sport that is physically demanding, really exciting and brings people together.”