The Winter Olympics have begun in Beijing and the nation is already glued to the thrills, spills, daring and skills of Team GB.
But closer to home, here in Wales, our Be Active Wales Fund is supporting clubs that specialise in winter sports all year long.
The Be Active Wales Fund was created in 2020, designed to protect and progress community sport clubs and organisations through the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
To make sure they didn’t go off piste after Covid-19, seven snowsport clubs applied to the Be Active Wales Fund…
Beating the clock
Feeling the wind in your hair as you slalom downhill? There’s nothing better. Well, actually there is…reaching the bottom and finding out you’ve achieved a personal best.
And that’s exactly what members of Cardiff Ski Club are celebrating after they received £3571 from the Be Active Wales Fund for timing equipment.
Ice skating on dry land
When Ice Arena Wales was forced to close its doors for almost 17 months due to Covid, Synchro Cardiff - an ice skating club - was more determined than ever to keep going.
In order to keep its skaters fit, flexible and in good spirits, the club rallied the troops and submitted an application to the Be Active Wales Fund.
Receiving a grant of £3210, the club was able to hire sports halls and run off-ice sessions of ballet and stretch, strength and conditioning, pilates and dance choreography.
Huskies howl for funding
Once the Cardiff Huskies were able to get back on the ice, they needed to do it safely. Many of the Para ice hockey players have underlying health issues and have shielded during the pandemic so safety has been crucial.
The Be Active Wales Fund invested £645 into face shields, sanitising equipment and marker cones.
Keeping safe
Ski4all Wales is all about creating life-changing experiences and opportunities for adults with physical, visual and neurological disabilities, as part of a rehabilitation programme.
Based at Pembrey Ski Centre in Carmarthenshire, the club was handed £1500 to buy wipes, masks, gloves, anti-bacterial gel and other cleaning equipment so that it could continue doing its amazing work!
Training the trainers
After the pandemic, Torfaen Ski Club was left with fewer qualified instructors to teach beginners their first skills on the slopes and was forced to turn away customers.
Applying to the Be Active Wales Fund, it was successful in securing £1360 to invest in instructor development. The plan is to encourage existing members to become instructors and help run the club.
