The icy twists, impressive jumps and our cool-as-you-like champions at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing are certainly tempting us onto the slopes and rinks.
No doubt, sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, curling and figure skating will see a huge Beijing-induced spike in those lining up to try something new.
But how accessible are winter sports in Wales? We went to find out….
Isn’t it all a bit posh and expensive?
“No, not at all, you can get involved at very reasonable rates,” says Robin Kellen at Snowsport Cymru Wales.
In Wales, there are six artificial slopes where you can book affordable lessons, have a go for fun or even progress onto the competition circuit. You can ski recreationally from about £10 and equipment hire is included.
The facilities are at Fairwater in Cardiff, Pontypool in Gwent, Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire, Llangrannog in Cardigan Bay, Llandudno in Gwynedd and Dan-Yr-Ogof in the Brecon Beacons.
Throughout March 2022, Snowsport Cymru is putting on discounted taster sessions at centres across Wales, some of which will be half price. Contact your local centre to find out more.
Is it a sport for girls though?
Yes, it is! More girls than ever are getting involved. Robin told us: “At our National Schools Competition in 2020, we had more girls than boys taking part.”
Team GB’s Katie Ormerod – who honed her skills on the UK’s dry ski slopes – started out on a boys’ snowboard because they didn’t make them for women. But times are changing!
And our GB stars – including Wales’ very own Menna Fitzpatrick – are brilliant role models, encouraging more girls to take to the slopes.
To find your nearest club, visit Snowsport Cymru Wales.
I’m disabled. Can I get involved in skiing and snowboarding?
Absolutely – yes, yes, yes! Every centre in Wales provides opportunities for adaptive skiing and cater for people with a wide range of disabilities.
There are also a number of adaptive skiing clubs. Para Snow Sports Wales in Llandudno provide opportunities for the visually impaired, amputees, wheelchair users and those with an intellectual impairment. In Pembrey, Ski4all Wales runs adaptive ski sessions for adults while Ice Cool Kids offer children and families of all abilities the chance to swoosh down the slopes.
To find out more, visit Snowsport Cymru Wales
I want to try freestyle skiing though. Can you do that in Wales?
Yes, you can! Want to flip, spin and jump? Freestyle skiing events such as ski cross, halfpipe, and slope-style all now part of the Winter Olympics programme – and you can give them a go here in Wales.
Each centre has facilities available to get started in freestyle skiing. But to progress, head to Llangrannog’s snow park which has jumps, rails and ramps. With a softer, rubberised surface, this is the place to hone your 360s.
For ski facilities, visit Snowsport Cymru Wales.
Inspired by our top figure skaters? Then head to Wales’ ice rinks. There is one at Deeside and the other is Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff. Both offer public skate sessions and ice skating lessons for anyone and everyone, including children under five.
There are ice skating clubs based at both rinks if you want to take your twizzles to the next level.
Please note that, at time of writing, Deeside Ice Rink remains closed as it has been serving as a vaccination centre. Please check before travelling.
Like your sport fast and furious? Ice hockey might be your thing. There are six ice hockey clubs in Cardiff: The Cardiff Devils,The Cardiff Junior Devils, The Deeside Dragons, The Deeside Junior Dragons, the Cardiff Comets and the Cardiff Huskies.
There are opportunities for children and young people to play at every age level. Not ready to join a team? That’s ok. Get booked onto a Learn to Play programme to get started. Kit is supplied.
At time of writing, the adult and junior teams in Deeside are hoping to return to the ice as soon as the rink is no longer needed as a vaccination centre.
Still a bit wobbly?
Wales’ only women’s ice hockey team, the Cardiff Comets, suggest you should be able to start, stop and skate unaided. Consider a few skate lessons if you’re not feeling fully confident.
Have a disability?
If you have a disability and fancy giving it a go, the Cardiff Huskies are the club for you. The Para Ice Hockey club open their doors to beginners, juniors and seniors as well as those non-disabled. The club will provide the sledge and necessary kit for the first couple of sessions. The Deeside Junior Dragons also provide opportunities for children with special educational needs.
If you’ve been watching the curling, chances are you’re hooked, right? For those who don’t know, curling is a team sport. Two teams take it in turns to slide granite stones towards a target which is known as House.
The home of curling in Wales is the Deeside Ice Rink, which has been closed during the Covid-19 pandemic to make way for a vaccination centre. But keep an eye on the Welsh Curling website or its Facebook page to find out when Try Curling lessons are back up and running.
Clubs across Wales can only provide opportunities because people roll up their sleeves and give up their free time to carry out a wide range of roles.
So if you want to make a difference and help more people across Wales enjoy sport, just get in touch with a club or governing body.
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