Over 2500 people enjoyed a day of skiing and snowboarding at Snozone Milton Keynes on Saturday 5 October with over 100 of them taking beginner skiing and snowboarding ‘TRY’ sessions as part of the Slide2Sochi Winter Olympic roadshow.
Joining the crowds were celebrities Sir Steve Redgrave, a qualified ski instructor who was giving out tips on the slope, Iwan Thomas who was trying skiing again after a 20 year break and five time Olympian and BBC Ski Sunday producer Graham Bell who was giving snowboarding a go before clipping into his skis to set a time on the race course.
To add to the Olympic buzz, GB junior snowboarders Becky Menday and Will Gilmore were showing off their skills on the snow and the GB Bobsleigh team were inundated with people trying out their bobsleigh and looking the part as they sat in the sled with a GB helmet on. The giant Slide2Sochi snowball which is collecting good luck messages for the GB wintersports athletes ahead of the Games was always busy and the timed ski run got as competitive as you would expect.
“It has been a pleasure giving out tips to people who are trying skiing for the first time. I have always loved skiing with my family and it is great to see so many people here at Milton Keynes getting such pleasure from their skiing and snowboarding sessions,” said Sir Steve Redgrave.
“There has been a real buzz about the day as we get excited ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year and to top the day off I even got to try and beat Graham Bell in the timed run. I thought I had done it when I looked at the leader board, but then realised he was on his snowboard!”
“Teaching people to ski and snowboard is so rewarding and it has been a great day of passing on my passion for snowsports and seeing people catch the bug,” said Graham Bell, “This is going to be a big season for British skiing and snowboarding and as we head towards the Winter Olympics in Russia next year more and more people will see our sports on screen and want to give them a go.”
The Slide2Sochi roadshow is part of Snowsport England’s GO SKI GO BOARD campaign aimed at getting more people into skiing and snowboarding. With over 100 people taking part in a GO SKI GO BOARD ‘TRY’ session Chief Executive of Snowsport England said: “We are delighted with the number of people who attended the Slide2Sochi roadshow at Snozone Milton Keynes and even happier with over 100 people giving skiing or snowboarding a go as part of our TRY SKI AND SNOWBOARD sessions. We will continue to tour the country with our Slide2Sochi roadshow and get more people having a go at snowsports.”
GO SKI GO BOARD sessions will continue at Snozone MK and around the country. Visit www.goskigoboard.org.uk for more information, dates and prices.
The Snozone Slide2Sochi event was run by governing body Snowsport England in conjunction with Crystal Ski Holidays and the Tirol Tourist Board.