If you’ve ever watched a ski slope from the sidelines and thought, “I’d rather be sliding down that hill than standing here freezing,” Snowsport England’s Way2Snow campaign might just be your chance to swap the sidelines for the slopes.
In an inspired push to open up the joys of snowsports to newcomers, Way2Snow is rolling out the white carpet to anyone keen to learn to ski or snowboard before winter’s call grows too strong to resist.
This isn’t just another snowbound whim. Way2Snow is a full-scale UK snowsports collaboration — a rare moment when rival businesses and organisations like The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, SnowDome in Tamworth, Chill Factore in Manchester, and powerhouses like the Ski Club of Great Britain, Disability Snowsport UK, and Snow Camp join forces for the greater good. Together with Snowsport England, they’ve launched the country’s first national programme of its kind.
The pitch is simple: twelve hours of expert tuition on real snow, not some synthetic substitute, at one of three state-of-the-art indoor slopes. Adults pay £299, while juniors aged 11-16 can get started for £249.
As James Arnold, CEO of Snowsport England, puts it: “Snowsports are the perfect sport to try for fun, whatever your age or fitness level. Similar to the Couch to 5K programme, Way2Snow is specifically designed to take someone with little or no experience to a proficient level, guided by expert instructors at all three centres at a heavily reduced price.
For us, getting more people to try snowsports for the first time is a great way to build momentum ahead of the next Winter Olympics, which is now only a few months away.”
It’s not just about teaching you how to ski in a straight line (or stay upright, for that matter). The Way2Snow package is a full kit-and-caboodle affair: free ski or snowboard hire, boots and helmets, discounts on winter holidays with Neilson and Crystal Ski, and cut-price gear from Snow+Rock, Ellis Brigham, and The Snowboard Asylum. Add in a free Ski Club of Great Britain membership and tickets to the UK’s biggest snow shows this autumn, and you’re practically skiing down the mountain before you’ve even put your boots on.
What’s more, the Way2Snow fees have a purpose. A slice of every package booked goes straight to Disability Snowsport UK and Snow Camp, helping those charities keep the snow dream alive for young people and those with additional needs.
Virginia Anderson, CEO of Disability Snowsport UK, underscored the inclusivity: “Skiing and snowboarding are very accessible for all kinds of learners; it’s all about the right equipment and instruction tailored to your needs. Through Way2Snow, Disability Snowsport UK hopes to provide one-to-one tuition to many more disabled people and learners with additional needs.”
If you’re wondering how to get involved, here’s the nudge: you’ve got until 31 August 2025 to redeem your package and start learning.
Don’t leave it until the snow’s already on the ground — visit www.snowsportengland.org.uk/way2snow and book your chance to turn those winter dreams into a cold, exhilarating reality.
