Welcome to our Wales Skiing and Snow Boarding Guide page - This page will help you get started with Skiing and Snow Boarding in Wales. For a comprehensive list of Skiing and Snow Boarding Resources see our Links Directory.

Wales is a great place for skiing and boarding, check out the links below for the best places to start.

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Getting Started

For those uninitiated into the sport skiing is divided into two main groupings, nordic and alpine. Alpine or downhill skiing involves running down slopes and normally using a lift to get back to the top. Nordic skiing consists of cross country (and ski jump), using lighter equipment it is used to travel from place to place and is very demanding physically. On a similar vein there are also many types of ski, with 3 main types the downhill ski, the touring ski (for traveling over unprepared terrain), and the cross country ski (for cut tracks). There are also some other variations, for jumping and freestyle.

Conditions
Snow is rare across wales with normally less than ten days with snowfall at the south coast, only settling for six days. However some of Snowdonia has over 40 days of snowfall, settling for more than 30.
This means the adventurous can head onto the hills occasionally (between december and March). To find some patch the can ski along or down (using their own equipment).

For absolute beginners taster sessions available at most centres (cost around £10).
More experienced skiers can normally just take time on a slope. A level of competency must usually be show in order to ski without instruction. Equipment is for hire at centres normally included in the cost of slope time. Except gloves.
As yet no centre in wales uses real snow so use of your own equipment will cause wear to it.

Snowboarding

More like surfing or skateboarding than it is to skiing as many skiers realize after their first falls. It is highly recommended that you wear waterproof trousers, thick gloves and wrist protection (for beginners). However it is easier to learn than skiing as you don't have to worry about poles or what your legs are doing. Instruction is needed for the first few days and hopping to ski lifts can prove awkward. Also your board must be suited to your style (as in surfing), which foot you place in front of the other to balance better.

Equipment Cost

Skis cost new from about £200 downhill boots from £100 and bindings from £50 each.
Snowboards from £150 boots form £60 bindings from £50 each

Contact information for centres in Wales

Also useful is the sports controlling body in wales, Snow Sport Wales.

www.snowsportwales.net