Mythbusting: stop getting snowsports wrong

If you were asked to come up with a list of popular British sports, there’s a good chance you’ll have ticked off dozens before you mention snowsports. And while it’s true that the country’s climate and topography means that it rarely conjures up the winter wonderlands required for elite skiing and snowboarding, you might be surprised at just how strong the UK’s snowsports scene is. 

With the help of GB alpine ski racer Molly Butler and GB para ski coach Jo Ryding, we dispel some urban myths about a thriving sport.

Snowsports goes back a long way in this country. In fact, the world’s oldest skiing organisation can be traced back to a couple of drinks in a London cafe. Back in 1903, 12 founding members came up with the idea of the Ski Club of Great Britain while enjoying some refreshments at the Cafe Royal. It was the first such club dedicated to popularising skiing.

Molly Butler, the British champion in slalom, is keen to spread the message that snowsports is not only alive and well in the UK, but is brimming with exceptional talent. “Britain isn’t known as an Alpine nation, soI think there can be a misconception that people don’t think there’s a lot of hope for people who do snowsports. But that’s untrue, there’s so much talent and so much potential in many snowsports athletes. 

Molly argues that this misconception on British skill levels is not only wrong, but it can be damaging if it prevents investment. “The biggest challenge would definitely be financial in terms of getting sponsors on board. I think if there was a little bit more hope, or if people were more aware of the potential that there is in these snowsport athletes, we could help these guys out more by bringing in funding.”

As anyone who has ever witnessed a tiny tots ski school will know, the earlier you start on skis or a board the better. Becoming accustomed to your equipment and the conditions at a young age often leads to exceptionally quick take-up and progress. 

But, just as it’s never too late to take up the piano or learn to swim, snowsports are not exclusive to the young. As GB para ski coach Jo Ryding is keen to point out, the snow is for all ages to enjoy.

“I think the biggest barrier for a lot of people is age. They say, ‘Oh I can’t do it now, I’m too old.’ But you’re never too old to learn. It happens in racing too, both able-bodied and para athletes will think they’ve got to an age limit. But there’s no limit. If you’re enjoying it, keep doing it.”

Just as age shouldn’t be seen as a barrier, neither should any disability. Over the past decade, snowsports in the UK have transformed from niche adaptive offerings to a vibrant and mainstream element of both recreational and competitive disability sport, championed by enthusiastic communities, innovative tech, and increasing financial support. This increasingly open and inclusive environment is facilitated by experienced and committed coaches just like Jo.

“A lot of people still say, ‘I wouldn’t be able to do it.’ But there’s always a way of making it accessible. My challenges as a coach are how to get our para athletes access to accommodation or ski slopes. So we’re always looking into what’s the chair lift situation? Is there a T-bar? Are the athletes going to struggle on that?

“But then there’s also enjoyable challenges relating to each individual athlete being different. With able-bodied athletes, they’re all pretty similar and they can all do the same things. With a group of para athletes, each individual can be so different. So if you’ve got an upper limb missing, how is that going to affect your ability to separate over the outside ski? Things like that are an enjoyable challenge.”

For a long time in snowsports, this statement has been true. Jo Ryding recalls other British female coaches like her being few and far between for way too long, especially away internationally when she often found herself as the only woman. 

But, according to Jo, there are encouraging signs that this may be changing. “There’s a new programme being brought in by Snowsport England that’s just started, focused on developing female coaches, which is really cool.” 

“They’ve taken a new cohort, and they’re providing them with help getting access to courses, mentoring, and CPD. The challenge is getting more female coaches into full-time leadership roles. Full-time requires being away a lot of the time, so if you’re a little bit older and you want to have a family life, it’s quite challenging. If you haven’t got that support network then it’s very tricky. So whether you’re going to resolve that, I’m not sure.

“But having more females in those positions will hopefully encourage others to follow that pathway. The more women in those positions, the more help you can give to the female athletes that maybe don’t get the support that they need from the male coaches. You can also help the male coaches understand what the athletes need, which is really nice, because for me it’s a case of working with the male coaches as well and helping them develop and understand.”

Given the equipment required, the venue costs, and any potential trips away, nobody could argue that skiing and snowboarding are cheap to partake in. Cost is a higher barrier to entry compared to say, football or swimming. Those who progress to a higher standard will invariably be beholden to sponsors for their equipment and travel costs. But for those just starting out, there are ways to reduce the initial outlay. Molly advises heading to your local club and seeing what they’re able to provide before shelling out on any expensive equipment. 

“The way to start up is find your nearest club and sign up would be the first step. Save your money by hiring out the equipment from there at first. Then the more and more you get into it you might want to consider your own. 

But there are lots of different British clubs. I’m from Dilford, where there’s nearby Sandown Ski Club, where they there’s dry ski slopes and snow domes where they run camps. Then during the winter or even during the summer months, they have camps that bring you to glaciers around Europe.”