The Snowlife Schools Tour Slides to Success

A record number of children were introduced to skiing and snowboarding.

The Snowlife Schools Tour headed home on Sunday 27th November after a hugely successful 8 week tour to encourage greater participation in snowsports. From September to November 2005 a team of professional skiers and snowboarders visited 32 secondary schools, 8 artificial slopes, and inspired 20,000 pupils to keep active this winter.

Taking in 8 UK regions: Sheffield, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Norfolk, Llandudno, Gloucester, Plymouth and Chatham the tour visited four schools in each area and invited over 3,000 pupils to a FREE introductory lesson at the Snowlife Ride & Slide event held at their local slope.    

Taking over the PE lessons at each school the team of pro athletes involved students in everything from the fundamental basics, through to mountain safety, and how school studies can compliment sporting development. They got the pupils hooked on snowboarding and skiing through video shows, catwalks, product sampling and giveaways, Q&A's and stunts on the trampoline. (Mike Wakefield's back to back 12 backflips to frontflips never failed to impress!)  

The Snowlife Schools Tour would not have been such a success without the very hard work and endless enthusiasm from the core team. Big thanks go out to: Jonathan Weaver, Sonia Shaw, Mike Wakefield, Tim Warwood, Ben Hawker, Emma Rogers and Gilly Seagrave.
                                            
The organisers also would like to thank all the local professionals that joined the team to help promote the sports and the local facilities, they included: Ben Kilner, Lesley McKenna, Dan Wakeham, James Thorne, Zack Wragg and Laura Hill.

With positive feedback from schools and children booking up for more lessons on the slopes, the tour has helped introduce and raise awareness of snowboarding and freestyle skiing to a new generation.  Inspiring any future hopefuls to get involved and maximize the use of their local slopes.

Quotes from the Snowlife Team:
Sonia Shaw - "I'm so pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of the Snowlife Schools Tour and meet some amazing kids and give them the opportunity to try skiing and snowboarding for free. Others should look onto the example being made by the SIGB (Snowsports Industries of Great Britain) to push the sport forward and bring the industry together. I have no doubt that some of the kids that were introduced to the sport will be names to look out for in the future. I can't wait to see the next generation of skiers and snowboarders in the magazines because of the chance they have been given. It has made me aware of how important grass roots are".



Mike Wakefield - "It was great going into the schools and meeting the kids and then seeing the same faces at the weekend having lessons knowing that we had made an impact on them to come along".

Jon Weaver - "I feel very privileged to have been able to give so many kids the opportunity to try out skiing and snowboarding and to encourage them to take up such an amazing lifestyle. The effect that we have is something that has to been seen to be believed.

Quote from one of the pupils:
Jonathan Steel, Kingspark Secondary Schools, Glasgow: - " The best bits were the trampoline and the DVD they showed us. I'm definitely snowboarding at the week-end, I think it'll be fun and an unusual thing to do. I haven't had the money to do it before now but it'd be a great chance to give it a go, and if I like it I'll start saving for it."

Quote from one of the teacher:
Ms Ruth Martin - Head of PE Department, Portlethen Academy, Aberdeen.
"It was a fantastic day, the DVD presentation, the dressing up in equipment and the trampoline moves were very much appreciated by all the classes that got the opportunity to see the event. Those that I have spoken to thoroughly enjoyed the expertise of Sonia, Ben, Emma, Mike and John. I can honestly say that Friday was a resounding success, with pupils after hearing how good it was, asking out of other classes to come along and watch. Thank you for allowing us to taste a little of the "snowlife" I hope you continue to have success with this venture".