Girls ski
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Just for girls
Rip Curl Girls Tour is a freestyle snowboard and freeski tour strictly for girls. The opening day at Milton Keynes earlier this month was attended by more than 150 teens from all snowboarding and skiing levels. Those lucky enough to be there got lessons, a performance from SkirtBox and even a ‘Tricks ‘N’ Fun’ contest where the only requirement to join was not to wipe out on their first go! The tour continues on to Italy. Watch the video.
Snowboarding and skiing are fast becoming the coolest sports of the winter season, and you don’t even need to leave the country to take part.
Skiing
Skiing is a sport that involves sliding on snow with the use of skis – long flat boards usually made from a mixture of glass and metal.
The skills can be a little bit difficult to master, but once you get the basics like turning and stopping safely sorted, you’ll be able to attempt more advanced stuff, all under the supervision of a ski instructor of course!
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a cross between skiing and surfing, it still involves sliding down a snow covered slope but instead of skis attached to your feet, you’ll have a snowboard instead. It’s quite a new sport, only becoming part of the Winter Olympics in 1998.
A lot more dangerous than skiing, protective gear is absolutely essential for snowboarding whether you’re a beginner or a pro. The most commonly injured part of the body is your wrists, so invest in good wrist guards.
Places to learn
You don’t need to go abroad to learn how to ski or snowboard. There are many artificial slopes around the country where you can learn the basics. Find them all at Snowsport England – the National Governing Body for English Snowsports.
Where to go
If you’re ready for your next skiing or snowboarding challenge and want to be on real snow, there are over 2000 resorts for you to choose from. Head over to France or the nearby Andorra. There are also resorts in Canada, Spain and even Japan!
What to expect
Accept that you won’t be a pro straight away and you’ll have a bunch of laughs, even if it is at yourself! Yes, you’ll fall over loads but it happens to everyone so don’t worry.
