North Staffs Ski Club freestyle has seen “great demand” following the start of the Winter Olympics and their connection to Olympian Mia Brookes.
North Staffs Ski Club are fast becoming a hub of activity as interest in winter sports has risen 45% in the last five to ten years according to Visa2Highlights.
The club has existed for 50 years, ran entirely by volunteers to bring the cheapest skiing in England, providing unbridled access to winter sports for the Northwest.
It provides beginner lessons, intermediate lessons, and recreational sessions where members can practice.
They currently have two 14-year-olds who are part of the Snowsport England Park and Pipe Academy who started skiing at the club.
Snowboarding Olympian Mia Brookes took her first slides on a board when she was around 18 months old on North Staffs’ 90 metres of white carpet.
In 2014, Brookes’ grandfather and father were involved in developing the club’s freestyle park, which is now in high demand as interest in winter sports spikes.
The club now presents a trophy named in honour of her grandfather David Dick to the child who has shown the most progress during the last 12 months.
Ann Loton, chair of North Staffs Ski Club, said: “We currently have around 40 – 50 children attending Junior Club on Sunday mornings. Our permanent Freestyle Park is in great demand.
“When people get the skiing bug there’s no stopping them.
“We are of course immensely proud of Mia’s achievements to date, awaiting eagerly for her events in the coming weeks.”
Featured image Credit: Kidsgrove Ski Centre / Ann Loton permission to use given by copyright holder
