The UK’s only festival dedicated to snow sports, The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival, kicks off this week in London’s Battersea Park, and for many keen skiers and snowboarders the event marks the official start of the winter season.
Now in its 46th year the event has transformed from being a traditional exhibition into a four-day live experience, bringing a range of activities to suit everyone including families, après-loving revelers, novice skiers and those who are regular visitors to the slopes.
To encourage visitors to give snow sports a go and get in the mood for the mountains, this year the Festival has extended its lineup of attractions and activities all included in the price of a ticket. Here we round up some of the best.
The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival takes place during half term, from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 October. Find out more and book tickets at skiandsnowboard.co.uk. Tickets also available from the box office in Battersea Park.
1. Meet Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Not only is Sir Ranulph Fiennes the greatest living explorer according to the Guinness Book of Records, with 40 years of expeditions under his belt, he is the oldest Briton to summit Mount Everest, and the first person to reach both poles by surface travel. His expeditions, which have raised £18.9 million for numerous charities over the years, have gained him legendary status and have inspired many others to follow in his tracks. Fiennes will be upstairs at The Lodge at the Festival on Friday 25 in The Inghams Lodge at 12:30pm, recounting some of his favourite stories. Seating is limited, arrive early to avoid disappointment. After the talk Fiennes will be signing copies of two of his books, Beyond the Limits and Cold, both available for visitors to purchase.
2. Learn new skills
As part of a new focus on freestyle at the Festival this October, Graystone Action Sports Academy will be bringing a mini skate ramp to Battersea Park, similar to the large-scale facility in its 35,000sq ft warehouse in Manchester. Graystone’s team of expert coaches and ambassadors will also be on hand to share the benefits other action sports, like skateboarding, can bring to the development of snowboarding and skiing. Visitors to the event will be able to take able in taster sessions to learn new skills around balance and why skateboarding can help develop tricks on a snowboard. The Academy’s experts and athletes will also be putting on demonstrations to inspire youngsters to give the sport a go.
Credit:
bobby singh
3. See it first
This winter The North Face is launching its revolutionary one-hundred per cent waterproof and fully breathable material, FutureLight, a rival to long-term favourite Gore-Tex. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the development process of FutureLight and learn how the products perform in the mountains from professional athletes Marion Haerty and Victor De Le Rue. “It’s so revolutionary that once people have tested it, and become used to that breathability, they won’t be able to go back,” said the brand’s ambassador and legendary snowboard Xavier de le Rue. See it for yourself and be the first to shop the new collection, at the Festival.
4. Marvel at the best talent on Turkish Airlines Mount Battersea
Thrillseekers old and young can marvel at pro-rider demonstrations and international competitions on Turkish Airlines Mount Battersea, the 50ft real-snow kicker constructed specially for the Festival in the centre of Battersea Park. There’s a packed timetable from Thursday to Sunday, with the opportunity to watch some of the UK’s top skiers and snowboarders showcasing their skills in demonstrations. Previous years have seen a high-jump competition, quadruple front flips and even a jump in a rubber ring – standby for some world-class entertainment.
Turkish Airlines – Fly with the Professionals Competition is a new addition to the timetable of competitions and will be taking place on Friday evening, when the event stays open until 10pm.
Returning to the slopes on Saturday is the ever-popular British Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Championships (the BRITS) competition. This competition has long been a stepping stone to help UK freestylers get noticed and make the jump to the international circuit and often features the future stars of Team GB.
The final day of the Festival will see the return of Planks Clothing’s Grassroots Tour. A showcase of the very best up and coming UK talent spearheaded by the British ski wear brand that’s set to dress Team GB. One of the coolest competitions on UK soil, it’s set to be a showstopper of a finale.
5. Hit the snow
Children aged between four and 10 years old will be able to take to the snow of Turkish Airlines Mount Battersea as part of a ski taster experience, including mini ramps and slopes, with expert instructors from the Snow Centre in association with Snow Camp – a new attraction for the event, suitable for young children of all abilities and designed to let them experience snow for the first time.
6. Find the perfect fit
Buying a new pair of ski or snowboard boots is often a complicated process, with hundreds of different styles and fits to choose from and various options to suit different levels of skier. Debunk all the myths involved in the fitting process and find the perfect pair at the Festival with the help of the experts from Finches Emporium. The Finches team is offering a complimentary boot fitting service throughout the Festival and a wide range of boots to choose from, with no obligation to buy. Appointments are available to book in advance – the service was fully booked last year, so book early to avoid disappointment.
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Copyright © James North 2017/James North
7. Entertain the kids
Like family ski holidays, a day out with the entire brood can be stressful. This year at the Festival parents can take a breather thanks to the Esprit Ski Kids Zone, located upstairs in The Lodge. A fun-packed, kids-only area for children aged three to eight years old, where youngsters can experience all the best bits about an Esprit Ski family ski holiday. Expect lots of wintery activities to keep children busy including songs, games and arts and crafts. Esprit’s childcare staff, who will be leading all the activities, will also be on hand to answer questions from parents about how to take the headache out of a family ski holiday.
8. Slide into the ski season
One of the event’s most popular features is back for the fifth year running, the ice rink, brought to you by Crystal Ski Holidays. The whole family will have the chance to strap on their skates and enjoy a spot of sliding on the pop-up rink as part of their entry ticket. Slots are available to book in advance for free. In a new twist for 2019, at various times throughout each day the rink will turn into curling lanes when visitors will be able to swap their skates for sweepers and compete against each other in one of the coolest winter sports going.
9. Taste the difference
To celebrate the perfect pairing that is beer and snow sports this year The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival has partnered with craft beer brewery Redchurch to serve up the very finest brews to thirsty festival goers over the four-day event. The brewery, which is based in East London, will be setting up its very own Redchurch bottle bar chalet. In a Festival first visitors will be able to sample six of the brewery’s craft beers and three special brews, exclusively made to the Festival, as part of a tasting workshop hosted by its head brewer and expert team. The Redchurch chalet will also be hosting DJ sets, selling merchandise and running competitions on Friday evening as part of the Red Run après event, when the gates to Battersea Park stays open until 10pm for visitors.
10. Meet the athletes and learn how to capture the action
Despite not being blessed with our own natural snow-capped mountain Great Britain’s freestyle skiers and snowboarders have always been innovative in their approach to training. The rise of GB Park and Pipe’s success has recently been documented in a book by photographer Sam Mellish, Radical Gains. The Festival will also host a panel discussion, with Winter Olympians Billy Morgan, Peter Speight and Rowan Coultas, about the development of the sport and how the team has managed to become one of the biggest forces on the competitive snow-sports scene, with key athletes and coaches. This will be followed by an expert photography workshop where visitors can learn how to capture the perfect shot on the snow – prepare for your Instagram feeds to be transformed next winter.
11. Make furry new friends
No winter festival would be complete without husky dogs, right? To complete the winter wonderland theme the Festival has partnered with France Montagnes, the company behind some of the country’s most popular resorts, to bring a pack of sled-pulling huskies to Battersea Park. The trained dogs and their handlers will be offering rides in the park for children, on a specially adapted sled, included with an entry ticket.
12. Develop a passion for snow sports
To further encourage youngsters to give snow sports a go and as part of the development of skiing and snowboarding in the UK Snowsports England, the sport’s national governing body, is bringing its Future Sessions to the Festival. Youngsters will have the opportunity to gain their level one off-snow skills certificate with professional coaches. The informal sessions involve teaching 10 fundamental movements that help with freestyle skiing and snowboarding, with tips on how to develop further at home and at local UK slopes.
Credit:
Copyright © James North
13. Roll around the park
Cross country skiing has seen a rise in popularity in recent years and thanks to Norway Home of Skiing visitors to the Festival will be able to give it a go on roller skis. The equipment, which is specially designed to be used on hard surfaces, mimics the experience of making tracks in the snow. Norway Home of Skiing will be on hand to lead visitors around a route, bringing a touch of Scandinavian charm to the city, be prepared though, it’s not as easy as it looks. Experts from London Region Nordic Ski Club (LRNSC) will also be on hand to answer any questions and explain how you can continue your roller ski experience in London.
14. Scrub up on your technique
A favourite for keen skiers at the Festival, the Warren Smith Ski Academy will be on hand to help visitors improve their skills with free video analysis sessions. Footage of visitors skiing will be analysed by the Academy pro team on a one-to-one basis, so the coaches can share real-time pointers and instruction to help skiers with their technique – sessions are available to be booked in advance. The Festival will be the final leg of the Academy’s Tech Lab Tour, and founder Warren Smith will be hosting seminars in The Inghams Lodge to talk through his groundbreaking technique studies and exercises.
15. Enjoy après
In 2019 the Festival returns with a louder than ever après offering, when the venue stays open until 10pm. Returning to the late-night Friday is the crowd-pleasing Famous First Words. The special event is created by popular DAVE and BBC presenters Tim Warwood and Adam Gendle, and requires participants to sing the first line of a well known song – Famous First Words glory awaits those who put in both a passionate and technically correct performance. Now in its third year at the Festival it’s an après session not to be missed – previous years have seen Billy Morgan stage dive and Jenny Jones judge the winning performance, if you like your après loud and lively, this is the place for you.
Credit:
JAMES NORTH
16. Find the perfect resort
The Festival is an ideal opportunity to discover a new ski resort or bag the top deals for the upcoming winter. Inside Battersea Evolution visitors will find a wealth of resorts and operators showcasing the very best in the ski world, including the most popular resorts in French, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, as well as lesser-known destinations in Norway, Japan and the USA. Whether you’re looking to book your first ski holiday or are a seasoned pro looking for a new adventure, the Telegraph ski experts will be on stage in The Inghams Lodge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to answer questions from the audience and share top tips for booking the perfect trip.
17. Learn life-saving skills
Stay safe in the mountains should always been everyone’s priority, no matter how enticing a powder-covered off piste run might look. In an effort to educate the UK’s skiers and snowboarders Turkish Airlines Mount Battersea, the Festival’s real-snow slope, will turned into an avalanche training zone for educational sessions from the Ski Club of Great Britain. During the 45-minute sessions lead by The Ski Club’s experts visitors will learn how to identify an avalanche-risk zone and what to do if they get caught in one. They’ll learn more about slope angle and snow stability as well as the vital skills they need to survive. Places are available to book in advance.
18. Update your wardrobe
Still wearing the same ski jacket that saw you through the Millenium? Are you kids embarrassed to stand next to you in the lift queue? Maybe you’re about to embark on your first trip to the mountains and need to get kitted out, a broad range of retailers at the Festival have got all your wardrobe needs covered. Shop the latest styles from the likes of Planks Clothing, The North Face, Odlo and McNair, support the UK’s best up and coming brands such as Dinoski, Bro! Clothing and PSD Skis or visit the one-stop-shop with Decathlon to make this your most stylish season yet.
19. Grab the popcorn
Warren Miller Entertainment, the production company set up by ski bum-turned-filmmaker Warren Miller, has been producing ski and snowboard films since 1949. This year sees the release of the company’s 70th feature-length film, Timeless. The UK premier of the new film, one of the most anticipated of the winter, will be presented by Helly Hansen at The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival on Friday 25 from 6pm – arrive early for the best seats and grab the popcorn.
Tickets for The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival are on sale now.