Education Today Education Today Magazine
The 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics are fast approaching and will soon land in PyeongChang, South Korea, where a dynamic selection of British medal hopefuls will compete on the world stage.
Governing body Snowsport England aims to capture the buzz created by the UK’s thrilling wintersports athlete performances and help introduce more teachers and pupils to skiing and snowboarding through the “PyeongChang to Piste’ campaign and National Schools Snowsports Week.
As part of the campaign Snowsport England has released a dedicated school resources pack to boost engagement in snowsports.
The cross-curricular resource pack is available for teachers keen to introduce young people to the exhilarating world of skiing and snowboarding, and engages those inspired by the approaching Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed to suit an audience aged between 7 and 14 years, the pack includes a series of activities involving discussion, research, a quiz and a creative competition where children can get arty and submit their own skis or snowboard graphic.
Teachers are encouraged to enter their class’ designs for a chance to win some fantastic snowsport prizes, including free snowsports taster sessions at a nearby slope, Rossignol branded goodies and more. The winning graphic will be selected by former Olympic skier and Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell, and many of Snowsport England’s favourite entries will be featured on the PyeongChang to Piste and Go Ski Go Board websites, as well as the Snowsport England social media channels.
The PyeongChang to Piste resources pack has relevant curriculum links to the following subjects: Design and technology; art and design, PSHE; English; Geography and PE.
Snowsport England has also confirmed dates for their National Schools Snowsport Week (www.nssw.co.uk), which will run for the third time in April, just weeks after the conclusion of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Taking place from Monday 23rd until Sunday 29th April 2018, dry and indoor slopes and clubs are set to run free or heavily discounted activities throughout the week, aimed at giving young people from all types of backgrounds the chance to try skiing or snowboarding. For 2018 Snowsport Wales has joined forces with the initiative and will also run National Schools Snowsport Week sessions at slopes and clubs across Wales throughout the week. The sessions will be open to primary and secondary schools, as well as sixth form colleges across England and Wales.
Tim Fawke, Chief Executive of Snowsport England said: “It’s a hugely exciting time for snowsports and we want to ensure anyone inspired by the Winter Olympics have the opportunity to give skiing and snowboarding a go. The PyeongChang to Piste Schools Resources Pack has a variety of activities to tie in with the school curriculum and get students and teachers engaged in snowsports. There are so many benefits to skiing and snowboarding, from improving balance, co-ordination and core strength to building new friendship groups, we hope many more people will get involved.”
National Schools Snowsport Week is supported by two Winter Olympic ambassadors: British snowboarder Aimee Fuller and British Alpine World Cup skier Dave Ryding, who will make an appearance at the event. Visit www.nssw.co.uk for details about to get involved with National Schools Snowsport Week or follow Snowsport England on Twitter @SnowsportEng #SchoolSnowsport.
‘PyeongChang to Piste’ (www.pyeongchangtopiste.org.uk) will also feature events and taster sessions run by various clubs and slopes throughout the country, running alongside Snowsport England’s national participation campaign, ‘Go Ski Go Board’ (www.goskigoboard.org.uk), which features further detailed information on how and where to get started in snowsports.
‘PyeongChang to Piste’ is championed by Snowsport England, alongside British Ski and Snowboard, Snowsport Scotland, Snowsport Wales, the Ski Club of Great Britain, SIGB, In the Snow magazine, the British Ski and Snowboard National Foundation and with the support of Ellis Brigham and Switzerland Tourism as key partners.