Snowsports boosted by artificial slope upgrades

Wales is becoming a better place for snowsports thanks to £100,000 grant funding from Sport Wales to upgrade artificial slopes in both the north and south of the country.

In the north, the Llandudno Snowsport Centre reopened last week with a newly resurfaced main slope. Skiiers and snowboarders are already enjoying putting the modern ski tech bristle matting through its paces ahead of the venue hosting a full programme of events this year.

Snowsport fans in the south can look forward to exciting improvements being made to the Cardiff Ski Centre, which is now in its 50th year of business. By the end of March, the artificial slopes will have a new misting system which will greatly improve conditions, particularly in dry weather.

Both upgrades have been made possible after Snowsport Cymru Wales was awarded Place for Sport funding from Sport Wales. A grant of £75,000 went towards the Llandudno resurfacing, and £25,000 for the Cardiff improvements. The funding formed part of a £5m allocation from Welsh Government at the start of last year to help upgrade sports facilities up and down the country.

Robin Kellen, Chief Executive of Snowsport Cymru Wales, said: "I'm really excited about the new surface at the Llandudno Snowsport Centre. This upgrade helps to secure a much brighter long-term future for snowsports in the North Wales region following the closure of the Plas Y Brenin ski slope in 2018.

"The total £300k cost of the redevelopment by the facility's owners John Nike Leisure was massively assisted by the Place for Sport funding and I would like to thank everyone who has put so much effort into bringing this project to fruition."