According to new research from Caxton FX, major skiing and snowboarding events such as Sochi Olympic Winter Games have led to 60 per cent of 11-20 year olds to be inspired to take to the slopes and learn the adrenaline-fuelled sports of skiing and snowboarding.

With over two thirds of respondents (69 per cent) revealing that they are inspired by the Olympic and Winter Olympic Games, and 60 per cent taking up skiing and/or snowboarding due to Britain’s success at the last Winter Olympics, more young people than ever are hitting the slopes.

However in spite of the increased participation in the sport, the research also revealed that for those who have not tried skiing and snowboarding, perceived costs are still a major barrier. 87 per cent of young people who have never tried snowsports claimed it was because they are too expensive, while more than two thirds (67 per cent) said there are not enough facilities available in the UK to take up the sport. However, more than a quarter of young people (26 per cent) who do not ski/snowboard have claimed that Team GB’s success in snowsports at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games has inspired them to have a go.

According to the findings, the snowsports industry is widely regarded as difficult to break into as 69 per cent claim they wouldn’t know ‘where to start’ if they were to pursue a career in the industry, and nearly half (49 per cent) do not think enough is being done to encourage young people to pursue skiing or snowboarding at a professional level.

In response to this, Caxton FX has enlisted the help of Impulse Racing as well as established and professional skiers and snowboarders to encourage young people to take part in skiing and snowboarding. As part of this, Caxton FX is working closely with GB Olympic Snowboarder Aimee Fuller, a key ambassador in promoting UK ski centres for children and young adults to have greater accessibility to winter sport facilities, including being an ambassador for Snowsport England’s national snowsports participation campaign, GO SKI GO BOARD.

It’s especially crucial to encourage and inspire young women to take part in skiing and snowboarding after the research found that over a third (37 per cent) believe the sport appeals more to men. 39 per cent of young people admit it’s harder for sportswomen to break into the ski/snowboard industry, and only 30 per cent of women have tried skiing or snowboarding before.  Aimee is an inspirational example of a success story for women;

Aimee Fuller, GB Olympic Snowboarder says:

“Growing up in the London Borough of Bromley, there were a few hurdles when it came to fulfilling my passion of snowboarding, for a start you couldn't rent a snowboard! They didn't have them in mini sizes, back in 98! So I started out skiing at the age of 4 at my local dry slope, before I made the switch to boarding at age 12. I was brought up surrounded by sports, from rollerblading with my mum at a young age, gymnastics and motocross from the age of 5, I competed all-round the country (off-road motorbike racing), before realising there was an opportunity of becoming a professional snowboarder.

“It took a lot of dedication... and still does. Coming from the UK and having limited access to slopes on home turf, however now we have some great facilities in place, like The Snow Centre where you can train on real snow indoors. I’m representing my country in a sport I love and I couldn’t be happier! I am proud to have been a part of the Olympic buzz in introducing Slopestyle snowboarding to the UK. I am dedicated to helping the younger generation, realise their potential, by showing how much fun you can have on snow. I want to be a part of closing that gap, and help others  reach their dreams and make skiing and snowboarding more accessible.”

Most young skiers and snowboarders (51 per cent) take up the sport between the ages of 10 and 14 years, with a further 28 per cent having already got into skiing or snowboarding between 5 and 9 years. In addition to being inspired by Olympic athletes taking part in the sport, family and friends (33 per cent) as well as a child’s school (18 per cent) were found to be the biggest reasons for children and young adults getting into skiing or snowboarding.   

Caxton FX has joined forces with Impulse Racing, an organisation that offer programmes, camps and races to inspire and teach young skiers. The British Independent Schools Ski Racing (BISS) Indoor Championship 2015 is just one of the events, held next week, with the aim of exciting the next generation to get into snow sports. British snowboarder Aimee Fuller will be running a Q&A session for young people as well as offering a chance to win a beginner snowboarding lesson. The event on 28^th September 2015 at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, was set up to encourage young people to start competing in the sport. It will see a range of racesacross age groups, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 and U21 with separate events for junior and senior school children' offering the opportunity for schools to compete against each other in the UK’s first young person’s ski/snowboarding tournament.

Carmen Rendell, Head of Sponsorship at Caxton FX says:

“At Caxton FX, we are passionate about offering young people the opportunity to follow their sporting dreams which is why we’re proud to say we sponsor Aimee and BISS.  We could see the potential which events like these have in inspiring and encouraging young people to pursue their passions, and that you do not necessarily need to fly to destinations like Austria and France because the competitive side of the sport is also available in the UK.

“It’s great to see such inspiring individuals like Aimee Fuller in the spotlight, showing younger people how determination has resulted in such a fantastic success story.”