North Wales Snowsports Club had a rocky few years, following the closure of it’s home slope at Plas Y Brenin in 2017, having to travel up to two hours to access training facilities. However, 2022 has seen outstanding results following lots of hard work and some awesome new opportunities. With the resurfacing of Llandudno ski slope in 2020 and despite the restrictions Covid brought in the following two years, racers have taken every opportunity to train and flourish on one of the best dry slopes in the UK.
At the end of the 2021 summer season Agatha Favill secured her place on the Welsh National Squad. Agatha was the first NWSC member to be on the Welsh Squad since 2017. This was followed at the start of the 2022 summer season when Lowri Howie, with her first two results as a U14 racer, securing her Squad selection.
Over the 2022 summer season the club has seen Chay Bonnington and Molly Chisholm both meet the criteria for selection to the national development squad, very shortly thereafter securing their respective places to the Welsh National Squad. Even more impressive given that Molly has only been race training for 2 years. At the other end of the scale 2022 also saw one of the club coaches, Matt Ingle secure his place on the Welsh Squad having returned to racing aged 52 and proving racing isn’t just for the kids!
In addition, Cameron Pye achieved development squad status at the British and Welsh championships held at Llandudno in September and achieved Squad selection when the end of year seed list was published on the 7th December.
Other Welsh squad members including Rebecca Hart, Ben Sharples (Ski Rossendale Race Club) and Jack Shepherd (Ravens & Tigers Racing) now train regularly with NWSC making use of the excellent facilities and coaching on offer.
With so many talented National Squad racers regularly training and racing at the slope, North Wales Snowsports Club has elevated its position to one of the most successful in the country and is working with lots of new talent who are looking to follow in the footsteps of these Squad members.