Fascinated by the Winter Olympic Games? You can do and watch various winter sports near Cardiff city centre!
Have you been watching the Winter Olympics and dreamt of the wind blowing through your hair as you glide down the snow-covered ski slopes? Skiing, snowboarding, figure skating and ice hockey – all of these popular sports in the Winter Olympics are now easily accessible in Cardiff.
Grab your family or friends, head to Cardiff Ski Centre or Ice Arena Wales to try activities that go perfectly with the cold season!
Cardiff Ski and Snowboard Centre
Ski Slope, Fairwater, Cardiff
cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Jaggery – geograph.org.uk/p/3808350
This 100m ski slope is one of the oldest in the UK, right next to Fairwater Park and a great place for beginners to get to grips with skiing and snowboarding. This historic ski centre is known for its attentive service for those who are new to snow sports. There is not much to prepare for, just bring your family members and enjoy the sport with ease.
“The dry slope is a good alternative to snow to us in the UK. Throughout the summer, when you think that there’s no possibility because there’s no snow. Actually that’s when the dry slow races come into their own,” Elizabeth Lewis from Cardiff Ski Club said.
Please note that as Cardiff Ski Centre is not open to public all the time, remember to book your tickets via the website before you visit.
Website: https://skicardiff.co.uk/
Location: 198 Fairwater Road, Fairwater, Cardiff. CF5 3JR.
These are activities you can do in Cardiff Ski Centre:
Try Skiing and Snowboarding
For those interested in skiing, Cardiff Ski Centre is a great starting point. Elizabeth said: “They provide all the equipment necessary. The skis, the boots and the helmet as well. So they really can get feel for whether or not they like sports before they make any financial commitment.”
“If [the beginners] are planning a snow holiday, quite often they will come to try and learn the basics before they go on snow. Maybe having to go on days course, just learning how to put boots on, how to stand up, how to walk with skis on etc.”
At Cardiff Ski Centre, another cool sport to try is snowboarding. Like skiing, it offers individual and group lessons for beginners and intermediate snowboarders.
Join Cardiff Ski Club
Not content to simply enjoy skiing and want to go further?
If you want to ski consistently, want to improve your skills or even compete like the athletes on TV, then Cardiff Ski Club might be the team for you.
“Cardiff Ski Club meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and we provide ski race training for budding ski racers who want to improve their ski racing skills at competition level. Just get yourself down to Cardiff Ski Centre. All the equipment’s there, sign up to some beginner lessons and you might find to like it. Months down the line, you might end up in the ski race club,” said Lewis.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CardiffSkiClub
Ice Arena Wales
cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Graham Hogg – geograph.org.uk/p/5303521
Skating at Ice Arena Wales or watching a Cardiff Devils’ ice hockey game is perhaps the most family-friendly way to experience winter sports. You don’t need heavy equipment or to learn complicated skills, just spin around the rink while chatting to friends or cheering on the team from the stands with the kids.
As there are also many classes and events running here, Ice Arena Wales is not always open to the public and opening times can vary from week to week, so remember to check the schedule online and book your tickets in advance.
Website: https://www.icearenawales.com/
Location: Olympian Dr, Cardiff. CF10 0JS.
These are activities you can do and watch in Ice Arena Wales:
Try Skating
At every Winter Olympics figure skating is one of the most watched events.
If this is your first time skating, don’t worry, There are skates available for hire and staff on the ice who are always on hand to help.
You can come and skate alone at Ice Arena Wales during public hours or book a lesson. Ice Arena Wales provides a wide range of classes for all ages, beginners and intermediates, free skating or ice dancing.
If you’ve fallen in love with the sport, there’s also a team of professional coaches dedicated to developing figure skaters for national and international competitions. The Cardiff National Ice Skating Club can also help you improve your skills and become a star on the ice.
Cheer for Cardiff Devils ice hockey team
If you’re a sports fan and enjoy going to a rugby or football match on weekends, why not try watching an exciting ice hockey game at Ice Arena Wales?
It’s time for the Elite Ice Hockey League season, and there’s an ice hockey game every weekend at Ice Arena Wales, so come along and cheer on the Cardiff Devils, playing in the top ice hockey league of UK!
“As well as some great goals and great passing, there’s all sorts of big hits. Fighting’s also allowed which does tend to attract a lot of new people. Right now in the Olympics, you wouldn’t see any fighting but in our league, some is still there. It’s a fast paced, exciting game that once you get your head around, that is a lot of fun and is very easy to fall in love with,” Ollie Hampson from Cardiff Devils said.
“We’ve managed to get a lot of league titles, playoff titles, challenge cuts, and for the last four years we’ve represented our league in the Champions Hockey League as well. So we’ve been able to go up against some of the best teams in Europe as a result of the success that we’ve had recently,” Hampson said.
Website: https://www.cardiffdevils.com/