Avalanche of schools hit Pembrey Ski slopes

PEMBREY Ski reputation of excellence has spread to the Austrian Alps.

Carmarthenshire council’s artifical ski slopes within Pembrey Country Park has faced quite a crush with schools packing in end of term sessions on the slopes ahead of the Austrian autumn and over winter school ski trips planned.

More than 40 schools from Cowbridge to Haverfordwest have been packing Pembrey’s slopes during the recent hot weather getting ready for the planned winter snow trips.

And Pembrey’s artificial slopes are winning quite a reputation among the Austrian resorts visited by schools because of the advanced state of preparedness of the students training there.

Gowerton Comprehensive School teacher Kathleen Lawlor said they had 34 pupils returning to Alpendorf, near Salzberg this winter. She said: “They always welcome us with open arms because even those among our troop who have not seen experienced ski snowing before have the Pembrey Ski experience.”

Council ski slope co-ordinator for Eirian Morris said they attract as many as 40 comprehensive, primary and special schools through the year from Cowbridge to Haverfordwest including most schools across Swansea and Carmarthenshire.

He said: “Gowerton have been coming to use for 25 years with a succession of teachers. Hundreds of their pupils over several generations have learned their skiing skills at Pembrey.

“The school has adopted an ethos of not allowing their pupils to go unless they reach a certain competence on the slopes which has earned them a valuable reputation at Alpendorf.

“We see them for four or five sessions before they fly to the snow. It is so encouraging to see how quickly even complete novices who have no skiing experience adapt with our expert tuition on the dry slopes.”