Wiltshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-blank-slope.jpg" alt="South Wilts Ski Club" class="wp-image-35133" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-blank-slope.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-blank-slope-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-blank-slope-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We may be a few hundred miles from the slopes, but South Wilts Ski Club gives you a serious shot at honing your skills. Instead of a traditional dry ski slope, this is a state-of-the-art simulator. Imagine a gigantic white treadmill, with a continuously rolling surface, variable speeds and an adjustable incline.</p>



<p>The centre, in Bapton near Warminster, is the brainchild of former Dragon’s Den investor Nick Jenkins. He’s an avid skier and pretty adept at coming up with excellent ideas – he founded Moonpig greetings cards after all.</p>



<p>The stats at South Wilts Ski Club are pretty impressive. Every session comes with a professional instructor and according to Nick, you can learn as much in a one-hour session here as you would in an entire morning on the nursery slopes. This isn’t just for beginners though – the infinite nature of the slope means seasoned skiers can squeeze in some serious carving practice.</p>



<p>Another massive bonus is the consistent surface – no icy patches or lumps and bumps to navigate here. Skiers can get stuck into nonstop action, for as long as their legs can hack the pace, and you don’t waste any time hopping on and off lifts.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-skis.jpg" alt="South Wilts Ski Club" class="wp-image-35130" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-skis.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-skis-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-skis-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you’re a newbie to skiing, you’ll be glad to know that speeds start nice and slow, ramping up to a lively 30kmph for the pros out there. In fact, if you skied nonstop for an hour at top speed, it would be the equivalent of zooming nonstop from the top of Everest down to sea level. The slope also adjusts from a gentle tilt to a steeper 22 degrees, meaning you can definitely tick the box if you’re after an adrenalin rush.&nbsp;</p>



<p>South Wilts Ski Club is suitable for everyone, but intermediate skiers might like to know that they’ll soon be introducing another piece of kit. It’s essentially a slalom simulator, which is a great way to really drill down on your carving and parallel turns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Club-Room.jpg" alt="South Wilts Ski Club" class="wp-image-35135" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Club-Room.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Club-Room-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Club-Room-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kit is top notch</figcaption></figure>



<p>One of the massive advantages of South Wilts Ski Club is that it isn’t weather dependent. We drove through the village of Bapton in lashing rain and howling wind, then stepped into an oasis of calm. The centre is light and bright, with buzzy tunes to get you going and Club House complete with hot drinks and games like Connect Four. Most importantly, we had a very warm welcome from instructors Craig and Mike. Fresh from teaching in Whistler, Canada, it’s fair to say there’s little (or nothing) they don’t know about the white stuff.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-experience">THE EXPERIENCE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Sophie-smiling.jpg" alt="South Wilts Ski Club" class="wp-image-35134" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Sophie-smiling.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Sophie-smiling-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Sophie-smiling-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Muddy Wilts Editor Sophie showing off her snowplough&#8230;</figcaption></figure>



<p>I’m certainly no pro – I’ve skied a handful of times in Europe and only made it to the slopes once in the last decade. My teenage daughter is a total newbie, but Craig and Mike were upbeat, super relaxed and instantly put us both at ease.</p>



<p>Your kit is all provided at South Wilts Ski and it’s in mint condition – no sweaty boots or helmets here. Once we were ready, we were whisked over to the base of the slope, where we slotted into our skis and held onto a chunky horizontal pole. The surface, which looks like a thick white Astroturf, was then steadily brought up to speed.</p>



<p>First up, we practiced momentarily letting go of the pole and getting our ski legs. That done, it was time to master a basic snow plough and learn how to use our body weight to influence our direction. Essentially, the idea is that you stay at roughly the same level on the slope, honing your technique while it moves under your skis. I found the movement underneath me slightly disorientating at first, but Craig explained that I really needed to focus on the vast mirror at the base of the slope, instead of staring doggedly at the ground. He was right, of course, and the mirror is a great way to analyse your technique.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Evie.jpg" alt="South Wilts Ski Club" class="wp-image-35136" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Evie.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Evie-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/11/South-Wilts-Ski-Club-Evie-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The bar is a great way to get your ski legs, without going flying</figcaption></figure>



<p>Once you’ve adjusted to the set-up, the experience feels surprisingly similar to the real deal. And if you do take a tumble, you don’t go shooting off the back at high speed. Instead, your instructor simply presses a button and the slope instantly stops. You won’t be embarrassed in front of a crowd either – sessions are limited to one booking at a time, with a maximum of two skiers allowed on the slopes.</p>



<p>Ski sessions here are usually booked for half an hour, and I can totally see why. It’s hard work and by the time our 30-minute slot was up, my legs had a distinctly jelly-like feeling. But the intensity of the experience is also the beauty of it – you’re skiing nonstop while on the slope, and this really fast-tracks your progress. By the time you hit the slopes for real, you’ll have had a great head start. Ultimately, this is great fun and a brilliant way to improve your ski skills in rapid time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong>&nbsp;The adjustable speed and incline means this is great for beginners and seasoned skiers alike. I’d particularly recommend it for newbies, who want to get skilled-up before they ski for real. It’s also a great way to help kids build their confidence – they can join the fun from four years-old and up.</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: Prices start from £216 for six 30-minute sessions off peak, so this isn’t cheap. However, for one-on-one tuition and such a quick learning curve, we think it’s an excellent investment. It effectively empowers you to get so much more out of your holiday when you hit the slopes for real.</p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>Packages start from £216 for six 30-minute sessions. Individually-booked 30-minute sessions cost from £60.</p>



<p><a href="https://southwiltsski.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Wilts Ski Club</a>, Bapton Manor Farm, Bapton, Wiltshire BA12 0SB</p>


Snowbusiness! Muddy hits the slopes at South Wilts Ski Club

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