RUNCORN SKI CENTRE -

Frequently Asked Questions


I have never skied before. Can I just turn up and have a go? For safety reasons, if you cannot use the lift and turn confidently you will need to book some instruction. The nursery areas are for use by ski school only. It is not possible for you to be taught by friends or family, only by our qualified instructors. We are very good at spotting non skiers, and this rule is there for everyone's safety. Do I need to book? Booking is required for all lessons. You can just turn up, but we cannot guarantee places are available. Payment is required at the time of booking. Telephone bookings can be made by caling ski school on 01928 701965. Please have a credit or debit card ready. Please note that winter months are very busy, and early booking is advised if you wish to have lessons at this time. *Bookings are non-refundable. You can change your booking until 5pm the day before, if an alternative date and time are available.* Our phone is always engaged , or is not answered. We have 3 incoming phone lines, and try to answer each call, but at busy times this is not always possible. Best time to call is on a weekday between 10am and 1pm, or between 8pm and 9pm in the evening. Where are You? We are in 800 acres of parkland at Palace Fields, in Runcorn. This is off the A533 Northwich - Liverpool road. The ski Centre is Brown Tourist Signed on all main roads entering Runcorn. For SAT NAV we suggest using postcode WA7 6PT. There is free parking at the front of the ski centre, suitable for coaches. What do I need to wear? Ski, board, boot and helemt hire is included if required. The slopes are outdoors, and are used in all weather conditions. Please wear appropriate clothing, although it is a good idea not to wear your new ski suit. Arms and legs must be covered, and we suggest long socks for comfort. (We sell ski socks if you need them, but football socks are OK for an hour or so!) How early do I need to arrive? Please allow *at least 20 - 30 minutes before your lesson* for registration and equipment fitting. Late arrival may mean you miss all or part of your lesson. It can get very busy in ski hire, especially at weekends. I need to change my booking. When you book, we allocate you slope space and instructor time. This is then not available for other customers. We allow you to change your booking date and time up to 5pm the day before, subject to an alternative date and time being available. No refunds are given if you cancel your booking. How young can children start? Our Snow Pirates club runs for children aged 5 to 9 years. We are unable to offer lessons to children before their 5th Birthday. Please remember that children learn at a different pace to adults, so allow plenty of time and do not expect too much too soon. We would rather have children enjoy their skiing because they want to, not because mum or dad says they must! For practical and safety reasons young children find snowboarding much harder than skiing. Most slopes have a minimum age of 10 or 12 for snowboarding. We are able to offer snowboarding if you meet the following requirment: 1.4m or taller, and shoe size 4 or greater. Parents are not permitted to take children onto the nursery area; this is reserved for ski school use only. Can I buy gift vouchers? We have gift vouchers for private lessons, or for a 5 lesson course. Please call for details What do we ski on - is it snow? We ski all year round, and being outdoors snow would melt in the summer. We ski on a brush mat surface, like cleaning brushes, but developed over 30 years ago in Britain and still made today especially for ski slopes. It is just like skii on hard packed snow, but not quite as slippy as snow, and so is excellent for beginners learning. The skis and boots we use are the same as you would us on real snow in the Alps. Do you train Instructors? We will always try to assist anyone who wishes to become an instructor. We do not run tarining courses as such at Runcorn, but work with skiers to develope their individual needs and training. We try to make you better instructors, not just do the minimum to pass the exam. Please call and speak to John Doyle.

I have never skied before. Can I just turn up and have a go?
For safety reasons, if you cannot use the lift and turn confidently you will need to book some instruction.
The nursery areas are for use by ski school only.
It is not possible for you to be taught by friends or family, only by our qualified instructors.
We are very good at spotting non skiers, and this rule is there for everyone's safety.

Do I need to book?
Booking is required for all lessons. You can just turn up, but we cannot guarantee places are available.
Payment is required at the time of booking.
Telephone bookings can be made by caling ski school on 01928 701965. Please have a credit or debit card ready.
Please note that winter months are very busy, and early booking is advised if you wish to have lessons at this time.
Bookings are non-refundable. You can change your booking until 5pm the day before, if an alternative date and time are available.

Our phone is always engaged , or is not answered.
We have 3 incoming phone lines, and try to answer each call, but at busy times this is not always possible. Best time to call is on a weekday between 10am and 1pm, or between 8pm and 9pm in the evening.

Where are You?
We are in 800 acres of parkland at Palace Fields, in Runcorn.
This is off the A533 Northwich - Liverpool road.
The ski Centre is Brown Tourist Signed on all main roads entering Runcorn.
For SAT NAV we suggest using postcode WA7 6PT.
There is free parking at the front of the ski centre, suitable for coaches.

What do I need to wear?
Ski, board, boot and helemt hire is included if required.
The slopes are outdoors, and are used in all weather conditions. Please wear appropriate clothing, although it is a good idea not to wear your new ski suit.
Arms and legs must be covered, and we suggest long socks for comfort. (We sell ski socks if you need them, but football socks are OK for an hour or so!)

How early do I need to arrive?
Please allow at least 20 - 30 minutes before your lesson for registration and equipment fitting.
Late arrival may mean you miss all or part of your lesson.
It can get very busy in ski hire, especially at weekends.

I need to change my booking.
When you book, we allocate you slope space and instructor time.
This is then not available for other customers.
We allow you to change your booking date and time up to 5pm the day before, subject to an alternative date and time being available.
No refunds are given if you cancel your booking.

How young can children start?
Our Snow Pirates club runs for children aged 5 to 9 years.

We are unable to offer lessons to children before their 5th Birthday.

Please remember that children learn at a different pace to adults, so allow plenty of time and do not expect too much too soon. We would rather have children enjoy their skiing because they want to, not because mum or dad says they must!

For practical and safety reasons young children find snowboarding much harder than skiing. Most slopes have a minimum age of 10 or 12 for snowboarding.
We are able to offer snowboarding if you meet the following requirment:
1.4m or taller, and shoe size 4 or greater.

Parents are not permitted to take children onto the nursery area; this is reserved for ski school use only.

Can I buy gift vouchers?
We have gift vouchers for private lessons, or for a 5 lesson course.
Please call for details

What do we ski on - is it snow?
We ski all year round, and being outdoors snow would melt in the summer.
We ski on a brush mat surface, like cleaning brushes, but developed over 30 years ago in Britain and still made today especially for ski slopes. It is just like skii on hard packed snow, but not quite as slippy as snow, and so is excellent for beginners learning.

The skis and boots we use are the same as you would us on real snow in the Alps.

Do you train Instructors?
We will always try to assist anyone who wishes to become an instructor. We do not run tarining courses as such at Runcorn, but work with skiers to develope their individual needs and training. We try to make you better instructors, not just do the minimum to pass the exam.

Please call and speak to John Doyle.