If you’re planning to hit the slopes this winter, forget Austria or Switzerland

With snowboarding and skiing holidays becoming ever more popular with Irish tourists, and plane loads of us flocking to far flung European destinations each January, people sometimes forget that you can hone your alpine skills right here in Ireland. It might even snow too if you’re lucky!

National Snowsports Centre

In Kilternan, on the foot of the Dublin Mountains, you may be surprised to find one of the largest and finest artificial ski slopes in Europe! The National Snowsports Centre is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of skiing and snowboarding in Ireland, and provides classes, tuition and a fun environment to learn the ways of the slope. There’s an imposing 180m metre main slope, a smaller 130m intermediate slope and 2 dedicated nursery slopes with a sprinkler system and travelator lifts. Slopes are lubricated by a state of the art mist system, and there are floodlights too, so no need to stop when it gets dark. There are lots of class options, from school going beginners, to advanced adults. This winter, Mr Claus will be making an appearance, with facepainting, hot chocolate, bratwurst and more. Gift vouchers are available from €20 if you know someone who wants something different for Christmas this year too. Snowboarding is also one of most popular activities at the Ski Club of Ireland, and you’ll find teens zipping down the slopes on their boards most nights of the week. Snowboarding classes are available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8.30pm and on Sundays at 6.30pm.

Ski Centre

South County Dublin must be the mecca for Irish ski fanatics, because the second most popular ski centre in the country is in Stillorgan! The difference here is this is an indoor simulated centre, where you’ll get to hone your skills on a smaller slope with a realistic alpine background. The surface used in Ski Centre encourages you to perfect balance, edge precision and control of rotation, and a girnat mirror wall acts as instant video feedback. The slopes can also be speeded up or slowed down, or be made steeper or gentler to match the lesson and the learner, so don’t fret if you walk in and see a giant slope! The centre runs fitness classes in the adjoining gym and pre-holiday classes too, or you can pop in on Sunday and enjoy a free trial run! The slopes are never ending (have a look here if you don’t believe us!), and your instructor holds a remote control to stop the slope in a instant, if required. An innovative way to learn to ski, perhaps try this before you hit the real slopes!

Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre

Northern Ireland's premier artificial ski slope is located at Silverwood near Lurgan. Set in beautiful wooded surroundings near the shores of Lough Neagh, it boasts a premier outdoor artificial ski slope plus three golf courses, a floodlit driving range and putting green if you want to hone your golf skills too. Again, the whole family is catered for here, with a 200ft main slope, a nursery slope for beginners and button tow too. The centre caters for all types of snow pursuits, like alpine skiing, snow blading, snowboarding, plus the exciting sounding snow tubing, and lessons are also available for all ages and skill sets. Prices start from £7 per adult per hour.

So, if you fancy becoming the next Hermann Maier (famous Austrian ski racer), or challenging more traditional snow laden countries in the next Olympics, there are plenty of options around the country. The benefits of skiing are obvious; it’s all-weather, outdoor (usually!), physical and great fun. Now hit the slopes and, eh, break a leg!