Meet Andy, Snowsports Manager at The SnowDome
For many people in the UK, getting started in snow sports can feel like a distant dream, something reserved for alpine resorts and snowy mountain ranges far from home. But for those who fall in love with skiing or snowboarding, the journey often begins much closer to home than you might think.
From local dry slopes to international competitions, the path into Snowsports can lead to incredible experiences, lifelong friendships, and even opportunities to compete on the world stage. We spoke with Andy, Snowsports Manager at The SnowDome, about how he first discovered skiing, his journey through competitive mogul skiing, and the lessons he learned along the way. From early falls on artificial moguls to winning a British Championship title, Andy’s story is proof that with passion, perseverance, and belief in yourself, anything is possible.
From local dry slopes to international competitions, the path into Snowsports can lead to incredible experiences, lifelong friendships, and even opportunities to compete on the world stage. We spoke with Andy, Snowsports Manager at The SnowDome, about how he first discovered skiing, his journey through competitive mogul skiing, and the lessons he learned along the way. From early falls on artificial moguls to winning a British Championship title, Andy’s story is proof that with passion, perseverance, and belief in yourself, anything is possible.
Getting Started in Snowsports
Andy’s journey in Snowsports began not on a mountain, but on a dry slope in Edinburgh while visiting relatives. Like many British skiers, his introduction to the sport came through local facilities rather than alpine resorts, an experience that laid the foundations for everything that followed.
Originally starting out as an instructor, Andy quickly became more involved in the sport and began competing in mogul skiing. Over time he progressed to compete as part of both the England and British Moguls teams, before later moving into freeride after several injuries.
Originally starting out as an instructor, Andy quickly became more involved in the sport and began competing in mogul skiing. Over time he progressed to compete as part of both the England and British Moguls teams, before later moving into freeride after several injuries.
Discovering Competition
Andy first stepped into the competitive world at around 15 or 16 years old, taking part in the UK’s dry slope competition circuit. Looking back, those early competitions were far from glamorous. “They were pretty sketchy,” he laughs. “Falling over on artificial moguls was often quite painful. There were definitely a lot of bruises and achy bits.”
Despite the bumps along the way (quite literally) the experience sparked a deeper commitment to the sport. By the time Andy was 16 or 17, he knew he wanted to take skiing more seriously. After finishing college, he faced a choice: continue with further education or take a season abroad. “I had the chance to go and do my first season in California,” he says. “So I took a gap year… and I’m still on that gap year now.”
Despite the bumps along the way (quite literally) the experience sparked a deeper commitment to the sport. By the time Andy was 16 or 17, he knew he wanted to take skiing more seriously. After finishing college, he faced a choice: continue with further education or take a season abroad. “I had the chance to go and do my first season in California,” he says. “So I took a gap year… and I’m still on that gap year now.”
A Career Highlight
Among the many memories from Andy’s competitive career, winning the British Championships for the first time, stands above the rest. “I was about 22 or 23,” he recalls. “The British Championships were held alongside the Lowland Nations event, so we were competing with athletes from the Netherlands, Denmark and other countries. Winning that event was definitely a highlight.”
For Andy, the experience reinforced an important lesson about discipline and mindset. “You can often be written off by people around you,” he says. “But you’ve got to believe in yourself and always try to find the positive in what you’re doing, even when the odds feel stacked against you.”
For Andy, the experience reinforced an important lesson about discipline and mindset. “You can often be written off by people around you,” he says. “But you’ve got to believe in yourself and always try to find the positive in what you’re doing, even when the odds feel stacked against you.”
The Challenges of Competing
Like many British athletes in snow sports, Andy faced challenges beyond the physical demands of training. “The biggest challenge was probably financial,” he explains. “Competing at that level requires a lot of travel and training, and British athletes didn’t always have the same level of support as bigger nations.”
To fund their careers, many athletes, including Andy, worked as instructors and coaches. “We were teaching others and coaching to earn money,” he says. “And then everything we made went straight back into the sport.”
To fund their careers, many athletes, including Andy, worked as instructors and coaches. “We were teaching others and coaching to earn money,” he says. “And then everything we made went straight back into the sport.”
Why Dry Slopes Matter
Although the UK might not have mountains, Andy believes the country’s dry slopes are an incredible training ground for aspiring skiers.
“Training on dry slopes in the UK is awesome,” he says. “It gives you the grounding you need and helps you develop core skills in your home environment without the cost of constantly travelling to the mountains.” For many athletes, those slopes provide the first step into the sport and sometimes even the starting point for international careers.
“Training on dry slopes in the UK is awesome,” he says. “It gives you the grounding you need and helps you develop core skills in your home environment without the cost of constantly travelling to the mountains.” For many athletes, those slopes provide the first step into the sport and sometimes even the starting point for international careers.
Advice for Beginners
For anyone thinking about trying skiing or snowboarding for the first time, Andy’s advice is simple. “Believe in yourself and enjoy the ride. Enjoy the process and push yourself as hard as you can.”
His own journey proves that starting in the UK doesn’t limit your potential. “If you commit to it and back yourself, you can make it,” he says. “There are plenty of people who’ve come out of the UK and gone on to do amazing things.”
His own journey proves that starting in the UK doesn’t limit your potential. “If you commit to it and back yourself, you can make it,” he says. “There are plenty of people who’ve come out of the UK and gone on to do amazing things.”
Why Snowsports Are Special
For Andy, snow sports are about far more than competition or results. “Snowsports are a soul sport,” he says. “It sounds a bit cliché, but it’s about the people you meet and the places you travel to.”
During his career he had the opportunity to train and compete alongside athletes from around the world, including travelling with the Australian team and visiting incredible locations. “When you’re travelling with teammates and doing something you’re truly passionate about, it’s a pretty unique experience.”
During his career he had the opportunity to train and compete alongside athletes from around the world, including travelling with the Australian team and visiting incredible locations. “When you’re travelling with teammates and doing something you’re truly passionate about, it’s a pretty unique experience.”
The Journey Matters
While winning titles is always exciting, Andy believes the real value of the sport lies in the journey itself. “Of course everyone wants to win,” he says. “But from a British perspective it was never just about that. It was about getting to the next event, exploring new places, pushing yourself and seeing where the results take you.”
That mindset is something he now shares with the next generation of skiers discovering the sport for the first time.
That mindset is something he now shares with the next generation of skiers discovering the sport for the first time.