SKIING is a fun, winter sport which all the family can take part in no matter what the ability. Thanks to the Ski Centre in Pontypool you don't even have to spend a fortune going to the Alps to learn to ski.

Pontypool is home to Wales' oldest and longest artificial ski slope and is now open for the winter season.

Last year, the centre saw 15,000 people use the slope which was built in 1974 and is 230 metres from top to bottom; the third biggest in the UK. The centre has a beginners’ area, a ski lift, and mogul run.

New for this season is the return of the ramp which the team including Gareth Thomas, 24, supervisor at the ski centre, finished building last week. He said they decided to make it out of matting rather than wood and have made it part of the slope.

Mr Thomas, who learnt to ski at the centre when he was 14-years-old, said he hopes the centre can offer freestyle lessons in the next year or so.

The centre opened on October 1 and will be running until April 16. On weekdays you can ski from 4pm to 9pm and on weekend from 9.30am to 5pm.

The artificial slope at the centre has a steel underlay with plastic bristles on top.

Mr Thomas said: "It's a lot harder to ski on plastic than real snow. We tend to find people who learn on snow find it more difficult on plastic but those who learn on plastic find it so easy to ski on snow."

He added: "The best advantage of learning on plastic is being able to get better control than on snow. If you're going away on your first skiing holiday you will be able to right away go and explore the mountain rather than being stuck on the learning slopes.

"If you can ski from the top of our slope you can do any blues and most reds."

Slopes in Europe are classified in terms of their difficulty from green being the easiest; blue is moderate, red is intermediate and black is the most difficult.

Mr Thomas said: "Another advantage to skiing is to improve your fitness. Why spend an hour in the gym when you can spend it skiing for an hour?"

It is not mandatory to wear a helmet if skiing at the centre but it is if you’re taking part in tricks on the ramp and rails you will have to wear one.

Mr Thomas said ski schools that the centre runs are quite popular. There are separate schools for children and adults.

The ski instructor recommends trying out their taster sessions if you've never skied before. All lessons are an hour and the ski school lessons for juniors are two hours long with adults receiving one and a half hour lessons.

The first lesson for beginners includes learning about equipment.

Mr Thomas: "The first two minutes in the beginners’ area is spent getting used to having skis on your feet. You're taught to go in a straight line and then the snow plough comes in.

"It's all about learning how to control the speed. You then move to snow plough turns to control the direction and speed.

"Once you can do six to eight turns in the beginners’ area you can access the drag lift."

The 24-year-old recommends having at least between three to five lessons if you're a first time skier before your skiing holiday.

He said: "It can take on average three to five but it all depends on the person. Last year we had a motocross rider who in one snowboard lesson was at the top of the hill. It's all depending on your balance some people have up to 10."

Mr Thomas said while skiing was more popular than snowboarding; they are now both on par in terms of popularity.

He said: "My best advice to people who have never skied before would be to have a taster lesson. Some people can be hesitant or quite nervous as they consider skiing an extreme sport but you should give it a go. With the right instructions it is totally safe.

"Once you've tried on your first pair of skies and experienced the thrill of it you will get a bug for it."

He recommends a lesson once a week to start. Skiing is not only for adults but children too; the youngest age for skiing at the centre is three-years-old and six to seven-years-old for snowboarding.

There is no age limit at the centre - anyone can have a go. Mr Thomas said: "If you feel good - give it a go."

David Isaac, an instructor at the centre, has been working at the site for more than 25 years.

He is in his early 70's and is the most experienced ski instructor at the centre; holding a level three grade.

The centre has hosted a number of ski competitions throughout the years including last month when they held the Welsh National Outdoor Championships and the Welsh Open Outdoor Championships.

In the summer, they held the Oxygene Great British Race Series which had more than 100 of Britain’s best racers take part.

The competitions are downhill slalom which involves timed skiing between poles.

There is also a ski club which rent out the slope on a Wednesday. They are the Torfaen Ski Club who used to be a race club but now incorporates people of all abilities.

For more information www.torfaenleisuretrust.co.uk/