I was here for a Ski lesson this weekend and very impressed with both the venue and lesson.
The centre was well organised and clean. As you arrive there is the Snow+Rock shop so you can pick up any last minute items you might need. As it's the end of season, there were a lot of items on sale.
The 1st floor holds the reception and equipment/changing rooms. You check in, receive a ticket with your lesson printed on it, then collect your Skis/snowboards/boots at the end of the room. There are plenty of helmets around the venue and they were much newer and cleaner than I expected. No stank here. Lockers and changing rooms are close by. There are normally plenty of people here on a weekend, so you'll normally need to wait for a changing room. If you can get changed before you get here, all the better. Lockers take £1 coins and are refundable.
Onto the lesson themselves, the instructor Peter was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We were a group of around 10 persons and the two hour introductory lesson was enough time to teach us how to get skis on and off, use the elevator lifts (though not enough time for me to learn how to get off these 100% of the time safely!) and go downhill on a straight as well as start linking basic turns.
As a snowboarder, it's a different mindset to tear up what I'd learnt and lean forward onto the toes in order to balance when facing downhill and takes some adjustment. I would definitely consider coming back here as the equipment is great quality, and the instructors very good.
After a long day, some courses include a drink at the bar/restaurant upstairs, so our group got changed and headed to the 2nd floor for some nice drinks and recap of the session.
I'd been previously to Milton Keynes Snowdome and this was miles better. Whilst there is not the range of shop and restaurants of Milton Keynes, the operation is run much better and there are no stinky helmets or soggy worn out boots here.
Also plenty of free parking (around 250 spaces) at the venue, so driving is the best option to get here. Otherwise you'll need to catch a train and a taxi (or walk 45 mins from Hemel station).
PS. A free drink was also included as part of the lesson! This wasn't mentioned anywhere when booking, but was a nice surprise! Choice of hot/soft/alcohol was a nice touch. read more