Where to snowboardWhere

80 countries. 6,000 resorts. Let's face it, you'll never get around them all but the massive choice means there's always somewhere to snowboard whatever the time of year.

Scotland here we come

Here's the good news: you don't need to visit a fancy foreign resort to enjoy riding.

That's because we've got our very own fancy snowboard resorts in the UK all of them in the Scottish Highlands. With five to choose from, we're pretty sure you'll find what you want.

Fake snow rules

OK, so everyone knows about artificial snowboard slopes (we notch up 60 of them in the UK – and counting).

But did you know we've also got three indoor slopes covered in real, cold-as-you-like snow? You didn't?

UK dry slopes explained

Most artificial slopes are around 100 metres along, although some are up to 400 metres. Epic.

Artificial slopes are usually made from plastic bristles. But watch out for the new surfaces which look a lot like a plush carpet.

Why? Because when you fall over (yep – it's gonna happen), it's almost as soft as real snow. OK, so it's not quite the same as hurtling down a black run in the Alps, but it's still great fun – and brilliant preparation for the real thing.

Join a club

Pretty much every ski club welcomes snowboarders – and there are hundreds of clubs in the UK. Most of them are geared up for the social side of snowsport – so they run snowboarding holidays, UK dry slope sessions and weekend trips. Other clubs are a bit more into competitions.

The best way to check out your local club is to go along to a meeting. You'll find a room choc full of snowboarding nuts who'll fill you in on the sport and convert you to the cause.

Check out your resort

Need to know more? The Snowlife Directory is crammed full of unbiased information, including loads of useful contacts.

Go, go, go

What are you doing still sitting here? Start by checking out UK ski slopes and get yourself snowboarding.