The duo's appearance came as Snowsport England released the latest figures from its "slopetracker" report, showing both an immediate and sustained effect on snow sport participation at domestic slopes across the UK.

With results examining two year-on-year periods of activity since Sochi 2014, one between February and April, and the other between May and August, the report investigated both the immediate effect that Sochi had on snow sports in the UK, and the long-term sustained "out of season" effect the Winter Games has had.

Both figures were promising for Snowsport England with the "Sochi Effect" becoming increasingly apparent across the nation.

Immediate participation numbers were 12 per cent up from the same time last year, while the "out of season" numbers were also up 11 per cent.

A major factor in this increase has come through Snowsport England's Go Ski Go Board campaign which, since beginning in April 2013, has seen more than 25,000 people take a one off taster session at a snow centre within the UK, it is claimed. 

The campaign has also seen more than 15,000 people engage in a GO SKI GO BOARD session that is at least five sessions long.

Jamie Nicholls and Aimee Fuller showcased a few of their tricks during the taster session at the Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre ©Getty Images



"After the Olympics there's been a huge surge in winter sports in the UK which is amazing to see off the back of Sochi," said Fuller, who participated in the slopestyle snowboard discipline for Team GB in Sochi.

"And the fact we have Go Ski Go Board in place; it's a platform for people to go try it and encourage those people who saw it on the TV to give it a go.

"So now we've got that in place, there's somewhere to go on a website and be like "right how do I get involved, where's my local ski slope?" and you can find all of that out through that platform and then go to your closest slope and give it a go."

Nicholls, sixth in the male equivalent added: "I came down here after the Olympics and the increase in people doing snow sports was insane compared to before I left.

"They told me they'd seen a massive increase in people who wanted to come down and try it.

"The lessons were fully booked, and it's quite nice to feel that you actually played a part in inspiring those people.

"So yeah it was really nice, definitely good to see."

Sochi 2014 was Great Britain's most successful Winter Olympics for 90 years with the 56-strong delegation, a record for the nation at a Winter Olympics, securing four medals – one gold, one silver and two bronze.

This success has helped inspire the nation to take up the sport, as shown in the "slopetracker" report, with the introduction of a number of key disciplines such as slopestyle, bringing a fresh look to both the Olympic Movement and the portrayal of the Winter Games across the UK, it is claimed. 

The Sochi 2014 Winter Games was Great Britain's most successful for ninety years with Jenny Jones winning the nation's first ever medal on the snow ©Getty Images


"We're not massively known for winter sports in the UK but among the freestyle side of  disciplines we've got a really strong team and I think we all went out there and put on a good show and gave people some hope for winter sports," said Fuller.

"People could see that there is a depth of talent in the UK, we've got some great riders, we got some great results at Sochi and these facilities that we've got are proving that it's possible.

"We all started small at these facilities and dry slope facilities so I think it's making people realise that it's a sport that anyone can do and you've just got to put the time and work into it, then you can be living the dream, which is what I'm doing."

To read the full report click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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