Linzi Allcock - a Chill Factore Case Study
Here at Chill Factore, we love hearing about your experiences at our parks and on our slopes, so we were very excited when keen skier Linzi Allcock was willing to answer some burning questions from us. Linzi, a travelling governess that is passionate about extreme sports and adrenaline-fuelled activities, regularly takes to our slopes and is experienced when it comes to skiing and snowboarding. Read on to find out more about Linzi’s personal skiing experiences at Chill Factore, and how easy it is to make skiing and snowboarding a regular hobby here.
Q. Hi Linzi! First of all, we understand that you attempted a World Record at Chill Factore. What was the World Record?
A. It was the Longest Chain of Skiers World Record, in 2012! It was so much fun and, thanks to the 180m slope, all of us easily fit on! There were absolutely loads of us - about 80 people all joined in with the chain! It was so much fun, we all had such a laugh, and all the staff at Chill Factore were very accommodating and helpful.
Q. So what do you like to do for fun?
A. I travel all over the world with my work - I’m a governess that looks after children globally - so I would have to say travelling. Extreme sports have to be up there as well, which is why I was so happy to find somewhere to accommodate my passions in the UK! I love to paint, dance and hike too. My hobbies are mostly very active, and I’d say that skiing and snowboarding have to be my favourite pastimes.
Q. How often do you visit Chill Factore?
A. Varies. Sometimes a few times per week, then I’ll go months without going because of my work commitments - I travel around all the time and spend a lot of time out of the country. However, if I am in the UK for a long period of time, I will make the most of it at Chill Factore. It’s a great place to go if you’re a beginner, and is brilliant if you are more advanced like me and need somewhere to practice.
Q. Do you ski or board? Or both?
A. I tend to board, but I do both. I love snowboarding on the main slope because the quality of the real snow is fantastic - it feels just like being on holiday, and the lift passes are amazing for doing both. The weekly Unlimited Lift Pass allows you visit every day in one week, which is great value for money - trust me!
Q. What do you think of the Snow Park?
A. It’s so much fun! Especially if you fancy a break from the serious side of stuff, it’s a real treat - the Downhill Donuts are my favourite. I love bringing my friends and having races in them! It’s also really lovely to see so many kids and young people in there having a great time as well, and enjoying themselves while they build this new hobby.
Q. How long have you been skiing/boarding?
A. Skiing since I was 10, boarding since I was 24 (I’m 34 now), so I’d say I’m pretty advanced in both sports. This is why I was so happy to have discovered Chill Factore - even though I could see beginners taking their first steps onto the snow and finding their snow feet, I could also see people doing their own freestyle moves on Terrain Challenge and taking on coaching courses.
Their freestyle features on the slope are great, it’s so much fun to see the moves other people have come up with. Even if you don’t feel totally comfortable with freestyle, you can always book a freestyle lesson.
Q. How often do you ski/board?
A. I go on ski holidays 2-3 times per year. It was always very hard for me to find something in the UK that compared to the mountains I had seen and skied/snowboarded down, until Chill Factore was recommended to me by a friend that was also passionate about snow sports. I was not expecting there to be real snow, which was a huge surprise for me and instantly made me feel right at home on the slopes.
The main slope is also huge - the largest in the UK - and at 180m long I was very impressed and couldn’t wait to get started! I’m used to skiing all over the world: Canada, USA, Chile, Kazakhstan, Italy, France - you name it and I’ll probably have skied there! So I was very happy that Chill Factore came so close to the real thing.
Q. What do you think of the slope and the facilities in general?
A. Brilliant for an indoor slope- the length of the slope is incredible and the real snow is a really great touch - the only thing I would say is that it would be amazing if they could groom it again about 3pm, so there aren’t as many moguls. I would say the slope is equivalent to a European blue run or an easy red run, depending on the conditions.
With the whole ‘one pass does all’ bundle as well, you can visit as much as you’d like, for as long as you’d like- it’s such a bargain. I’m always telling people about it.
Q. Have you ever tried any of the lessons?
A. Yes, quite a lot of them, actually! I roped my friend into trying the Beginner Snowboarding Lessons, and then I did the Improver Snowboarding Lessons, the Developer Snowboarding Lessons, and the Freestyle Snowboarding Lessons. I really enjoyed all of the lessons that I took part in and it was great to know that, even as a confident skier, there were still lessons and courses I could undertake in order to improve.
For example, I had a private Specialist Lesson in skiing to perfect Carving. I felt so much more able after taking this lesson, despite having skied for years. It was just nice to know that there were courses available to suit my needs.
Q. How would you rate the facilities for a beginner, an intermediate skier and an experienced skier?
A. For a beginner I would definitely rate the facilities as 10/10. There is no pressure whatsoever to do anything that you don’t feel comfortable with, and if you need an instructor then you can ask for one. Their beginner lessons & courses are just as good as the snow schools in resort and are absolutely ideal for complete beginners because it allows you to practice while also having fun.
When it comes to intermediate skiers, I’d also say 10/10 - mainly thanks to the Improver Lessons that are on offer, along with Specialist Lessons to focus on specific areas. For advanced skiers, I would say 6/10, and the only reason that isn’t a 10 as well is because the conditions cannot be varied enough, which can only be achieved through changing weather. The conditions are 100% varied enough for an indoor experience!
Q. What would you say to other people looking to visit Chill for the first time?
A. 100% recommended. If you are looking for a relaxed environment to learn how to ski for the first time or even if you feel confident but want to brush up on a few of your skills, get down there! I also highly recommend getting the monthly Unlimited Ski Pass - it just makes everything so much easier. Overall, Chill Factore is a real gem, I’m so glad I found it.
For more information on any of Chill Factore’s offers and lessons, or to make a booking, call us on 0161 749 2222 or email us at info@chillfactore.com.
