The truth is, many people who give snowboarding a try, don’t make it past the first day. Why? It’s frustrating, it’s painful and you have to start from scratch. I’ve skied in six countries, taught in four of those and most of the time I avoided snowboarding like the plague. Maybe it was because I hated the way they chopped up the back bowls. Maybe it was because teaching was the only thing I wanted to do on the nursery slopes.

Last season I changed my mind when someone told me I’d be hooked if I tried it for three days. An avid supporter of lessons, I signed up and began on the baby slopes. An hour was spent learning to turn left, another learning to turn right, a few more minutes on how to make it up the tow rope without falling flat on my face, and I was off. Although I saw the snow at close range many times, I was determined not to give up. By the afternoon I was on the other side of the mountain skidding nicely down an easy blue run. I found the front hand turns harder than the back hand but my instructor told me that was normal. Things were going fine and I picked up speed nicely until I caught an edge and performed the most un-lady like double flip in history. By the end of the day I’d managed two more flips, a few body strains and could hardly walk. Day two involved learning to carve. This time I managed to wind myself during a spectacular crash as spectators on the chairlift clapped in amusement. Practice makes perfect and by the end of the day I was proudly looking up the mountain at my tracks.

I learnt two things that day. That crashes in snowboarding are more sudden than skiing, and rely on reflexes much more than readjustment. Secondly, like skiing, the marks you make in the snow make the difference. To look back and see the smooth patterns and the deep carves felt good. I was hooked and put the skis away for the rest of the week. Those who aren’t convinced yet can whet their appetite before the season begins at one of three Ski and Snowboard shows in Birmingham and London. All the major companies have recognised the sport as a huge money spinner and have recorded massive growth in the last five years. At the ski shows there’ll be everything from the latest fashion and equipment to spectacular displays including quarter-pipe, freestyle boarders, virtual snowboarding and, at the London show, a try-it-yourself, Austrian slope. This season there has been a marked growth in the number and quality of snowboard holidays available.

Inghams have a separate snowboarding brochure called The Edge. Ingham’s Andrew Russell said guests were requesting more and more information about the sport. “We wanted to give them a separate identity rather than make them feel like they had to fit in with skiers,” he said. Skiworld’s snowboard brochure features five new chalets in France which are “snowboard friendly”. Carol McNeill said they were steering away from tacky promotions in favour of big name resorts with good snowboard potential.

Neilson has added a second boarders’ hotel to its list, while Airtours have 10 specialist board centres available. “The resorts are really gearing up for it with lots of snowboard parks and half-pipes being made,” said Gary Wardrobe from Airtours. Thompsons offer 13 resorts with snowboard centres for beginners and six centres for more advanced riders. Eight resorts have qualified instructors.

All major companies offer good rental packages, but if you want to buy, it’s important to know what’s what. London’s Snow and Rock shop stocks the latest equipment. “I’d tell a first timer to go for a freestyle board because it’s more versatile. You can switch stance and tackle a wider variety of terrain. I’d recommend a soft boot combination because it’s easier to start off with,” said Dan Jauncey.

Don’t forget winter travel insurance. A report from a New York University claims twice as many snowboarders break bones than skiers, and the breaks are usually more severe and need orthopaedic surgery. Pre-season exercise is a must, even if it’s last minute. On the slopes, Simon Evetts from the National Sports Medicine Institute emphasised the need to warm up before you head out. “A lot of injuries have to do with the temperature outside. Tendons and ligaments, and even muscles, are more likely to tear in an accident if they are cold. Even a small degree of warmth will help prevent injury,’ said Evetts.

Take a few lessons and persevere despite the bruises. If you’re anything like me you’ll find that as the winter takes hold you’ll be thinking less of missing the southern summer and more about the opportunities that lie within the European powder bowls.