The Beijing winter Olympics are in full swing and one East Lancashire ski attraction has opened up about its surprising link to the event.

While Great Britain isn’t renowned for its snow it is home to some top-rated dry slopes.

Ski Rossendale, in Rawtenstall, has been used by some of the nation’s top winter sports athletes and has become an integral part in their journey to Olympic fame.

Team GB Snowsport head coach, Patrick Sharples, learned to ski on The Hill, as it is now known.

The slope also recently featured in BBC documentary, Free Spirits, which followed a group of Team GB freestyle skiers and snowboarders as they prepared for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Pat refers to Rossendale Ski Centre as “the greatest place in Lancashire where dreams happen.” He said: “Skiing became my escape. I was good at it and I feel incredibly luckily that I somehow ended up on this journey and I became part of these young athletes' lives.”

During filming, Pat left a signed jumper behind for team Rossendale to keep.

It said: “To Ski Rossendale, thank you for everything you’ve done for us. It was right here where the dream started.”

David Fuller, manager at Ski Rossendale, said it’s “quite monumental” to play a small part in the Olympics and the Olympians' careers.

He said: “I know Pat very well. I know him and his dad. He is really supportive of us and said it is where his dreams began.

“Quite a significant number of the squad will have learned to ski at Rossendale and other dry ski slopes across the North West too.

“We have played a small part in their venture by making these ski facilities available.”

Chorley’s Dave ‘The Rocket’ Ryding, who recently made history as the first British skier to win a gold medal at the Alpine World Cup, has also trained at the slopes.

While his primary training spot is in Pendle, David said the athlete has visited Ski Rossendale in the past.

He said: “Dave has been around the circuits on the dry ski slopes while honing his skills and has skied at Rossendale before.

“He also came before as a guest for our Ski Rossendale race club and came to one of their training camps around three years ago.

“It was nice of him to support the young athletes.”

Ski Rossendale’s The Hill, which opened in 1973, is one of the UK’s longest slopes and a perfect place for up-and-coming athletes to practise their aerial skills.

David said: “We just want to wish the Olympians all the best and congratulate them for everything they have achieved to date.”