As the skiing holiday season is about to start, the Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show North came to Event City in Manchester over the weekend and everything needed to inspire you to plan the perfect holiday was available. VIVA’s Teresa McMahon also caught up with Britain’s number one and ski cross pioneer Emily Sarsfield to chat about the Winter Olympics.

Delicious Alpine food from the aptly named Alpine Food company, who promise their menu will “transport you to the mountains” gave a cosy authentic feel to proceedings – they also offered “crisp, cool beers” for those toying with the idea of going on the piste – or indeed off it. Along with live music, a cool fashion show with a funky Alpine twist and loads of other stuff, this was a perfect event for any undecided snow sports and skiing holiday fans out there.

From virtual skiing in The Venturer Ski Simulator (it was actually pretty hard core and loads of fun) to an impressive kids’ zone which consisted of a giant inflatable bouncy slide and a small BMX track, this snow sporting and holiday event had everything for the novice skier right through to the seasoned connoisseur.

Skiing and snowboarding instructors from all over the country including Timberline Canadian Alpine Academy, Basecamp Group and many more were on hand to offer advice to those unsure to take the plunge. Amazing fashion brands such as Fosy Originals, and holiday companies from all over the world to inspire the potential traveller included Piedmont, a resort in the Italian Alps, the North American New Hampshire Ski Group USA and many others.

A particular highlight was the amazing fashion show. Dancers instead of models exhibited some outstanding kit and even better dance moves. Head spins, breakdancing, and cool street dance, accompanied by Prodigy and other 90s dance classics was a big centre attraction.

Brands at the fashion show included Donna Ida Skiwear, Retro Mountain, and Picture Clothing who specialise in organic outdoor wear.

Also at the event was ski cross British number one Emily Sarsfield who, in 2010, made British Skiing history by becoming the first British female skier ever to win a Skiing Europa Cup race. She happily interrupted her mingling to chat.

“I do an event called ski cross which some consider to be a pretty extreme sport,” she says, “There’s a running joke between us that you’re not a proper free-style skier until you’ve at least had one surgery on your knee.”

Emily’s been plagued by injury and missed out on two Winter Olympics: “At the Vancouver 2010 Games, on the Olympic track was when I did my first knee injury. [I was at] the second last jump from the bottom and I snapped it all and that was it for me.

“I think it’s every little girl’s dream to be in the Olympic Games and as an athlete you train everyday and you get to this level and suddenly it’s like…”

So what about Sochi 2014?

“So I managed to make both international and British qualifications but there was a bit of red tape and Britain turned away my invitation for the Games so I had to watch on as other girls who are ranked lower than me in the world took my invitation. It was pretty hard.”

Stronger and fitter than ever, Emily’s taking it one day at a time: “In a way it kind of helped me out because it gave me a respite from my sport and helped me refocus. PyeongChang 2018 is 3 years away so I think the healthiest thing to say for me right now is that I want to get better and faster as an athlete because if I’m stronger and faster as an athlete it’ll go hand in hand and I’ll be at the Games.”

After stopping at Manchester the Alpine festival will travel to London to set up camp at Battersea Evolution in the stunning Battersea Park from the 5 – 8 November. For tickets and information on that event go to: http://london.skiandsnowboard.co.uk/show-info. For all information on the exhibitors and brands at the Manchester show go to: http://north.skiandsnowboard.co.uk

Picture of Emily: Twitter/@EmSkiCross