By Anna Thompson Winter sports editor

A snowboarder in the middle of a trick

Top skier Alain Baxter welcomed the increased interest in winters sports among young fans.

There are currently three indoor snow zones in the UK, a fourth being built near Glasgow and plans to house another in Berkshire.

"Good facilities on your doorstep means more British people can take up winter sports," Baxter told BBC Sport.

The slalom specialist added: "But we have got to get the numbers of participants up even more because we still lag behind many of the alpine nations."

With only Scotland boasting proper ski resorts, indoor slopes mean ramps and half-pipes can be built on real snow which enables skiers and boarders to experience conditions as though they were in the mountains.

And many artificial slopes have built kickers and rails too to cater for a growing demand.

It's brilliant they are doing so well and bringing winter sports to everyone's attention Baxter on McKenna and Gillings

Young fans are also looking up to the likes of Lesley McKenna and Zoe Gillings who are producing world class form.

Baxter's cousin, Scottish snowboarder McKenna, was ranked third in the world in the half-pipe standings last season.

And teenage snowboarder-cross racer Zoe Gillings, who originally hails from the Isle of Man, won her first World Cup race this season.

Baxter added: "It's brilliant they are doing so well and bringing winter sports to everyone's attention."

And to increase the competition level for freestyle sports, the Artificial, Indoor and Mountain Series was launched last year.

Competitors take part at events around the UK, culminating with the final in the Alps.

A number of the competitors have gone on to compete in World Cup events and are aiming to take part in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Baxter himself has been ski racing since the age of 11 and although he has tried freestyle skiing, he prefers the slalom.