A winter sports base run by volunteers will be putting on special monthly events to celebrate a landmark anniversary.

Norwich Evening News: A snowboarder at a Farmers Jam from 2014 at the Norfolk Snowports Club in Trowse. Photo: Steve AdamsA snowboarder at a Farmers Jam from 2014 at the Norfolk Snowports Club in Trowse. Photo: Steve Adams (Image: Archant)

Norfolk Snowsports Club, on Whitlingham Lane, Trowse, will mark its 50th year from March with a series of community events, taster sessions and races.

Each month will highlight the different aspects of the club.

These include the roles of volunteers as well as the various groups of people it teaches, including people with physical and learning disabilities.

These special events will carry on up to March 2019 in a bid to attract more volunteers and members and highlight the role of the club in the community.

Norwich Evening News: Ivan Palfrey at the Norfolk Ski Club in Trowse in 1973. Picture: ARCHANT ARCHIVESIvan Palfrey at the Norfolk Ski Club in Trowse in 1973. Picture: ARCHANT ARCHIVES (Image: Archant)

Emma Smith, Norfolk Snowsports Club marketing co-ordinator, said: 'I'm really excited about the fact that we have designated months for every single group which will record how important they are to the club's success.

'It is an opportunity to celebrate the development of the club and volunteers that enable us to open seven-days-a-week and offer different opportunities to people in Norfolk and Suffolk and surrounding areas.'

The club was started after a group of teenagers experienced a successful Norfolk Youth Service holiday course in Norway in January 1968.

They were led by Ivan Palfrey and Nancy Clarke, who told Eastern Evening Newspaper reporters at the time they wanted to start a club.

In March 1968 the Norfolk Youth Ski Club was launched.

It changed its name to the Norfolk Ski Club in 1972 and a year later a new slope was built outside Wensum Lodge on King Street, Norwich.

The club had 21 members and conducted 160 lessons.

After moving to the Trowse in 1986 the not-for-profit club has developed over time and now has hundreds of members, is run by 300 volunteers, 20 paid staff.

It runs taster sessions, groups and competitions for skiing, snowboarding, freestyle skills and tubing for children aged five up to people in their 80s.

Mrs Smith, from Thorpe St Andrew, said: 'There is something here for everyone, from novices to high level instructors. We are one of the best dry ski slops in the country.'

For details visit www.norfolksnowsports.com