CALSHOT Ski Show proudly maintained its reputation as one of the best in Britain over the weekend when thousands of enthusiasts turned up to look at and try out the latest in winter sports gear.

Calshot is one of the big three events run by Global Snow Shows - the others are at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's G-Mex Centre - and organiser Karena Cooper said: "This one is just as popular as Birmingham and Manchester."

So popular, she said, that every square metre of exhibition space was once again fully booked - and there were one or two new arrivals. One of those was a specialist in holidays at the home of Santa Claus - Canterbury Travel, Winter Wonderland Lapland. As well as skiing, it was selling holidays with rides powered by reindeers, huskies, horses and snowmobiles.

Elsewhere, there was a chance to book ice driving, ice climbing, bob-rafting, ice karting and winter rafting

"But you can find details of just about every ski resort in the world somewhere in the show," said Mrs Cooper.

There was also just about every conceivable piece of winter sports equipment, ranging from snowboards on wheels to the very latest in skis and ski wear, as well as boot dryers, boot stretchers and even boot warmers. And for those who do succeed in finding the winter sun, there's no need to worry about being dazzled. There were anti-glare glasses by the hundred.

The activities centre, where so many people train for their skiing and climbing holidays, was blowing its trumpet too, with a stand handing out full details of its winter courses - and a succession of thrilling demonstrations and have-a-go sessions for show-goers on its own ski and nursery slopes.