What do you think of indoor ski runs? Can they get better?
I have recently had the opportunity to ski indoors in Dubai. It was the first time I skied indoors and found it interesting if not a little boring. I can see the value of indoor skiing if you do not have the choice of a real mountain or if you are a complete beginner but I think in general it is a poor substitute. What do you think? Can indoor skiing ever become as good as the real thing?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Martin Baroch (Dr.MGB) on -
I never tried indoor ski facility, but I have talked with people, who skied in one and the reports have been going about in the same direction as what you mention here. I can huge marketing potential for ski resorts ands ski industry here. If let say in Dubai people can try indoor skiing, they might get hooked on it and visit real ski resorts later.
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Permalink Reply by Alex on -
That is a very good point Martin. The potential is there for creating more skiers. As an intermediate skier I wasn't too satisfied with the experience. It was good for a "fix" but seemed to me very fake. It was like skiing in a very well maintained fridge...
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Lawson on -
I run a ski and boarding club for work, and we regulary used the indoor facilities at Milton Keynes Snowdome (Xscape) - which is the nearest indoor facility to the London Counties. Generally I've found the conditions to be pretty good, although the indoor slopes are quite short - half a dozen turns and you are down and then there is the long wait for the drag lifts to get up back up (really could do with a faster system as you spend more time waiting than skiing). I would say the one advantage of the indoor slopes over the dry ski slopes is that the tendancy to acquire the dreaded 'A' frame leg position is lessoned as you can angulate properly with the 'real' stuff opposed to the matting. I've had some friends who looked over the Dubai ski centre and was very impressed by it - especially by the chair lifts within the structure and the attention to detail by including real trees. With global warming these indoor fridges could become the norm. I've heard that Dubai plans to build an even larger ski centre which will duplicate a small mountain...amazing what you can do if you have the money!
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Permalink Reply by KEVIN AND ALISON THOMAS on -
Hi,
Alison and myself visited the Dubai Indoor Ski Centre and impressed by its size and construction and also watching bedouin having snowball fights.!!. But we agree that it will never be as good as the real thing. For example, I had a few probs with the walls !!! Say no more, hence why my nose has a funny shape !!.
If get the opportunity then would still use such facilities especially should one go to Japan where the one constructed there is earthquake proof !!! Built on springs to absorb the shockwaves and prevent avalanches in the centre. There are still rumours of a centre to be built here in the S E of UK. Anyone know anymore about this ?.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Lawson on
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Hi Kev, there has been plans for a huge sports complex to be built in Suffolk for the last couple of years in a large disused quarry. However, personnel land interests have slowed progress. In a recent article in DM S&SB magazine it looked hopeful that the 'resort' would be given the green light. The place is called SnowOasisI check out the link for more new news . An indoor slope was proposed for Stone, down by the river, but it was blocked by the owners of Chatham and Sidcup dry slopes who feared loss of business as a result.
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Permalink Reply by Phil Keith on -
Think Indoor skiing will always be limited by the length of slopes they can build. However at least it should always be good conditions, with no flat light!!!
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Permalink Reply by HARRY on -
Indoor skiing will never become anywhere near as good as the real thing however in countries where there is no snow its the best there is especially if your normally training on dendex(plastic mating)
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