Poster: A snowHead
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AndAnotherThing.. wrote: |
gatecrasher, Any idea on the sorts of costs involved ? Interesting that they seem to overlay in on dendex ?
I'll pass the link over to our slope manager, who knows !! |
AndAnotherThing.., I'm purely a user of the slope but Beau Jeste, will be able to fill you in on the details....
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=88579&start=40
The Proslope is not laid on top of dendix, what you see in the video is the remains of the old slope which was used temporarily while waiting for the final shipment of matting, its now been replaced, it's definitely worth a visit though!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks TechHead....
I try and avoid the hype, I'll let other people do the talking. After the comp on Saturday at CC there was a lot of very positive comments from guys (ironically sponsored by fridges) from all over the country - which was (slightly smugly) satisfying!
However, there have been many false dawns for 'dry slope' products in the world. Ironically if you look at products on the continent they are 30 years behind the UK, which I think says something about the fanaticism of the UK for snowsports?
Money in the industry is the big issue. Most sites around the country are not run as commercial bodies, therefore do not have the cash to 1) spend on repairs and essential maintenance and/or complete replacement.
So pricing is crucial and I've made it to be competitive against other products but also affordable to the industry. The crucial determinant about getting money into the industry to update centres, is the return on investment and it being realistic. Without that, the UK domestic dry slope industry will continue to 'wither on the vine...'
Proslope is designed to be fitted alongside Dendix (not on top!) for sites that cannot afford a full re-fit.
As for longevity, the surface uses PBT which is known as the longest lasting 'memory' filaments. Arguably PBT caused the downfall of the 'mesh' product. When all you could buy was PVC, the manufacturers had a steady supply of repeat business. When PBT came along, centres stopped buying for 10-15 years and many now only buy when another centre shuts or has invested in a new surface
Christchurch's income has doubled since laying the new surface with people coming back to 'dry slope' and preferring it to fridges, so we have the empirical and anecdotal evidence that it works.
We now just need to spread the word... (off my soapbox...)
Chris
07875001790
chris@proslope.com
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Beau Jeste, Hi Chris, Are there any other centres using it ?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We've got four projects on the go for this summer. As we're under a non-disclosure agreements I'm not at liberty to say, except one will be in Cornwall...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Another new product entering the UK is Neveplast. Sounds like similar claimed benefits to Proslope/ProSno: cheaper, faster sliding, longer lifetime, safer, and better grip than dendix. I have no idea how Neveplast and ProSno compare. I have not used either, but trust the opinion of several ski instructor friends who have tried Neveplast. I should disclose that 2 of my friends are involved in bringing it to the UK, so I will leave anyone else to look up info about it before I start sounding like just an advert.
It's about time there were some better dryslope products on offer, and if there's 2 new and supposedly better ones then hopefully they can compete, to help make all dryslopes more enjoyable and more financially viable.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Most new stuff cannot accept slalom gates or brush stumpies so is rather limited for better skiers. I do not just mean rat eyed gate fanatics but plough to parallelers using them for better turning ability. I decried gate use for years but have been a latter day convert, OK they need a few skidding inspired lessons as well but gates really help intermediate skiers.
One of the major worries over "flat" surfaces are it's ability to wear out skis, this was a major problem with one of the surfaces; I would like to hear from people skiing and working a lot on the various makes to give a heads up.
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Cynic, gates are no problem regarding the Op product.
Edit & to add there are a lot better all round skiers there than me who don't do gates but may be one for another thread hey
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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TechHead, Didn't he have a dendix sale recently?
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Cynic, possibly, I think someone was trying to sell dendix at £10 a mat and they were down Cornwall way. Perhaps the Dend has made way for prosno if this is the secret private testing site Anyway good luck to them, they have been at this a long long time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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TechHead,He needed green for the planning ( his £10 mats were VFM we bought some). As possibly this hill will?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Cynic, green pro-sno? Where were the mats from originally at £10 they must have been secondhand already?
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TechHead, Dendex in my opinion and I have skied on most surfaces is the best, learner slopes in flat material I concede are a good idea. I have no idea on availability of other products in green, even skiing on green Dendex is rather odd to start with, it is more expensive and I believe more U.V sensitive than white.
Nothing beats indoor snow!
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You know it makes sense.
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simon_bates wrote: |
It's about time there were some better dryslope products on offer, and if there's 2 new and supposedly better ones then hopefully they can compete, to help make all dryslopes more enjoyable and more financially viable. |
I thought Neveplast had been around for 10 years or more?
ProSno is qute new.
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