 Poster: A snowHead
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Angela has just arrived back in the UK simply awe-struck by the sheer audacity of building a ski dome in the middle of the desert. Whilst having reservations about the environmental impact such an enterprise must have, she was nonetheless impressed by all aspects of the operation. In particular, she thought the snow quality was good and the run fairly impressive (about 400m). However, one need not worry about the dire warnings of 'experts only' on a particular stretch of the run as it equates to a very mild blue (ie something you'd find in Merihell).
The facility was, strangely, deserted (just five other people) but the cost was cheap-about £18 for two hours which included everything (boots, skis, jacket, trousers but not hat and gloves).
Boredom did set in quite quickly, however, and she did remark that to do this every week would be quite onerous and pointless (a bit like skiing on Dendix- just up and down)
So, generally satisfactory. Have any of you been?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You definitely drew the short straw there, Kevin. Your wife did the skiing, and you did the typing!
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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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kevin mcclean, Gled you persueded her to go. Not been but thanks for the report. The one thing that does surprise me is the cost  Cheap as chips.
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I suppose I do have an inkling of what she's talking about when she mentioned how it was amazing to see snow in a strange environment. Back in 1989 I was lucky enough to have a go on the 15m slope in Telford being developed by Clulow and Doak (the latter being my old boss at the dry slope I used to work at). It was mid-summer and boiling hot and to then walk into a frosty, crisp environment with snow on the ground was a touch surreal.
If I remember correctly, I skied for about two hours, gave my opinions and we all went back home. If I'm even more 'anal' about this, you too went up there David and reported your findings in the Septmber 1989 issue of Ski Survey! You were very impressed, if I recall.........
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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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Yup ... that was my very first experience of indoor snow too (wow - 16.5 years ago!) and it was mesmerising. There was a magic in that little Telford building that I've seen in no other snowdome since then.
Maybe it was those snow-laden trees - such a simple idea, which they seem to have adopted for Dubai.
Even the Tokyo Ski Dome (biggest and costliest ever built) had nothing in it that reminded one of a natural mountain scene. Dubai seem to have focused well on the 'landscaping' - it looks stunning.
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Yes, I think that really is the essence of capturing the magic of skiing: to recreate the skiing environment, if possible.
Instead of just a straight pitch down the hill, Angela noted that the slope was undulating in places and did go some way towards testing out some of the skills you might actually use on the mountain.
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Woo hoo - I'm off there in October and the conditions sound fantastic !
I cannot find it on www.snow-forecast.com
I think they have a problem loading it up ?
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