Happy Birthday to the Indoor Ski Slope!

There’s nothing like skiing the real McCoy, but when we’re stuck in the UK, indoor slopes are the only thing keeping us sane. That’s why today the balloons are up and the banners are out – we’re celebrating the birthday of the first indoor ski slope.

… and what a slope it was. Austria’s always been a pioneer of the skiing world and in Vienna on the 26^th of November, 1927, an abandoned train station was transformed into the glorious ‘Schneepalast’. Translating to ‘Snow Palace’, it sounds more magical than scientific, but we have to thank the chemistry genius of fellow Brit Laurence Clarke Ayscough for the white stuff. He fashioned artificial snow from washing soda, which covered a piste, sledding run (complete with electric lift) and ski jump. Trees and other props gave the place an alpine feel and lighting allowed action until 10pm. Sadly the Schneepalast closed in 1943 because of the Second World War, but its legacy lives on.

Schneepalast: ÖNB Wien, 113.397b-D.

87 years later in the Dubai desert…

Fast forward to the present day and artificial ski slopes have progressed in leaps and bounds, with new-fangled snow cannons producing ‘real snow’ to slide on. Ski Dubai’s surely one of the most unlikely places to ski on Earth, in a city that’s never been known to drop below freezing (the lowest recorded temp is a balmy 6˚C). This isn’t just an indoor ski slope – this is an indoor resort, with an 85m mountain and 5 pistes including the world’s first indoor black run. There’s also a freestyle area, 3000m² snow play zone, zip line, giant ball run… And a colony of real live penguins. Beat that, Verbier.

Ski Dubai

Closer to home:

If the 8 hour flight’s going to leave you a bit pushed for time or you always leave the passport in the sock drawer, you’ll find a terrific collection of indoor ski slopes in the UK.

At Hemel Hempstead’s Snow Centre,  you’ll schuss past top athletes (the picture shows Olympic Snowboarder, Jamie Nicholls riding here).

Jamie Nicholls at Hemel Snow Centre: Aivars Zee Zarins

Snozone in Milton Keynes and Castleford’s Xscape centres have tubing, sledging, family snow sessions and freestyle modules.

Snozone: Xscape

Snow Factor in Glasgow is competing for the title of the UK’s biggest, churning out 1500 tonnes of snow throughout the week – there’s even an ice climbing wall and an ice slide.

Snow Factor, Braehead

It doesn’t end there: Manchester’s Chill Factor^e has the longest indoor slope in the UK and the Snowdome in Tamworth is part of a leisure centre if you fancy a post-ski swim or skate.

On this momentous day for the indoor ski slope (and with the ski season fast approaching), pinpoint your nearest, clip on the skis and prepare to be impressed by the UK’s ski centres – SNO place like home.