The long running story surrounding plans to build the UK’s largest indoor snow centre in a former quarry in Great Blakenham, Suffolk, has seen more twists and turns than a soap opera plot over the last couple of decades.
Club & Slope News
Club & Slope News
Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh helps open ‘a tin full of wishes’ at snow centre
A snow-sports fan was given the surprise of life when his homecare provider, Right at Home UK, teamed up with Ski Sunday presenter and Olympic commentator Ed Leigh, to arrange a visit from the former-professional snowboarder, at a specially adapted skiing session.
Henry takes on Sir Tom Moore’s 100 challenge at Brentwood to raise money for children’s hospital
Sir Tom Moore became a media star last year when he raised £33million for charity by walking laps of his garden to celebrate his 100th birthday.
The nation mourned this national hero when he passed away on 2 February this year, but his fundraising legacy lives on and Sir Tom Moore’s daughter has set the ‘100 Challenge’ on what would have been his 101st Birthday on Saturday 1 May.
Improved Pembrey prepares to welcome back skiers and snowboarders
Some eagle-eyed readers spotted something was not quite right in a story on the UK Slope news page in the latest issue of the Skier & Snowboarder magazine.
The real Pembrey ski centre in Carmarthenshire
The story reported that the former Swansea Ski Slope had turned into a bit of an eyesore and plans were afoot to redevelop the site.
Record breaker – Chill Factore snowsports instructor Callum Mackenzie sets new up and down indoor record
The UK’s longest indoor snow slope, Chill Factore in Manchester, was the scene of another world record on Tuesday (15 December 2020). Snowsports instructor Callum Mackenzie completed his attempt at recording the ‘Greatest Vertical Distance Skied Up and Downhill in 24 Hours (indoors)’ which saw the 26 year-old having to climb up the 180m indoor slope 200 times, totalling a vertical height of 12km.
Snozone provides special summer offers to help families prepare for next season
By Tom White
PRIVATE one-hour lessons for families of four are being offered at Snozone Milton-Keynes and Snozone Castleford at a reduced summer rate of £99.99 (adults), £74.99 (juniors) or £109.99.
New surface provides added ‘slipperiness and speed’ at Tallington
THE NURSERY slope at Tallington Lakes Ski & Snowboard Centre in Lincolnshire has been re-shaped and resurfaced with a new artificial surface ready for this winter.
This was the first phase of a redeveloment plan and phase two and three, which sill be completed in 2019, will see the main slope also re-shaped and resurfaced, and the addition of a new freestyle area. This 2,000sm area will have a natural schuss, jump box and slope style features for freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
Get your kids ready for the family ski trip at Stoke Ski Centre
IF YOU want your children to be able to ski or snowboard, or simply brush up on their skills, before heading off on the family ski trip, Stoke Ski Centre at Festival Park in Stoke-on-Trent is offering a special Ski Camp for 6 – 16 year olds.
It is being held towards the end of the school Christmas Holidays at the start of the New Year (Wednesday to Friday, 2, 3, & 4 January 2019).
As well as the instruction there will also be tubing and fun games. Drop off is at 9.15am and pick up is at 4.30pm. The cost is £35 for one day or £90 for all three days.
Snowsport week aims to gets more youngsters on the slopes
by Amy Borrett
THE third annual National Schools Snowsport week is set to launch on Monday 23 April, hoping to encourage over 2,000 youngsters to try their hand at skiing and snowboarding for the first time. The week will run from 23 to 29 April and is aimed at giving pupils at primary and secondary schools, as well as sixth form colleges, the chance to try skiing or snowboarding.
Skiplex goes in to liquidation
The UK’s three Skiplex indoor ski centres are in the process of going into liquidation.
There were no real advance signs of problems for Skiplex, except perhaps that it stopped accepting online bookings and only accepted telephone or visitor bookings.
CHILL FACTORE CELEBRATES ‘BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY’
Chill Factore, the North’s premier indoor snow destination, has opened its doors to man’s best friend to celebrate ‘Bring Your Dog to Work Day’ (Friday 23rd June).
Collie cross Tegan, Australian Shepherd Loki and Corgi cross Winnie testing out the sledges
Home to the longest indoor real snow slope in the UK, Chill Factore supported the national awareness day by welcoming dogs to join its employees to gain work experience at the iconic leisure attraction and enjoy its famous snow.
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Brentwood Leisure Park at risk of closure after company submits plans to build 13 houses
You can see the full story on Essex Live by clicking here
The future of Brentwood Leisure Park hangs in the balance as the council decides whether to allow the landowner to tear down the existing buildings and replace them with executive homes.
A planning application has been submitted to Brentwood Borough Council which, if successful, would see the business park, in Warley Gap, demolished and replaced with 13 detached houses, a mix of three and four bed properties.
KIDS GET A TASTE OF SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
Racers ready: Aimee Fuller, Eddie The Eagle and Graham Bell on the slope at Hemel Hempstead for the launch of National Schools Snowsport Week
More than 2,000 youngsters are to get their first taste of skiing and snowboarding as part of National Schools Snowsport Week – and to kick things off some of them had the chance to get top tips from some of our biggest wintersports stars.
News from the slopes
Inverness proposal
A NEW artificial ski slope could open in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. No particular site has yet been identified but members of the public are being surveyed for suggestions. More information can be found at: www.ibsc.org.uk
Future of Sheffield hangs in the balance
A MASTERPLAN has been drawn up for the re-opening of the Sheffield ski slope area – although at this stage it is unclear whether this plan will include skiing and snowboarding.
Gillespies, a landscape architect firm, was commissioned to review the site of the former artificial ski slope which had been deemed an eyesore after five years of neglect and more than 50 arson attacks.
Plot thickens for new London snow centre
DAYS GONE BY: Proposals to build a real snow slope on the former Beckton Alps dry slope (pictured in 1991 after a snowfall) were shelved, but East London could still get an indoor snow centre if plans by Westfield go ahead.
PLANS for an indoor snow centre in East London appear to have taken a step forward following news that Westfield, the Australian company backing the project, has purchased the land where the new slope could be located.
Cairngorm plans a dry slope
NATURAL Retreats, the organisation that now operates Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland has announced plans to add a dry slope to its facilities.
Three of the four other Scottish ski centres already have dry slopes and Cairngorm does have several artificial slopes in its vicinity including one at Glenmore Lodge, one at a ski shop near the slopes and one at the nearby Loch Insh waterpark.
Snowboarder films another run around Hemel
Hemel Run 2 released
A VIDEO of a run in and around the outside of Hemel’s Snow Centre by Team GB’s Olympic Snowboard finalist, Jamie Nicholls, became an internet hit when it was released in 2014. Now the 22-year-old has made a video of his second ‘Hemel Run’
UK snow ski club closes due to lack of volunteers
THE ONLY snow ski club in Teesdale has closed after more than 50 years in existence due to a lack of volunteers.
The Harwood Ski Federation operated had a clubhouse and ski tow above Langdon Beck. After a heavy snowfall the 500m piste often used to attract between 50-80 people and après ski was enjoyed in the Langdon Beck Hotel.
Uncertain future for Sheffield ski village
TWO years after a series of fires devastated Sheffield Ski Village, the future for what is now a derelict site remains unresolved.
Sheffield Sharks Ski Club members are among those moving to reopen the slopes.