Following on from my last post “Summer Shred, Euro Style”, summer snowboarding is EVEN closer than the European Glaciers. You can literally snowboard all year round without even needing a passport. The places that make this possible are the UK Snow Domes. Unlike dry slopes, there are only a handful of them scattered throughout the UK. But if you are fortunate enough to live with one on your door step, you can really make snowboarding a regular hobby. Even so, if you live quite far away from one (like me in Devon, please build one here!), the maximum time it will take you to get to one is 3 hours, which isn’t that bad to get your summer snowboarding fix, and not to mention the weather is reliable! Many of the big names in UK snowboarding started their careers in snow domes and still use them as training facilities in the off-season. The technique for riding domes is very different to normal riding on the mountains (I’ve always struggled with it!), you have to hit everything a lot slower, short little turns rather than big long carves, and laps are short and super quick. This also means progression is quick and you get a lot of riding in in a short space of time.
History
So snow “centres” have actually been around for 90 years. The first ones were built in Berlin, Germany and Austria in the late 1920s. These snow centres used ice shavings or a chemical called Permasnow on a frozen base to create their slopes. Then in 1994, Tamworth opened the first full sized recreational indoor ski slope in the UK. This was the start of a revolution some might say. Not only did it now enable the lovely skiers and snowboarders of the UK to have somewhere to ride ALL YEAR ROUND, Tamworth was thought to be the first “real snow” centre in the world as it produced REAL snow. The temperature in the domes are kept between -1c and -5c to allow the cannons to produce the good stuff. Now there are over 90 Snow Domes spread over 35 countries thought the world. The biggest one is in China, covering 80,000 square metres and even having a chair lift.
Domes today
Snow domes today just keep getting bigger and better. Now they are not only ski slopes, but huge complexes offering a vast range of leisure activities (rock climbing, cinemas, gyms, swimming pools, ice skating). They also host a range of restaurants and shops, even night clubs meaning that you could really spend a whole day and night there. Snowboarding/ skiing wise there are family passes, season passes, lessons, freestyle parks, freestyle nights, races, competitions, training sessions, tobogganing, equipment hire, equipment to buy and apres bars. The domes are now like little mountain resorts rather than just straight up and down slopes. The designs of the slopes are made to feel like the mountains too with their decor and layout. The closet thing in the UK you can get to the real deal. Domes have also created a community of skiers and snowboarders: a really close knit crew that feels like family. As the slopes aren’t that long, freestyle is a MASSIVE thing in indoor riding and that’s what is helping to make the British ski and snowboard scene on an international level so strong.
The Domes
Each snowdome has different conditions and quality of snow, and a different feel to it so here is my guide to each of the UK snowdomes:
Tamworth
As mentioned already, Tamworth was the “original” snowdome in the UK, and it has a bit of a retro feel to it. The riders that use it are among the coolest too. Instead of a button lift there is a conveyor belt to take you to the top. It has a 180 metre main slope and then 2 Snow Academy areas (separate 25/ 30 metre teaching areas). The slope bends around a corner which makes the run a little more interesting. The freestyle features fit with its ghetto image with an old school wall ride and a “bullet” box to slide. The snow can often get very firm here which is hard to ride on (and fall on!). In the summer when its hot, it gets a bit foggy inside the dome too. But if you ask regular riders this all adds to the charm of it and it is still the favourite for many indoor shredders who are passionate about their dome.
Photo: Loughborough Sno
The Snow Factor, Glasgow
Even thought you can ride in Scotland on real snow, sometimes the less windy, more weather reliable snowdome can be a little more appealing (the Scottish winters can be harsh). The slope is 200 metres long with 2 lifts and is the largest dome in the UK with a dedicated beginner area. It is relatively cheap compared to a lot of the other domes (eg. off-peak adult 4 hours for £21, bargain!) and there are freestyle sessions held with a variety of features from beginner to expert. The dome has a really relaxed feel to it and the bar overlooking the slope is normally busy and has a great atmosphere. It is home to Scotland’s first Ice Bar, a bar with tables, chairs and even glasses made out of ice, and also has the world’s largest ice climbing facility.
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead
This independent facility has a vast area over 30 metres wide and 160 metres long with button lifts on each side of the slope. Being the closest slope to London, Hemel is a hub for lots of ski and snowboard events, including freestyle camps and competitions. They also have big rubber rings to ride down the slopes on if that’s what floats your boat. I’ve found the instructors at Hemel to be the best around, always keen to help riders of any level. There is a big local scene here and a good vibe, but I’ve found that the snow can get rutted out quickly onto the features on freestyle nights, probably because they are so popular!
Snowzone, Milton Keynes
Xscape in Milton Keynes is home to Snozone. Xscape is a MASSIVE complex full of activities to do (including a 16 screen Cinema to give you an idea of the size of this place). So not everyone that comes here is here for the snow and you can often feel a little silly walking through the complex in all your snow gear!! The slope is 170 metres long and fuelled by 16 snow cannons to make the 1500 tonnes of snow on the piste. I quite like how the slope is sectioned off by big pillars, so when you are learning you don’t feel too intimidated by the better riders. If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, you can go sledding or tubing here instead and they often have fun parties or hen/ stag dos there. Only bad thing here is the snow can feel quite “sugary” to ride on.
Snozone, Castleford
Castleford snow dome probably holds the best reputation among indoor riders in the UK, and again has a totally different feel to it. Many of the British Freestyle team use this as a training base which means that the park/ freestyle features are always top notch. The British Indoor Championships are often held here too. They have different nights on where pros often design their own freestyle parks which is amazing. The slope is 170 metres long (main slope) and is served by 2 lifts. The laps are super quick and fun here and always set up well. Then the apres bar looks over the park so you can watch your mates as you enjoy a cold beer or hot chocolate. The whole slope and bar has an alpine theme to it so you really feel like you’re the mountains.
Photo: Tom Robertson
Chill Factor, Manchester
Only open since 2007, Chill Factor is the UK’s newest dome. Its slope is 180 metres long making it the longest in the UK. There are 4 main areas depending on your ability including a beginner slope, a winter wonderland created specifically for children and a 60 metre luge that you can have a go on for something totally different. The dome is situated opposite the famous Trafford Shopping Centre. Unfortunately when it was first opened they built loads of big jumps on the slopes which damaged the structure underneath, as a result, there is not quite as much freestyle as there once was.
So as you can see there is lots on offer in the UK in terms of summer snowboarding to keep your muscles warmed up for winter. You can do a winter season in the mountains, then a summer season touring the domes! Living the dream. If snowboarding/ skiing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other snowy activities to get involved with at the domes, even if it’s just having a beer and watching the snowboarders and throwing a couple of snowballs at your friends.
Photo: Zoe Phillips