"Endless Winter Snow"

News From Indoor Snow and Artificial Ski Surface Centres Worldwide
Patrick Thorne (UK)
Dutch Dome To Open 400m Indoor Ice Track
The indoor snow centre DeUithof in the Dutch capital, The Hague, is rolling out a number of improvements and upgrades.
It has already initiated an improved snowmaking system and a new terrain park. The centre will next unveil a new health spa at the start of September, followed by a new 400m ice track on September 29th. The giant ice centre will be open at various times between 9am and 10pm daily. Along with racing and training it will host curling and ice hockey events, including matches with the home team Den Haag’s Hijs Calco Wolves.
www.deuithof.nl

SnOasis Decision Unlikely Before 2008
The final decision on whether the UK and probably the world’s largest indoor snow centre can go ahead or not is not likely to be announced until early 2008, the public enquiry in to the proposal has been advised. If built, the SnOasis complex in Suffolk will contain a 500m indoor ski slope with a 100m vertical drop on the site of a former quarry. The complex would also include a winter sports academy to train athletes, ice skating rink, ice climbing wall and other winter sports facilities (14 different sports in total) as well as a hotel, chalet complex, restaurants, cinema, nightclub and retail shops. The £300m ($600m US) project also envisages a 421-home development and new railway station in the village of Great Blakenham. The area’s council granted planning permission for the project but the government called it in for a Public Enquiry. This was concluded this week as far as submissions by those for and against the proposal are concerned, but will continue concluding its business for another month. It t6hen appears likely it will take a further six months for a report to be drawn up and for the The Secretary of State to make a decision before the end of this year. The plans for the development by Onslow Suffolk and Persimmon Homes have galvanised opposition from a consortium of local residents who fear the plans will be an eyesore, and if the snowslope fails to be an economic success, a major disaster for the area. They formed a group called SnOasis Concern and pit forward their own case against the proposed facility at the Enquiry.

SnowVolution
The team behind intellectual property venture SnowVolution, is preparing to take the ground breaking concept to the next stage following substantial investment by the company in design testing and enhancements. The SnowVolution patented concept is for a dome shaped building containing a series of parallel giant circular snowfields, tilted at 25 degrees to form a slope, with several of the giant rings revolving. Skiers and boarders would effectively be able to “slide forever” in a similar way to a runner’s treadmill, against the movement of the ring, which would revolve at up to 25kph (16mph). Although the size and precise design of each SnowVolution may vary, it is likely most will be very large and be housed within some of the world’s largest dome structures. One variant envisages a skiable area of 70,000 square metres (17.5 acres), more than twice the size of the world’s current largest indoor snow area. Between two moving snowfield disks, each 50m wide, there would be a stationery disk, and the central hub of the disks would house support facilities such as shops. Hotels, shops and restaurants would be located on the outside of the structure. SnowVolution has employed one of the world’s leading engineering design firms, Arup (www.arup.com) to work through the design to ensure it will operate precisely as envisaged. This process is close to completion and SnowVolution are now working to secure initial investors and licensees to fund the next stage of development, a full scale design, estimated to require 12 months work, ahead of construction of the first SnowVolution.
www.snowvolution.com

The British Snowboard Tour continues to be a prestigious Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour ranked event, following an immensely successful first year. This resulted in two of the UK’s most promising riders, Sam Cullum and Jamie Nicholls, who both competed on the tour, finishing in the top 40 and top 70 respectively in the Men’s TTR World Snowboard Ranking List 2007. The Tour will give UK riders the continuing opportunity to not only win British Championship Titles, but to secure World Ranking Points and gain an overall position alongside snowboarding megastars such as Shaun White and Travis Rice.
www.britishsnowtour.com /
www.ttrworldtour.com

Patrick of snow365.com in the UK sends in monthly highlights
News From Indoor Snow and Artificial Ski Surface Centres Worldwide
Patrick Thorne (UK)
www.snow365.com

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Underground Station

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Falls Creek
Weather Pattern: A high pressure system over Victoria will move to the Tasman Sea during Sunday. A cold front south of Western Australia will move across the Bight to cross Victoria during Tuesday.
Forecast: Saturday
Fine. A mainly sunny day with light winds.
Outlooks:
Sunday Fine. A sunny day with light to moderate northerly winds developing.
Monday Patchy rain and drizzle developing, falling as snow on the peaks. Tuesday Snow showers.

Great early season skiing and boarding. Ten lifts expected to run. 32km of cross country trails groomed late yesterday, continuing today. Wombats & Broadway Home trails open to the village. Scott's & Ruined Castle open. Tubing open today in the bowl. Terrain Park on Drover's Dream, mini rails on Mouse Trap.
http://www.fallscreek.com.au/

*** Cardrona Alpine Resort - New Zealand
New for the 2007 Winter season
A two million dollar investment into a new snowmaking system that will cover the main basin, terrain parks and halfpipes. This new technology will supplement Cardrona’s already renowned natural snowbase, ensuring key trails, rails, jumps and half pipes are open at the start of the season

Season Passes on sale now
www.cardrona.com

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Alyeska Resort Summer
MIDNIGHT SUN PARAGLIDING 10 DAYS OF SOLSTICE Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 24 experience an unforgettable vision as the sky is filled with the color of summer. 10 days consist of plenty of fun for the novice to experienced paraglider and the people who love to watch them perform. Contest will take place offering daily prizes including the best flight. Come see the latest technology with demonstrations from some of the top designers in the business. There is tons of food and fun for the entire family. Visit Midnight Sun Paragliding for more details.

ALYESKA TRAM hours of operation for the summer are 10:30 am to 9:30 pm daily. Ride the Tram to view panoramic views from the Glacier Express Deck, hike to the top of Mt. Alyeska, or just relax at the Seven Glaciers Lounge opening daily at 5:00 pm . Tram and lunch combinations are available with you choice of 7 different lunch menu items from wraps to bread bowls of soup. The Alyeska Tram is an activity for all ages. For more information visit Alyeska Tram.

www.alyeskaresort.com/

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North America
Whistler - Blackcomb
June 4 - July 29, 2007 Summer Glacier skiing/riding begins on Blackcomb Mountain. Access via the Wizard Express (Blackcomb Daylodge base)
Whistler Blackcomb

Mt. Hood Timberline Lodge
Palmer Lift - race lanes upper- park lower
Timberlone Lodge

Europe
Stubai Glacier -Austria
Stubai Glacier

Hintertuxer Glacier Hintertux Glacier

Tignes
17 June Glacier opening
Tignes

Engelberg-CH
Engelberg

Saas- Fee-CH
Saas- fee

Verbier-CH
Verbier

Zermat-CH

Zermatt

South America
Catedral

Catedral

Las Lenas
Las Lenas

Portillo
Portillo

Valle Nevado
Valle Nevado

Australia
Falls Creek
Falls Creek

New Zealand
Cardrona
Cardrona

Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak

Treble Cone
Treble Cone