Dry Slopes - NOW WITH PICS!
there is one opening up in my area… who has been to one and what are the pros and cons.
I will find out the exact material, I dont know right now.
what exactly is a dry slope?
I have never snowboarded on a dry slope but I was training with a guy from the UK a couple of years back who taught on dry slopes. He was saying you need to edge more aggressively on dry slope. He was actually having some problems on the course because he was edging too hard because thats what he was used to. I’ve seen some videos of guys ripping it up on the dry stuff, looks like fun. Let us know how it goes.
what exactly is a dry slope?
It’s a synthetic, dry, man-made, snow-like surface. Usually outdoors from what I’ve seen. I will try find some info for you.
They are quite popular in the UK.
PN,
thanks for sharing those vids, The second one especially, it gives a good display of what I may be working with.
The material is Snowflex that I will have access to, and Im pretty stoked about it.
I still dont know when opening day is, the website dont say.
http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex/
Any one have an idea how I prepare the base of the board for it?
As long as you don’t expect massvely varied terrain or just want to ride powder, then you can have a really fun session. I guess mostly for working on tricks is where the fun comes in because when they are built right you can hit a properly built feature so many more times than you would on snow and progression is really fast. Runs are short so you get to hit the same feature many times, become comfortable on it and then start really perfecting your tricks. Would be nice if they built more bigger jumps with it, there is one in noeux les mines in France and they have a 30ft table, looks really fun. in my opinion most mountains should build one for off season training
I am looking forward to it, and I will have to write up a full report when I get the chance.
that does look pretty cool…nice alternative when theres no snow
Why has no one brought this to Oz yet?
Who owns the technology?
Is it expensive?
I’m quite sure Snowflex is the industry standard and yes it’s expensive. I looked into it a few years ago to set up a backyard jib, but the minimum buy way too big.
Not sure why it hasn’t been brought to Aus yet. There was talk many years ago about a snow dome in West Sydney, but that fell apart.
Check out Snowflex: http://www.snowflex.com/
there is one opening up in my area… who has been to one and what are the pros and cons.
I will find out the exact material, I dont know right now.
Where are you from Snowslider. Not Australia i take it.
How good would one of the indoor snow fields like in Dubai be.
Being a Brit, I have great experience on ‘Dry Slopes’. I actually learnt to ride on them when I 13. It was Shocking! Back then, the rental boards still used the ski-boot setup and your feet had to be virtually parallel like a DH GSlalom Boarder.
Basically, if you can ride on a dry slope, nothing will be a challenge for you. Proper snow is so much more forgiving.
I haven’t run on the Snowflex stuff, but the brush variety that uses a ‘Hex matrix’ (for want of a better phrase) of coarse brushes is quite terrible. It relies on a fine mist of water ‘lubing’ the run to give you speed. It’s really limited on terrain and is super easy to catch an edge.
If you ever have the misfortune to go to a Dry slope, be careful if it’s the brush variety. It’s so easy to fall and catch you thumb/fingers in the brushes and snap them.
We do have indoor ‘real’ snow slopes in the UK. They’re over rated and expensive, but good fun for sessioning rails/jumps. I went to one in Germany that was 1km long. Almost makes it worth the money!
Woody, Im not sure of the specifics, I would guess it is the newest product, as they are just building it now.
http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&mid=8434
I think it may be a while before they are done.
http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex/index.cfm?MID=8844
They are opened daily all ready and I diddnt know.
Grand opening is August 29th, but they are opened now!!
I’m going crazy trying to figure when I can go.. now or tomorrow?
I cant wait.
http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex/index.cfm?MID=8844
They are opened daily all ready and I diddnt know.
Grand opening is August 29th, but they are opened now!!
I’m going crazy trying to figure when I can go.. now or tomorrow?
I cant wait.
Very nice, open day would be hectic anyway, go go go!