The stairs and bridge were put on Gold Hill, seen on the left.

Telluride ski resort in Colorado has airlifted a new bridge and staircase to Gold Hill on left shoulder of Palmyra Peak.

Canadian helicopter company Heliqwest airlifted two steel staircases and a bridge over the ski resort to its final resting place, the span between Gold Hill Chutes 8 and 9. The new stairway is already open for skiers.

The two sets of stairs measure 48 and 54 feet, and weigh 3304 and 3324 pounds, respectively. The bridge measures 24 feet in length and weighs 2750 pounds. All three components measure 30 inches wide, feature hand railings on both sides and serrated grated steel walking surface. Together, the stairway and bridge combine make up 126 linear feet ascending Gold Hill.

Continue reading ‘Telluride installs chute access stairway’

The Wycombe dry slope burned down in 2005.

Several thousand supporters have joined a Facebook group supporting the construction of the planned Wycombe Summit indoor snow centre near London, England.

The group calls on the local council to approve plans for the snow dome. The council previously rejected plans for the site’s redevelopment by owners the Snowdome Group, who own Europe’s oldest surviving indoor snow centre at Tamworth.

The original centre, which is home to a long dry ski slope, was destroyed by fire in 2005.

Continue reading ‘Wycombe Summit project gets online support’

Artificial slopes are popping up everywhere.

A new type of artificial slope, described as a creek surfing system, has been launched by inventor Czintos Csongor.

Sineride is billed as better than other summer sliding options, because the skier carves down these small obstacles or ribs and the water held in place acts like a series of small pools situated under each other, effectively creating a big slanting lake.

Csongor says he first started considering what was needed for a successful summer sliding facility back in 1999.

Continue reading ‘Inventor carves into artificial slope market’

An artist sketch of Meadowlands Xanadu snow complex.

The story of the giant Xanadu complex in New Jersey, which incorporates North America’s only constructed, if not open, indoor snow centre continues to rumble on.

According to some media reports, the State of New Jersey may be considering seizing the land on which the ‘ultimate mall’, previously considered, “too big to fail” is located. This seems unlikely since owners Colony capital have paid $160 million in advance rent through to about 2020.

On the other hand billionaire Steve Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins football team, is reported to be in negotiations to bridge a $500m gap left by the collapse of investment bank Lehman brothers, potentially enabling it to be completed and opened.

Continue reading ‘New Jersey Xanadu getting closer to fruition’

Snowdomes are popping up all over the place.

There may still be life in the plan for a first indoor snow centre in Cardiff, Wales.

Long-standing plans have re-emerged recently because of heightened interest in indoor snow centres in the UK. Half a dozen UK cities are currently considering proposals.

A report from officers of Cardiff Council recommended that the council agree to procure a developer/operator to design, build, fund and operate a snow facility at the International Sports Village site.

Continue reading ‘More buzz about possible Cardiff snow dome’

Panorama ski resort in British Columbia, Canada.

Since being sold by Intrawest earlier this year, BC’s Panorama ski resort has gone forward with a number of new initiatives to improve its skiing experience.

The new Showoff Terrain Park alongside the Mile 1 quad has quickly been rated the biggest and best in the Rockies according the resort staff. The resort also greatly improved facilities for first-time skiers and riders by enlarging the novice ski area and installing the 135 metre long Red Carpet lift.

In addition this year, intermediate and advanced riders are benefitting from extensive trail work. The expanse of Founders Ridge is now easier to reach and easier to ski. Ostrander Alley, Strobl Strasse, and McIntosh Way have been re-graded and it’s now an easy cruise to some of the best intermediate skiing available.

Continue reading ‘Recently sold Panorama keeps moving forward’

The Himalayan Ski Village was supposed to be a world-class resort near the top of the world.

SkiRebel.com has learned that plans for a major ski resort in the Indian Himalayas have suffered a new set back.

The Indian government has issued a cancellation notice for the plans, which were first launched with a wave of positive PR six years ago but have been bogged down for the past few years in legal limbo.

The Ski Village concept plan was first proposed back in 2004 by Alfred Ford, a member of the Ford Motors family. The Himalayan Ski Village project was supposed to be a major ski resort close to the established tourism centre of Manali in the Indian Himalayas, which already has rudimentary ski facilities and world famous heli-skiing.

Continue reading ‘Himalayan ski resort dream appears dead’