Skiing and snowboarding are no longer limited to alpine resorts. Thanks to modern technology and nifty innovations, snow shredders can now hit the slopes year-round without the need for mountains or snowfall. Which is especially good news for us here in the UK, where we’ve a distinct lack of both.
Two of the most popular alternatives for off-season or urban skiing are snow domes and dry slopes. But while they both serve the same purpose of bringing skiing and snowboarding to a wider audience regardless of the weather, newcomers might not be entirely sure what differentiates them. Read on to find out what sets them apart.
Snow Domes
Let’s start with snow domes, which can also be referred to as indoor ski centres or indoor snow slopes. They tend to be large, climate-controlled buildings filled with real – that’s right, real – snow.
That’s thanks to snow machines that can create man-made snow just like the stuff that occasionally falls from the sky. By maintaining cold temperatures of between -1°C and -5°C, snow domes do their best to replicate the conditions of a typical alpine mountain resort. So make sure you remember to wrap up.
4 key features of snow domes
1
Real snow: Snow domes use advanced snowmaking systems that spray fine water mist, which freezes instantly, forming powdery snow.
2
Controlled environment: Weather and snow quality remain consistent year-round.
3
Beginner-friendly: Snow domes often have gentle slopes ideal for learners and rookies.
4
Extras: Many facilities offer lessons, equipment rentals, events, and even après-ski cafes.
What’s great
Authentic snow experience
Great for learning proper technique
Reliable and weatherproof
What’s not so great
Can be pricier than dry slopes
Run length may be limited
Refrigeration leads to high energy usage
Top 5 snow dome venues in the UK
1
The Snow Centre (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire) Slope length: 160m
2
Chill Factore (Manchester) Slope length: 180m (longest indoor real snow slope in the UK)
Snozone (Castleford, West Yorkshire) Slope length: 170m
Dry Slopes
And now, to dry slopes. Dry slopes began appearing in the UK during the 1960s, long before the technology for indoor snowmaking was commercially viable. The first generation used synthetic bristle materials like Dendix, which are still used at some locations today. While these materials don’t look all that much like real snow, they’re designed to mimic its sliding properties. These slopes don’t require cold temperatures and are often built outdoors.
4 key features of dry domes
1
Synthetic surface: Feels like a mix of snow and carpet, designed to replicate ski or board movement.
2
All-weather use: There’s no need for snow or even cold temperatures, meaning it’s usable in almost any climate.
3
Lower maintenance: Cheaper and easier to operate than snow domes.
4
Varied courses: Many dry slopes feature beginner areas, main slopes, freestyle zones, and slalom courses.
What’s great
Accessible and often more affordable than snow domes
Open year-round, regardless of temperature
Great for practicing technique and fitness
What’s not so great
Not as smooth or forgiving as real snow
Falls can be more painful due to rougher surfaces
Weather can affect usability – rain can make it too slippy while extreme heat can cause friction issues
We use cookies to optimise our website and our service.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
