The UK may only be a 2 hour flight from the Alps but once the snow has melted in popular resorts like Val D’Isere and Zermatt, the residents of London usually resign themselves to putting their ski and snowboard equipment into storage for a few months and turning their attentions to other pursuits until the next winter season comes around. Not that running, cycling, rowing or playing tennis aren’t great fun, especially when the sun is shining, but for a committed winter sports fan, the prospect of eight months or more without any snow action can be pretty demoralising.

Indoor snow complexes completely change the picture though and the latest one to open in the UK is The Snow Centre. Finally there is a real snow facility within easy reach of the capital, making winter sports during the summer accessible to millions. Using the latest in snow generation equipment, The Snow Centre is a brand new facility offering 8000 square metres of real snow on two indoor slopes, all housed in a bespoke building in the town of Hemel Hempstead.

Being only 20 miles by road or less than 30 minutes by rail, The Snow Centre aims to welcome both skiers and snowboarders from London and the suburbs to the new facility which offers a combination of on-slope and off-slope attractions. There are two slopes, a main slope of 160m and a shorter 100m training slope, the largest in the UK. There is also a dedicated snow play area for those not quite ready to venture up the lifts yet. Efficient POMA lifts, as used in most mountain resorts these days, provide a quick turnaround, so everyone gets to maximise their time at the centre. The four lift system ensures that queues are rare. The equipment available for hire at the centre is provided in partnership with HEAD, with the latest skis, snowboards, boots, poles and helmets available.

Après Ski is an important part of any winter holiday and although the mountain scenery may be missing the Centre has tried to recreate the atmosphere of a mountain-style café bar with a restaurant serving a range of refreshments including the all important Glühwein!

Teaching is an important part of the programme at The Snow Centre and they have ensured a quality approach by enlisting the services of over 120 BASI qualified instructors. Various teaching programmes are available including discounted school holiday courses and classes geared to all age groups, starting from as young as four years old.

For snowboarders seeking a little more excitement the centre builds a varied range of course layouts made possible using items like rails and boxes as well as forming traditional snow kickers. Regular freestyle nights are held for boarders to test their skills in the company of others with like-minded ambitions. The use of a huge airbag for softer landings is also available on certain special event nights. Safety is an important aspect and the wearing of  helmets is mandatory for children and during certain levels of instruction. Helmets are also required for race training, any competitions and snowboarding freestyle. For everyone else the use of a helmet is just encouraged and they are made available for people to wear free of charge.

As the next winter season approaches the centre sees itself becoming a popular destination for individuals and families wanting to brush up on their technique and fitness before heading off to the mountain  resorts. With the high cost of winter resort holidays it seems to  make sense to put some preparation time aside at home beforehand to  avoid any start-up injuries and get skills and technique in order.  Also inside the complex is a fully stocked branch of Snow+Rock, a  retail store offering winter sports equipment and clothing. With  temperatures on the slopes ranging from -2 to -6 degree Celsius, appropriate clothing is advised and hire stock is on hand for those  who don’t have any.

For budding snowsport instructors the centre is a designated BASI Centre of Excellence, which means it is also able to offer courses for new or advancing instructors.

The centre has barely been open a few weeks but it’s already proving to be very popular with some freestyle events reaching full capacity on the night.

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Tags: Hemel Hempstead, Indoor skiing, Snow Centre, UK