Work is underway on a project to install two new year round ski slopes and four tubing lanes at Hillend Snowsports Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The centre, which has been a key location for the development of competitive British national snowsports for decades and operates one of the world’s largest artificial snowsports surfaces already had been threatened with closure due to financial problems last year, but a huge public outcry led to public money being found to finance upgrades.



The Italian company Neveplast artificial ski slopes won the tender to construct the two new slopes and tubing runs as part of a £600,000 investment.

The new ski slopes will be built around a travelator uplift system for quicker and more convenient access.

The four Neveplast Tubby slides (Neveplast's own patented artificial snow tubing runs) will each be 60m long and contain a number of parabolic bends. The new Tubby slides will be accessed by an additional 60m long travelator and will provide a new attraction to the centre.

The ground preparation work is already underway and the project is due for completion at the end of August 2012.



Edinburgh based Snowtraxx International market Neveplast in the UK, their managing director Stuart Murphy said, "Neveplast is a new state of the art product and is the closest thing to snow that I have ever tested. It is the first and only material to be officially certified as having the same slipperiness as real snow and has incredible edge hold. The new ski slopes will give people the chance to experience something special, it’s like skiing on a freshly groomed piste. This new surface will keep customers interested in snowsports all year round and not just the winter months. The new Tubby slides will also be a huge attraction and are great fun for all ages.”

---