I've never been to Aberdeen, so we thought it best we got a decent review of the UK's latest slope. Lee Laird did the honours for us in words and pictures...

Why leave one dry slope and drive two hours (taking it easy) up the M90 to another dry slope in Aberdeen? Sounds crazy, but the reason became clear when two young talented local riders from Edinburgh by the names of Will Nangle and Zack Culshaw showed me and my work college Donnie some video footage of there day trip to Garthdee that lasted a week. Instantly we had decided to check it out.

Three days later we were on the road to Aberdeen joined by Sioned (a snowboarding lovely with bigger testicles than lots of male riders I know) trying not to listen to Donnie’s snowboard injury stories.

Driving into Aberdeen I get that cold chill down my spine as Donnie asks directions and I realise they are usefully lying on the table back home. As I glance out the passenger window, this bright white glow appears through a gap in the houses saving me and after a few burleys on one of the many round abouts we’re there.

We hook up with the very nice and hospitable manager Kat who gives us the grand tour of all the facilities and talks us through their impressive membership card system. It gets swiped at reception and sends your board set up details (angles, stance and board size) straight to the hire so your hardware is ready waiting for you when you arrive.

We get our kit on, borrow a safety leash and head for the slope passing by the beginners area. This is also made with confidence-building Snowflex and get this; no hiking for you starters with rope tows and travelling carpet.


Next, we pass the original Dendix slope for you turners that want the maximum grip artificial surfaces offer. Walking on, there is an un-used area of similar size to the main slopes that was mentioned and maybe used for a half pipe in the future.

We are now at the main Snowflex slope we all came to see. The first thing you notice is the appetisingly sized quarter pipe standing tall at the bottom centre of the slope, with plenty of slope to work with you have no trouble setting up for a front or back side hit and great for going air to fakie, definitely my favoured aspect of the slope.


Looking up the slope, I next notice the end of a straight rail that has a nice five foot drop on to what is also the landing transition for the kicker that gently gets steeper for landing the bigger airs (well thought out).


With my board strapped on and travelling up the rope tow salivating at what I've seen so far, the kicker comes in to view and what a sweet site it is with a more than ample run in from the top and long smmmooth transition to set you up nicely for your trick of choice. Beside the kicker is a small table jump to warm up on and build confidence before tackling the kicker.

Finally, left of the run in to the kicker near the top and squeezed in beside a row of two mi mi mi moguls running down the far side of the slope is a rainbow rail that’s not intimidating as rainbow rails go. The only thing with the rainbow rail is the moguls get in the way and make it a little tricky to set up for it.

Oh, with all the toys on display I almost forgot the wide area that runs along side the rope tow for just cruising and turning on.


So with lots of lines to be had we were off grinning from ear to ear picking our way over our preferred obstacles, having so much fun made it hard for me to get the camera out hence the hand full of pictures.

The great thing with this slope is the quarter pipe is always in play whether you hit the rails or the kicker. This slope looks like its been designed for competitions and is a great example of what can be done, and the way dry slopes are going to give a taste and feel of the real park experience.

Plus points of the slope-nice kicker and mini table, great quarter pipe, two sweet rails with a good drop off the straight rail and the Snowflex surface well padded and well lubricated, this slope will get you wet!

Minus points-the moguls spoil your run in to the rainbow rail and push it towards the kicker, so if someone is hitting the rainbow rail you must wait to hit the kicker, which slows things down.

Thanks to all at Garthdee Alpine Centre especially Kat and the students from Robert Gordon University for letting us in on there session, a great day was had by all.

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