Ski-mounting - the setting up of ski and snowboard equipment - has taken place at Chill Factore as preparations for the imminent opening of the North West’s real snow indoor Alpine Village continue.

More than 400 sets of skis and 200 snowboards were delivered to the site and racked up by teams from Chill Factore and top action and leading outdoor sports company Salomon, which is supplying all hire equipment.

The snow cannons, which produce the real snow, were switched on last month and the ski-mounting is the next significant step in the build-up to the eagerly anticipated opening of the £31m development, near Manchester’s Trafford Centre, in November.

The delivery included the quality rental equipment, plus the prestige skis and boards that will be available to try out at Salomon’s on-site Test Centre – the only one of its type in the UK.

The prestige hire equipment provided by Salomon includes all mountain and freestyle skis such as the X-Wing and Thruster, as well as telemark skis.

Visitors can also try out Axess snowblades, which are easy-to-use and bundles of fun. Snowboarders can choose from a good range of freeride and freestyle snowboards.
Skis will be available in a whole range of lengths and once Chill Factore opens visitors will be matched with the appropriate equipment via a high-tech computerised system.

Chill Factore’s Operations Director Andrew Lockerbie said: “Following the start of snow-making last month, another key milestone has taken place in preparation for our opening in November. The quality of our facilities and the technical excellence of the equipment provided by Salomon will ensure Chill Factore is the finest indoor real snow skiing facility in the country.”

Salomon’s National Sales Manager Eric Davies said: “We are extremely excited about the forthcoming opening of Chill Factore. Snowsports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample our latest freeride, freestyle and piste-carving designs, but we have also put a lot of care into selecting a top-quality range of equipment for budding skiers and boarders. This will ensure visitors can make the most of the outstanding facilities on offer at what will be the UK’s premier snowsports centre of excellence.”

Chill Factore features the UK’s longest and the world’s widest real snow, indoor ski slope, a luge, a separate children’s snow play area, an indoor climbing wall and an Alpine village boasting an unrivaled mix of speciality shops, bars and restaurants with panoramic windows and balconies overlooking the real snow slope.

The facilities have been given a vote of confidence from prestigious national bodies such as Snowsport GB and The British Disabled Ski Team (BDST), who have made the venue their official indoor training headquarters.

The teaching and coaching programme on offer will be unparalleled in the UK, with world-class tuition available right up to Olympic standard. The facility will be home to the best qualified instructing and coaching team in the country, led by Andrew Lockerbie, one of Europe’s top ski instructors and Chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI).

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