It is the height of summer….. so what better time for a spot of skiing?
Of course, we normally associated the sport with winter but it is a great activity at any time of the year.
And there is one venue in Belgium where that is particularly the case: The Ice Mountain Adventure Park.
Not only are the slopes there relatively quiet right now but there are some really terrific offers available for the summer period.
For instance,currently all private lessons are now available for €65 instead of €85 using an online code
Why choose ski lessons in the summer? Well, you are sure of a quieter slope, more lesson availability, better conditions for faster progress and a more affordable option,
hours of skiing for just €35!
There are lots of other summer deal, including one where you get 4 hours of slope access—including equipment—for just €35.
It is the perfect opportunity to keep skiing – or snowboarding – during the summer, improve your skills, or simply have fun in the cool air (we could all do with that this summer…)
The centre, as well as its slopes, also has ski diving so you might like to complete your experience by adding a couple of indoor skydiving flights for €29.90 instead of €59.90.
There are also some “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” offers up for grabs for the time being (consult the website link below for full details on these and all others).
Many of us will be new to the wonders of skiing but, as they saying goes, it is never too late to learn.
For those who want to do a spot of practice for a possible skiing holiday later in the year or others who just want to learn the basics of the sport the question is: where in Belgium can you actually do this?
The answer, sadly, is that there are very few indoor (or outdoor) places for skiing.
Happily, Ice Mountain is one of less than a handful of such sites in the whole of Belgium.
It is in situated close to the Belgian/French border but it is still only a comfortable an hour or so drive from Brussels.
The indoor facilities here are first class for people in search of some serious pre-skiing holiday prep but its main slope is also available to those who may not be going skiing this winter and just want to give it a go, maybe for the first time.
If you haven’t actually skied before it is necessary to have a spot of basic training with one of the centre’s ski coaches before you are to be left on your own.
The centre can boast two slopes with “real” snow, much like you find in the mountains. Thanks to a process in which water is atomized and cooled very quickly, the quality of the fluffy stuff is fantastic and there is always a layer of 40 to 60 centimeters thick (arguably better than you now find in some ski resorts in these climate change-impacted times).
There is a ski lift on both sides of the main slope. The smaller, second slope, which is adjacent, is intended for beginners and children. It has both a roller mat (for lessons only) and a ski lift. The temperature in the complex is always minus six degrees.
The slopes are 210m and 85m in length, the highest being on a gradient of 40m from top to bottom
It all takes place in a huge hall where the snow is maintained at a constant temperature of -6 degrees. This is achieved via a series of motors located under the snow itself.
Equipment can be hired, including ski gloves, or obtained from the on-site shop. Note that ski gloves and warm clothes are mandatory.
There’s also a couple of very pleasant restaurants, including one decked out with a typical Alpine-style décor that would not look out of place in the Alps. Some people even visit just to watch the skiers and have a spot to eat or drink.
In fact, here’s a lot more to this place than just traditional skiing because it has other activities such as paint-balling.
The parking is free and the centre is relatively easy to access from Belgium. About half its tens of thousands of visitors come from across the border in France or the south of Belgium.
The centre also has some exciting plans very soon to set about refurbishing the huge outdoor play area that closed a few years ago.
As they say, watch this space for further news….
Further info
www.ice-mountain.com
T: (056) 55 45 40
https://www.ice-mountain.com/promotions/buy-1-get-1-free/
