Ski Slopes

Ski slopes come in two different varieties: natural wet slopes and artificial dry slopes. Wet slopes are typically outdoors on real mountains where snowfall is significant and the temperatures are low enough to allow the snow to stay for several months. Wet slopes may also have snowmaking equipment for producing snow when nature just won’t cooperate. This snow, while manufactured, is still wet and has the same essential properties of real snow.

Artificial Ski Slopes

These are ski slopes that mimic the attributes of snow using materials that do not rely on cold climates to be effective. Also called dry ski slopes, these slopes are often not actually dry because they may be frequently sprayed with water or solvents to increase speed and decrease damage to equipment from friction and heat. Artificial ski slopes can be found around the world, outdoors and indoors, but are most predominant in the United Kingdom where there is not typically ready access to snow fields, as there is in the United States and parts of Europe.

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Dry Ski Slope Material Manufacture

Previously, dry ski slopes were made of a material called Dendrix. Dendrix is a by-product of brush production. It is a hexagonal pattern of bristles an inch long. While this material was a significant advancement over previous methods at mimicking the effect of snow skiing, it provided no impact protection to skiers and made for an altogether painful experience if the skier fell. Newer materials provide much better padding and protection for skiers. There are two common materials used on dry slopes; they are Snowflex and Perma-snow. Both of these materials are a lot like carpeting and have various pile depths and lengths which can be used for anything from novice ski slopes to intermediate and advanced slopes and even trick slopes including ramps, jumps, half- and quarter-pipes and other extremes.

Dry Ski Slopes

Because all three of these materials – Dendrix, Snowflex, and Perma-snow – can grip clothing easily, it is not a good idea to wear fabrics like fleece and wool when skiing on them. Even though Snowflex and Perma-snow provide impact absorption and will not scrape and burn like Dendrix does, it can still cause bruising and something like rug burn if a skier falls and his or her shirt lifts up because it was caught by the snow material. The best materials to wear when skiing on these surfaces is windbreaker, or water proof, material because it will slip against the artificial snow rather than be caught by it. These materials will also keep the skier dry from the sprinkler system. Gloves are an essential piece of dry slope skiing equipment, as are helmets because this sport can be just as dangerous at times as wet skiing.