Snowflex for Dundalk? Is this real?

prunudo

Saw this today on the scuk site. Has anyone on here heard anything about this proposal?

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-8206.html

I also wonder is this from the same company behind the snow dome planned for Dublin. Are they trying a different location (half way between Belfast and Dublin = much greater catchment area) and hoping the snow flex will keep the enviromental objections down?

Any thoughts?

paulharte

Interesting stuff.

I think this is more of a briton press release more than anything, if you read between the lines a bit.

I wonder if they have planning permission, I didnt find anything on an bord pleanalas website.

I think it is still a little while away. Its a pretty ambitious developement. Biggest snowflex slope in europe!! It would be cool alright

prunudo

Personnally i'd prefer to see the actual snow dome in Dublin being developed. Also all this talk of 5* hotel's, casino's, white water rapids etc reminds me of the white elephant proposal for newtown.

robinph

Would be fantastic if it does happen, I won't hold my breath though.

What is the Snoflex surface like, anyone been on that before?

paulharte

jvan wrote: »

Personnally i'd prefer to see the actual snow dome in Dublin being developed. Also all this talk of 5* hotel's, casino's, white water rapids etc reminds me of the white elephant proposal for newtown.

yeah, i thought the same thing when i saw that.

I think the dome is a bit more likely, esp since you can't give away hotels at the moment. The one at kilternan has been for sale for ages now

Mr Magnolia

It's all over the local rags, would be great if it did happen. I'll wait until I see them turning sods before I believe it though.

Snowie

robinph wrote: »

What is the Snoflex surface like, anyone been on that before?

its not bad, from what I've heard... There's one in cornwall and people tend to think its quite good havent been my self but they've said it feels a lot better then dendex , Its like a one massive tooth brush

granty1987

have tried the snowflex kickers in hillend up in edinburgh. its definatly better than dendex re that purpose. havnt a clue what it would be like for carving as there wasnt really enough to get a proper feel for it. but it is definitly more snow-like as you wont kill yourself carving up the face of the kicker like dendex, along with a softer landing and no holes to catch anything = easier to progress, less of the 'fear' and all of that

still.. would prefer a dome but beggars cant be choosers

Fattes

jvan wrote: »

Personnally i'd prefer to see the actual snow dome in Dublin being developed. Also all this talk of 5* hotel's, casino's, white water rapids etc reminds me of the white elephant proposal for newtown.

You need a population of about 5 Million to make a snowdome work and for it to be profitable. Sadly I dont think we will ever see one in Dublin and the one in Tyrellstown is the 3rd one to be suggested for Ireland, Newcastle and Lusk have been proposed and gone.

As for the Snowflex the Ski Club in Ireland will have it in for next season apparently

JoeyH

This weeks local paper says that a planning application and detailed accompanying environmental and economic impact studies will be submitted within the next month.

If it goes ahead they will begin construction early next year and the first attractions including slopes will be open in the first half of 2011 and fully complete in 2016.

Don't get your hopes up though because we were supposed to get a theme park and a music arena too but they never happened.

They only promising thing is that one of the directors was centrally involved in the construction of the dundalk ice dome so it may go ahead once planning permission is given.

I doubt it will be turned down as their trying to boost the local economy here and would be a big loss.

JoeyH

Heres a link to the article

http://www.argus.ie/news/1500-jobs-boost-when-ski-project-lifts-off-1954576.html

henryporter

You need a population of about 5 Million to make a snowdome work and for it to be profitable.

Republic of Ireland Population approx 4 million
Northern Ireland Population approx 1 million

Total Population of the Island of Ireland approx 5 million....

JoeyH

Hey Guys I've just been reading that the planning permission has just been applied. 18000 pages of economic and environmental information!!! Going to be a while before its approved/disapproved.

I doubt Louth council or the Irish government are going to turn down 3,500 jobs so fingers crossed!

Mitch Buchannon

JoeyH wrote: »

I doubt Louth council or the Irish government are going to turn down 3,500 jobs so fingers crossed!

Its Ireland.... It wouldn't surprise me if they did !

bcirl03

JoeyH wrote: »

I doubt Louth council or the Irish government are going to turn down 3,500 jobs so fingers crossed!

The Greens will......

neilthefunkeone

JoeyH wrote: »

I doubt Louth council or the Irish government are going to turn down 3,500 jobs so fingers crossed!

Fingal CC dumped the snowdome twice..

If the snowdome was built id be in it al least 2-3 times a month.. No way id drive to Dundalk for snowflex... I dont think ill even go to Kilternan if they brought in snowflex.. all or nothing!!!!

k123456

On the subject of Kilternan, we often read about the most expensive lift pass in Europe. I think Kilternan takes the award ;

25euro 3 hours

Most ski resorts in Europe charge an average of say 30e p day , 8 hours sking, lets say 100km of pistes, Gondalas, chairs , piste and snow machines etc, so lots of infrastructure

8 hours in Kilternan would cost just over 66e, for approx 300m of Dendex piste served by two button lifts.

I could understand if it were enclosed (snow dome type) where the costs to keep the temp sub zero would be high

Fattes

k123456: You could look at it the other way for €360 you get a season ticket that entitles you to ski

5 nights a week from 7:30 to 11 and from

9 am -7 Sat and Sunday from September till April

and includes ski Rental

Fattes

k123456 Or for €350 you can ski

Mon - Fri for 4 hours

and Sat and Sunday for 8 hours from Sep to April including Ski Rental is that value?

JoeSexton

Any truth to the rumour that they are getting snowflex in Kilternan?

Fattes

JoeSexton: Only on the kinder slopes and some new travelator lifts, Snowflex is great for freestyle and learining but sucks for high end skiing such as carving and short radius turns

Hopefully it will be installed at some point over the summer

JoeSexton

Any idea if any of the freestyle stuff in Kilternan will be put out on the snowflex?
I'd like to give it a try but have been warned to avoid jibbing on dendix by a couple of English buddies.

Fattes

JoeSexton Yeah real men ski on Dendix ha ha We have only had one injury this year fractured wrist real skiers love plastic

If a suitable snowflex slope opens I would have no problem makins sure the boys run the Grom camps up there and If I was around I would work on getting a regular freestyle secne going if they will have me.

JoeSexton

Nice one man!
I'd definitely be interested in a regular freestyle session if it was somewhere around Dublin. Never been on dendix myself so maybe I should give it a go sometime ...

Fattes

JoeSexton: We have a core group of about 6-8 people who are up every Friday with a range of ages and anything up to 20 people some nights.

Normal Service will resume in September for the 10/11 season.

JoeSexton

Cool man, I'd definitely be interested. I'll check back in here later in the year.

paulharte

Hey joe sexton, I love your part in 'this video sucks!"!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMErtp8B8HY

JoeSexton

Thank you!
I've cut my hair since then.