Buck Hill, MN, the future of skiing....

Neveplast artifical turf ski mat/carpet.

Hey it's better then nothing right? I think they have a bigger version of that in the UK some place. And now that I think of it, when is the indoor slope at Xanadu ever gonna open?

I've gotta try skiing on plastic mats at some point.  Not sure how much like the real things it is.  Still think I'd prefer snow.

I think Nevaplast is used more in Europe than the UK, but I could be wrong.  There are a few different types of plastic used for artificial slopes.

Liberty in Lynchburg, VA has had a year round slope operation for several years.  Plastic with flowing water.  If you fall, you get wet from what I hear.  They teach college PE classes for skiing and boarding during the school year.

As for Xanadu, it transformed into American Dream.  Going to be built by the company that owns and runs the Mall of America and the even bigger mall in western Canada.  Latest news is that the sale of $1.1 billion . . . yes BILLION . . . is bonds was completed.  That means the almost $3 billion of financing to move construction forward is complete.

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/35729577/american-dream-completes-277b-construction-financing

The skiing/boarding at American Dream will be on manmade snow, not plastic.

When I worked out west, many of the Brits had skied on "dry slopes."  I think it was mostly for learning, as in preparation for a trip to western N.A. or Europe.  The main comment from them is that skiing on snow is much faster.

Hunter tried plastic snow back in the early sixties.

Falling is a recipe for injury from friction. That is one reason you see water on the mats. There are lots of ways to mess up your thumbs if you fall.

Grass skis
https://youtu.be/I1S3eIaTz-I

There was stuff like Neveplast for cross country too.  At least in Russia.