Campaigners Fight For Dry Ski Slope To Be Rebuilt at Sheffield
Campaigners Fight For Dry Ski Slope To Be Rebuilt at Sheffield
Published : 23-Mar-2025 07:10
A group of campaigners are hoping that Sheffield City Council and site developers can be persuaded to rebuild a dry ski slope on the site of the former Sheffield Ski Village.
The Ski Village, which was located in the city's Parkwood Springs, was one of the later British dry ski slope developments, opening in 1988, but rapidly grew to be one of Europe's largest. It was a hotbed for the development of freestyle skiing talent with six young skiers and boarders who learned their skills there going on to represent Great Britain at the Winter Olympics and in some cases win world class competitions. It was destroyed by repeated arson attacks from 2012 onwards.
There have been multiple steps and false dawns over the past 13 years in the hope of re-establishing the Ski Village, however more recent plans have included outdoor attractions like zip wires and mountain bike tracks, but not a fresh dry ski slope.
The group of snowboarders who want to see a new dry ski slope and calling themselves 'Revive' and group founder Pete Shipston told the BBC, "We want to show anyone who can make things happen that there are a group here who care and want snow sports back in Sheffield."
The group have made a film 'Revive Sheffield Ski Village' to highlight the history of dry slope skilling and its heritage and value to the city.
The Sheffield Sharks Ski Club which was where many of Britain's great snowboarders and skiers started their careers has continued to operate since the Ski Village closed, but they have to travel to other dry slopes and indoor snow centres in the wider region.
Oner of the sticking points to the site's redevelopment in recent years was poor access, but Sheffield council have now been granted nearly £20m in Levelling Up funding from central government to improve that.
The latest plans for the site come from New Zealand-based Skyline Lounge which has plans to potentially add a zipline, luge ride and gondola to the site, but not a ski slope.
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