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A ski resort in Texas?!?!
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If God had wanted man to ski in Texas, he wouldn't have made the place so damn hot. Texans, however, have a long history of doing what they want even if it means monkeying around with the natural order of things.
And so it will come to pass that Texas skiers sporting large belt buckles and cowboy hats will be hooting and hollering their way down the state's first manmade ski resort just two years from now.
That's when investors hope to finish building a 250-foot artificial mountain and 650,000 square feet of skiing area. While moving so much earth around to create the perfect slopes is hardly a challenge, circumventing Mother Nature's 90 degree temperatures is another story altogether.
Unlike other manmade ski resorts, however, the engineers at Bearfire Resort won't be making snow in the traditional way--Texas seasons are far too harsh for this to be possible. Instead, the creators of Bearfire plan to introduce an entirely different type of snow that is actually made from a patented, lubricated plastic known as Snowflex. I'll let the creators describe it in their own words...
Snowflex is a polymer composite consisting of a monofilament fibre and impregnated carrier layer. This sits on top of a unique shock layer, giving a responsive and reactive feel. Manufactured in tile form, Snowflex forms an homogeneous surface that can be made into complex features and shapes.
Hmm. I guess if you live in Texas, it's better than nothing.
Filed under: Skiing
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jet Mar 17th 2008 10:32PM
You can actually find out more about this story at www.skirebel.com - it seems these snowdomes are popping up everywhere.
Jet Mar 17th 2008 10:33PM
I agree. Check out skirebel.com
Elaine Campbell Mar 30th 2008 6:00PM
I work at an artificial slope in England. I have 3500 hours experience. Snowflex is like skiing on ice, Dendex is the best surface available.
I want a job ,please ,when you open!!!!
Nosybear Sep 13th 2008 1:09AM
Somehow this Colorado skier doesn't think the term "champagne powder" applies to this hill. Still, the more of them that stay there, the less of them I have to dodge here....
na Dec 24th 2008 1:47AM
Just a reminder to all,
The Ski Channel is officially launching on December 25. Be sure to check it out.
http://www.theskichannel.com
Colorado Native Jan 3rd 2009 12:35AM
If Texans only knew how much we hated them…Im damn sure if you could buy a hunting permit to shoot them they would run out in the first day…hell if it were only a fine to shoot a texan or run them off of I70, I would set aside cash every week to do so…we complete books of texan jokes texans have earned the right to be the butt of our jokes and hate for them….they cant ski for **** and always screw up the lift lines..the only times that I have been mowed over on a ski trail was from a texan…then theres the fact that you cant drive in snow and still drive like its nascar in your suburban..you never have your vehicle set up for snow conditions and are always trying to pass the all wheel drive vehicle with snow tires…there is a reson we are going a little slower..even though we have driven the road hundreds of times in storms…we know where the texans are going to spin out and cause a wreck…which gets the mtn pass closed..I have been hit 3 times by a texan driving like crap in a snow storm…and if your not driving too fast then your doing like 5mph because its snowing..its the rocky mtns! it snows! so come prepared!….we also dont throw carloads of trash out the car window..our state is beautiful thats why ytou spend money to come see it…I understand why littering doesent matter in tx…its an ugly schitt hole..except for a few areas in west tx..also we get tired of rescuing your dumb asses from rocky mtn national..because you didnt have the proper gear and thought you would be ok in a tshirt and blue jeans(because your a tough texan) so I think its funny as hell when I see you on the news saying that you almost froze to death! Im alos not sure why you are proud of texas..I have had to work many months down there..all I found was a flat,poluted,miserable place..with a high teen pregnancyand crime rate..not much to do,a horrible climate,and most of the people have very ignorant opinons about things they know nothing about,or places they cant even find on a map because they never leave texas to find out that there is so much more culture,land and completley different opinions/people in the world…Im sorry TEXAS BLOWS ASS! so do all of us natives in colorado a favor and yourself…dont visit here,dont buy a vacation home here and pretend you fit in and last dont ski here…go to New Mexico its closer,and they need the money much more..and remeber if you see a piss on texas sticker on the back of the jeep,subaru,or plow truck that just ran you off the road..it was just a colorado native(maybe even me or my family)just getting back at you….texans have very little to be proud of…except ignorant bliss
Texas Native Jan 5th 2009 7:19PM
I think this is fantastic. Texas isn't the first to do this, but what a great addition to an even greater state!
As for the comment above this one, the one with the horrible spelling and close-minded stereotypes who called all Texans ignorant (irony?), I am from Texas, but am also working on my PhD in Colorado. Though Colorado is a beautiful state and where I live now is laid back in comparison to many other cities, I think you need to do a little more extensive research before you put a state several times the size of yours into a tiny box. I lived in the Texas hill country and have never heard anyone call it anything less than beautiful. We have the #1 ranked waterpark in the United States and 2 rivers which are very popular for tubing and rafting in my home town. Our population more than doubles in the summer because of tourism. We have to deal with people who have no idea what they are doing also, but guess what-it brings in dollars and keeps my town booming. Maybe you should appreciate such business while you have it, and next time I pull a tourist out of the river because they passed out and their friends left them behind, I'll try not to be so quick to assume they don't know how to handle drinking in the heat and therefore MUST be from a place like Colorado.
You called us a "flat" state. Do realize there is a mountain range here too? I do find it pretty amazing you say Texas is ugly except for a few places in West, Texas. That's the ugliest part! If you knew anything about Texas, you would know most of the beauty lies elsewhere, but those West, Texas sunsets are unlike anything I've seen in Colorado thus far.
So far, my stay in Colorado has been nice. I enjoy the beauty and MOST of the people are friendly, but there is nothing like the southern hospitality you get in Texas. If you're driving slowly and someone behind you is going faster, we pull to the shoulder and let them pass. I have yet to see that up here. Or when a friend comes over, they don't leave without a good meal in their stomach. People aren't just nice, but they go out of their way to make your life a little bit better if they can. Granted, this is not every person, but a good number of people.
Maybe you should go to more than one place in Texas since it does take nearly 17 hours to get from one corner to the other. Perhaps you would change your mind. In the meantime, I'll enjoy your state and hope to give Texas a better name.
Thomas Feb 8th 2009 9:47PM
Well put.
My favorite part out of Colorado Native's post was where he said, "...most of the people have very ignorant opinons about things they know nothing about,or places they cant even find on a map...". I love when ignorant stereotypers describe themselves during their rants.
I live 8.2 mi from the location chosen for Bearfire and I couldn't be more excited about not having to wait till I can get off work for five days in a row once or twice a season just to go board. I save all my money for lift tickets and equip and skip lunch so as to have more time in a day to ride the mountain. I hope they offer "Season Pass" style ticket options or something affordable for the locals like myself who would like to be out there 3-5 times a week.
Kevin G Jan 14th 2010 3:34PM
Did this ever come to fruition? That looks like a pretty bold project from that sketch. I'm sure it would do good though in a place where skiing is just not possible otherwise. Hope it happens
Salomon Impact 10
becky Feb 19th 2010 11:21PM
Colorado Native,, please re-read your rant and everywhere you've typed the word "Texas" or "Texan," insert the word "Colorado" or "Coloradan" .......
Such hate and ignorance! Wow! This explains why I see so many trailer parks lining the roads to the ski resorts.
Marilyn Terrell Nov 18th 2007 10:56PM
Heck, if Dubai can have an indoor ski resort, why not have skiing in Texas? At least it doesn't waste mega-kilowatts making snow.
Blu-Sam Nov 19th 2007 12:07PM
Used to live in West TX, it's just few hours to Ruidoso, NM for ski.