First ever ski slope comes to centre of Cornwall

Dreading the Xmas shopping experience?  Well if you’re in Cornwall, it’ll be much more exciting this winter as the county’s first ever dry ski slope comes right to the very centre of Truro for two months.  The team behind Winterpark, Cornwall’s snowsport specialists, are bringing an innovative 30-metre Snowflexed ski and snowboard slope to Lemon Quay as the stunning centrepiece of the 2006/2007 Truro Winter Festival, meaning you can shop then go bust some airs to relieve the boredom of long queues! 

Sponsored by Skitopia, Penrose Outdoors and Red Bull, ‘Minipark’ will open to the public on Saturday 25hNovember with the official launch of the Truro Winter Festival and the grand switching on of the Christmas lights.  Rock Star, Lil’ Chris has been confirmed as the personality who will officially open the slope and it is expected that he will be one of the first to try it out.  After that the slope will be open to all members of the public and freestyle ski and snowboard sessions will be available as well as lessons and snotubing and tobogganing.  A full programme of activities with learn to ride sessions for new learners and improvers, film shows, big air demonstrations and skiing and snowboarding competitions will be announced in the coming weeks.    A number of highly trained, specialised ski and snowboard instructors will be on hand at all times and the slope will be patrolled to ensure the ultimate health and safety for all users. 


Cornwall snowsport facility founder Chris O’Connell says ‘I’ve been dreaming for over twenty years that Cornwall would eventually have its own ski slope and it’s certainly long overdue! Winterpark Cornwall will give regular and new skiers and snowboarders alike the chance to get out there and feel the exhilaration of the mountains either before or after they do their Christmas shopping so that’s should certainly make it a much more interesting experience! This smaller slope is an initial taster for the parent Winterpark project which will be up and running by 2007/8.  We will be announcing the innovative plans for that within the next couple of months but it is safe to say that it will be the biggest artificial snowsport facility in the world.’

Opening hours will be from 10am – 9pm daily and the accompanying Alpine Bar, created by the MI Bar, will be providing hot chocolates, speciality coffees, mulled wine, specialist schnapps, ales and first class food for everyone using the slope.  

Tobogganing and Snotubing costs £3 for 15 minutes.  Freestyling practice sessions cost £5 for children, £9 for juniors and £12 for adults for 45 minutes slope time.  Ski and snowboarding lessons cost from £8 for children, £12 for juniors and £15 for adults for 45 minutes slope time and blocks of 2 or three lessons can also be purchased.  All equipment is included in all quoted prices.  Because of the expected demand, it is essential to book early and tickets can be purchased from the 6th November at boxoffice@hallforcornwall.org.uk or by calling 01872 262466 or 0845 0175000.

Truro City Centre will be closed to traffic on Saturdays and Wednesday night late shopping, from Saturday, November 25. A park and ride will be run from 9am to 5.30pm on Saturdays and 5pm to 9.30pm on Wednesdays, from the cattle market on Newquay Road and County Hall on Treyew Road. Truro City Council will also run disabled parking from Hendra car park, 10am until 4.30pm, on Saturdays during the run up to Christmas.   


Box Office open from 9am-9pm, General information line 0845 0175000, info@winterparkcornwall.com, www.winterparkcornwall.com