Artificial ski surface Skitrax has scored a string of sales successes in the US as the material has proved increasingly popular with skiers and boarders at conventional ski areas, in un-conventional no-snow areas and for the creation of all weather terrain park features.

In North America the New Zealand manufactured Skitrax tiles are promoted by Reliable Racing Supply INC of New York.

The company is currently working with world class snowboard competitor Ryan Neptune of the Planet Snow Tools Corporation, one of the premier snow and skate board park designers and builders worldwide, at the sole US summer snowsports destination of Mt Hood by Timberline Lodge in Oregon, on terrain park features there.

“It appears the pro riders are extremely pleased with the Skitrax performance. Furthermore, Mr. Neptune reports that it is much easier to work with, and less expensive, than “carpet-based” sliding surfaces he has used in the past. He also feels Skitrax are the best surface for his features as these tiles are easy to install.” said John Jacobs, President of Reliable Racing Supply.

More Planet Snow Tools Corp built terrain park features using Skitrax will be located in several major ski areas in the US this winter.

The durability of the Skitrax tiles has also been proven by the “dry ski slope” at Camp Hale, a boy scout facility in Talihina Oklahoma. This slope is approximately 40m (125ft) long by 8m (25 feet) wide. The Boy Scouts learn to ski and work on their snow skiing merit badge. The slope was first installed there about a decade ago.

“What a wonderful concept to have scouts learn to ski in them middle of Oklahoma in the summer when it is about 95 degrees” comments the Camp director.

Skiing is one of Camp Hale’s most popular activities and used more than any other facility when scouts have free time in the evening. This scout camp is attended by boys from all states in the south, many of whom have never seen real snow before or even imagined being able to ski.

In addition to these installations, Skitrax tiles are also used by conventional ski areas in areas like lift loading and unloading platforms. Their biggest projects to date are the Olympic Freestyle Summer Training facilities in Lake Placid New York and in Park City, Utah as well as the freestyle facility in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

www.reliableracing.com / www.planetsnowtools.com
 

Posted on Friday September 7th 2007 at 12:00 pm
http://skirebel.com/magazine/archives/1060

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