Go to the snow in Surfers

Artificial ski slope on course to open next month

GET ready to hit the ski slopes of Surfers Paradise within a month.

Operators of the Gold Coast's first outdoor ski park expect to open in Mid-November as they await the arrival of the artificial material which will form the slopes.

But activity is already afoot at the Ferny Ave site, where the first activities of the mini- theme park opened this week.

Snow Parks Australia general manager Matt McCulloch said arrow tag would be “just the beginning”.

“We have been really flat out the past few weeks getting things going and we have already seen the arrow tag operating and cafe open,” he said.

“Gradual preparations are continuing for the snow park and scaffolding will start to go up next week and we hope to have it all built by the end of this month.

“We are still waiting on the materials to arrive from overseas but we expect to open in Mid-November.”

The “snow” will be created with a synthetic material, “Nevaplast”, which replicates the feel and movement of snow and will be used to give users that slippery feeling.

According to documents filed with the council, the 3000 sqm site will be transformed to include three ramps for a “tubby slide”, “tubby jump” and “freestyle” tests as well as a go-kart track.

The go-kart track will also use the Nevaplast material, giving drivers the feel of trying to pilot the small battery operated craft on ice.

The tubby slide and freestyle ramps will stand at 6m high while the tubby jump, which will include a large inflatable airbags for users to land on at its base, will be 12m tall.

All will be erected with scaffolding and mesh and will front Ocean Ave.

• Put forward by Snow Parks (Gold Coast) Pty Ltd.

• Hopes to open full attractions in time for Christmas holidays.

• Community consultation runs from Monday to November 6.

• The developer hopes to open a larger $4 million artificial ski park in the Hinterland.