Industry News
During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chongli district of China hosted numerous skiing events. Now, in the same area, China is unveiling the world’s first-ever indoor superpipe. The latest winter sports innovation is set to revolutionize the training for freestyle athletes year-round.
Recently, members of the Burton snowboarding team embarked on a trip to experience the 22-foot halfpipe. Attendees included Danny Davis, Mark McMorris, and Suyi Ming along with other members. See the video below for some footage of their session.
The indoor halfpipe has been equipped with a TechnoAlpin SnowFactory, which produces an impressive 1,000 cubic meters of snow every day. Additional state-of-the-art features include TechnoAlpin TF10 propeller machines and a mobile pump station that ensure conditions are ideal for skiers and snowboarders to hone their skills.
This exciting chapter in the global evolution of winter sports surprisingly isn’t the first indoor halfpipe. In the 1990s the Japanese indoor snow company SNOVA, opened more than a dozen indoor snow centers that each contained an indoor halfpipe. This was during a time when many snowboarders were banned from ski areas, including numerous areas in North America. Many of these centers operated for decades before many closed down due to aging equipment.
The facility has been open for some time now, but the Burton team visit may have been the first time foreigners were allowed to attend. For freestyle athletes looking to push the boundaries of their skills, we hope they won’t be the last.
