Saturday

Desert Skiing


Wanna go snow skiing but are faced with the tiny hang-up that you live in an arid desert? Well, in "Make it Happen" Dubai, they do not see this as a problem and have built the largest indoor ski facility in the world. As seeking out these kind of over the top attractions are part of the Dubai experience, Janey and I spent an afternoon hitting the indoor slopes of Ski Dubai located inside the shopping mall, Mall of the Emirates. There is basically one run with different routes down with varying degrees of inclination. The most difficult route being somewhere equaled to maybe an average blue run on Colorado's ski slopes. Just too make things a bit more surreal, they have built a log cabin lodge/cafe in the middle so you can rest with hot chocolate in between runs. After a while you actually forget that you are indoors and start adjusting to the concept that you are in an below zero degree environment. Taking your skis off and walking outside to blast the A/C in your car is also a new concept in after-skiing routines.

What will they think of next?

Brian


PS. Pics uploaded in the album.

6 comments:

Petro said...

What does it cost to ski in the desert? Was there much of a crowd? Please be more informative in your post.

Brian Quarnstrom said...

Kopp,
It cost about 190 Dirhams ($53 dollars) for a 2 hour pass, which is more than enough time to ski or board. If you are boarding there is a few small and even one big jump to attempt. Not much of a crowd when we went and there is no lines for the lift.

Anonymous said...

Readers have consulted and we think Jane should definitely be allowed a "guest post" so that we can get the perspective of someone who actually lives in the real world and also so that she can provide her thoughts about your heathen travels.

Petro said...

I vote for a post by Janey. The readers want the truth... we demand the truth! Gnawing on a hot dog right now thainking about you.
Kopper

Jeff said...

Well hello, Brian.

I am just sitting around in the exciting Children's Mercy OR. Haven't done anything today and thought I'd check the blog. Thank you So Fun for asking the exact questions I was thinking as I read the latest post.

I was also wondering if they built this place up along a big hill or did they have to build from the ground up? How high is it? I am well aware that I can look this all up on the internet, but you are so good at explaining things so I can understand them.

Brian Quarnstrom said...

Jeffrey,
The "hill" is actually not on the ground-it is suspended in the air in a big metal tube structure.
In the future Google is a very good source of technical information. I for one know you have a bit of time at CMS for web-surfing.
BQ