The winter skiing season will soon be upon us. Of course, many of us will be new to the wonders of skiing but, as the saying goes, it is never too late to learn. For those who just want to brush up on their skills or others who just want to learn the basics of the sport, the question is: where in Belgium can you actually do this?
The answer, sadly, is that there are very few, indoor or outdoor, places for skiing. Happily, there is one such place in the west of Belgium which is ideal for practicing for your upcoming ski holiday: Ice Mountain Adventure Park, an indoor skiing centre (and much else besides).
There is still, despite the huge popularity of the sport, a relative lack of such facilities in this country and Ice Mountain is thought to be one of less than a handful of such sites in the whole of Belgium. Ice Mountain is in situated in Flanders and close to the Belgian/French border but it is still only a comfortable an hour or so drive from Brussels. The indoor facilities here are first class for people in search of some serious pre-skiing holiday prep but its main slope is also available to those who may not be going skiing this winter and just want to give it a go, maybe for the first time.
The centre can boast two slopes with “real” snow, much like you find in the mountains. Thanks to a process in which water is atomized and cooled very quickly, the quality of the fluffy stuff is fantastic and there is always a layer of 40 to 60 centimeters thick (arguably better than you now find in some ski resorts).
The slopes are 210m and 85m in length, the highest being on a gradient of 40m from top to bottom. There is a ski lift on both sides of the main slope. The smaller, second slope, which is adjacent, is intended for beginners and children. It has both a roller mat (for lessons only) and a ski lift.
If you want to train again before going to the mountains this year or have never been on the slopes before you can book a lesson, either a group or private lesson, with a certified instructor. People without skiing or snowboarding experience are not actually allowed on the slopes and, for their safety and others’, must take at least two hours of lessons with one of the centre’s instructors, in order to be able to use and stop the ski lift. Booking is necessary.
Unlike some other ski centres, the snow here is real and it all takes place in a huge hall where the snow is maintained at a constant temperature of -6 degrees. This is achieved via a series of motors located under the snow itself. Equipment can be hired, including ski gloves, or obtained from the on-site shop. Note that ski gloves and warm clothes are mandatory.
There’s also a couple of very pleasant restaurants, including one decked out with a typical Alpine-style décor that would not look out of place in the Alps. Some people even visit just to watch the skiers and have a spot to eat or drink. In fact, there’s a lot more to this place than just traditional skiing because it also offers indoor ski-diving, snowboarding and other activities such as paint-balling. There is also an impressive outdoor kids playground and skydiving, also very popular.
The centre, at Komen (Comines), has now entered its peak season which lasts until next March/April. “We are gearing up for our busiest time of the year and this is a great place to prepare for that winter skiing holiday,” a spokesman said.
The parking is free and the centre is relatively easy to access from Brussels. About half its tens of thousands of visitors come from across the border in France or the south of Belgium.
