After lengthy planning, the go-ahead has now been given for the construction of the largest dry ski centre in Europe, covering 19,000 square metres.

The new facility, built from scratch by the city of Lviv in Ukraine, will be the 4th biggest in the world by area, and the largest year-round facility. Three-larger slopes by area in Japan and South Korea are only used in summertime.

The Oberaudorf-based company Skitrax World (a subsidiary of Open Doors Creative Communications GmbH) has several production facilities in Germany and an office and warehouse in Kiefersfelden, near the Austrian border. It was involved in the planning and supplies all materials for the construction of the entire mat system.

The complex is served by an approximately 500m long 4-seater chairlift from Doppelmayr which carries skiers up to approx. 400m altitude. From here, three pistes will be accessible. Two of these slopes are also designed for summer operation with Slopetrax sliding mats. A large snow-making system with lances ensures early snow-making in winter. The entire facility is to be powered by eco-electricity.

To ensure optimal skiing in summer as well, the investors attached great importance to sealing the sandy ground so that no dirt gets onto the mats. In addition, rain or melt water must be able to drain off. The entire surface was covered with Dry Slope Drainage Fleece (DSDF), specially produced by Skitrax World for this purpose. Afterwards, the Slopetrax sliding mats will be placed on the DSDF and securely fastened to the ground with special twisted earth nails.

Next to the ski area, an approx. 250m long and approx. 34m wide system for seven tubing track lanes side by side will be installed. With approx. 3,900 m2 of Tubtrax sliding mats, this will be the largest summer and winter tubing track in the world. The ascent is comfortable on two long conveyor lifts. The special tubing track for children starts at the end of the first conveyor belt. Over 300 Epic tubing tyres have been supplied to ensure smooth operation throughout the entire tubing facility.

The snow-making system is designed to produce snow in winter and to be used for misting of the plastic mats in summer. This creates an optimal glide in summer, producing little abrasion and ensuring skiing and boarding as if on snow. A large artificial lake provides sufficient water for winter and summer use.

This large tubing track has a special feature. Here, too, the Tubtrax-M2 side modules are installed underneath the sliding mats – but now laid flexibly. The Tubtrax-M2 modules can be easily removed and the Tubtrax sliding mats automatically fill the surface again.

Thus, depending on the planning, a large snow tubing facility or a large children’s ski area or a slopestyle park can be created here. In spring, when the snow has melted, the flexible Tubtrax-M2 modules can be reinstalled under the sliding mats.

This dry ski area is part of a large football academy. It includes five professional football pitches, a hotel, a leisure park, restaurants and so on. All pitches were partially roofed and equipped with solar cells.

The opening in winter operation is planned for November 2021. Summer operation will then take place in spring 2022.