If you're a skier or snowboarder who would like to keep going through the summer months, a new artificial ski slope that has opened in Serbia may fit the bill. At 800m in length with a vertical drop of 116m, the dry slope is the largest of its kind in Europe and has opened at the country’s biggest ski resort, Kopaonik.
The green and orange slope is made by Italian company Neveplast, and is constructed from synthetic bristles that create a similar surface to hardpack groomed snow. It is equipped with four-seat chairlifts and is suitable for beginners as well as expert skiers who want to have fun even when there is no snow. Neveplast slopes are considered to be gyms for skiers where novices can learn to ski and snowboard, enthusiasts can practise their preferred discipline, and competitive athletes can train exactly like they do on snow.
[embed]https://vimeo.com/314806928[/embed]
Kopaonik is the biggest ski resort in Serbia and is located in the Kopaonik mountain range near to the border with Kosovo. It has 55km of slopes, and its ski season on snow runs from late November to the end of April. The ski slopes lie between 1650m and 2017m above sea-level, and guests also have the use of a 12km slope for Nordic skiing. It has a sub-alpine climate and there are almost 200 sunny days during the year. Cold and heavy air is channelled away to the surrounding valleys and basins, meaning that winter temperatures are not too low.
Kopaonik's new artificial slope will now enable the resort to open all year, and further information is available from the infoKop website here.
