Sheffield Ski Village facts for kids
The Sheffield Ski Village was a huge artificial ski slope in Sheffield, England. It opened in 1988 and was a popular place for skiing and snowboarding. Many people thought it was the biggest artificial ski resort in Europe! It had a sports shop, a place to eat, and lots of different slopes. These included a special slope for beginners and a cool freestyle park. The freestyle park had a half pipe, jumps, and rails for tricks. Sadly, the Ski Village was destroyed by a fire in 2012.
What Was There?
The first slope at the Ski Village opened in October 1988. It quickly became very popular. By the end of 1990, there were eight slopes to enjoy.
Between 1991 and 1994, the Ski Village got a big makeover. They added a ski lodge, a bar, and shops. The slopes were also changed to include a half pipe and moguls. Moguls are bumps on the slope that make skiing more challenging.
Later, even more fun things were added. These included a water ramp for practicing aerial jumps and a toboggan run. A toboggan is like a sled you ride down a hill.
Besides skiing, there was a ten-pin bowling alley. You could also go quad biking or play laser tag. There was even a downhill biking track designed by famous rider Steve Peat. The bowling alley opened in 2009 and had modern Brunswick lanes.
Fun Activities and Training
The Sheffield Sharks Ski Club met at the Ski Village. They met on Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings. The club started in 1990 to help kids learn to ski. They helped children ski for fun and also for competitions.
In 2004, the club won an award as the UK Sports Club of the Year. Parents ran the club as volunteers. They had a team of dedicated instructors. Older club members could even become instructors themselves. They often taught the younger children on Saturdays.
Even though the Ski Village is gone, the Sharks Ski Club is still active. They now meet at Xscape in Castleford.
The Sheffield Ski Village was also a main training spot for many professional freestyle skiers. Famous athletes like James Woods and Katie Summerhayes trained there. Other British athletes, such as Ellie Koyander and Paddy Graham, also used the Ski Village. Many of these athletes were part of the Sheffield Sharks Ski Club when they were younger.
The Fires
On April 29, 2012, the main building of the Ski Village caught fire. The fire happened early in the morning, and luckily, no one was hurt. This first fire was thought to be an accident. However, other fires that happened later were believed to be started on purpose.
Just two days later, on May 1, 2012, a small hut at the top of the main slope burned down. This hut held the controls for the ski lifts.
On May 21, 2012, part of the beginner's slope was destroyed in a third fire. This one was also started on purpose.
More fires happened over the years. By August 2016, the site had been attacked by fire about 50 times. These fires caused a lot of damage.
Since the first big fire, the Ski Village has been closed to the public. It has been left empty and damaged. There has been a lot of illegal dumping, stealing, and vandalism there.
Hopes for Rebuilding
A local group called "Snowsport for Sheffield" wants to rebuild the Ski Village. This group was started by people who used to work there. Their goal is to reopen the site as a top place for snow sports in the UK. This group has gained a lot of support from local people.
In December 2016, Sheffield City Council asked companies to suggest new ideas for the site. The council hoped for a new snow sports center or a mountain bike center. Developers had until April 2017 to send in their ideas. Because so many companies were interested, the deadline was extended.
In November 2017, a company called Extreme announced their plans. They wanted to rebuild the site as a £22.5 million extreme sports center. In January 2019, Sheffield City Council agreed to help with a loan of £4.8 million for the project.
