Where to ski and snowboard in Hong Kong
If you can't get to the mountains, let Hong Kong bring the mountains to you
At Play, Hong Kong's newest "winter attraction," you can learn to snowboard without freezing.We Hong Kongers always get what we want.
And if it's snowboarding while it's 27 degrees Celsius and pouring rain outside that we want, we get it at one of these awesome indoor slopes.
Play
Hong Kong has two indoor ski and snowboard outfits. The latest and snazziest is Play, which opened this week in Kwun Tong.
The large warehouse space is set up for parties and special occasions. Despite two hulking ski slope simulators, the space can comfortably accommodate 100 guests.
A cafe run by Zambra and a stage with a large sound system make Play party-ready.
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Beginners can learn to ski or snowboard on a stationary slope, then try out the ski slope simulators before hitting real slopes in Hokkaido or Melbourne or wherever.
Proficient skiiers and boarders can use the indoor slopes to warm up their office-weary muscles in preparation for the real thing.
Boots and boards are provided by Play, though experienced skiiers can bring their own boots.
Boarders should leave their own boards at home, however, as the dry slopes require boards to be de-waxed.
Play also has indoor batting cages for baseball and softball on its second floor.
Play, KRAS Asia Industrial Building, 79 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, +852 2342 9830, info@321play.com.hk. See www.321play.com.hk.
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Slope Infinity
For dry slopes on Hong Kong Island, check out Slope Infinity in North Point, the first to bring ski slope simulators to Hong Kong in 2002.
Slope Infinity's silicone-coated, revolving slopes are perfect training decks. The Dutch National Ski Team trains on the same type of decks.
Think of it as learning to ski on fast forward -- coaches at Slope Infinity claim that an hour on their dry slopes is equal to several hours of learning on real mountains.
That's because mistakes are amplified when ski and snowboard students learn on a training deck, thus forcing them to perfect their technique much faster. On actual slopes, soft snow often allows for more mistakes.
Slope Infinity, 1/F, 148 Electric Road, North Point, +852 2107 4567, info@slope8.com. Closed on Mondays. See www.slope8.com for rates.
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Bigger is better in China, especially for indoor ski slopes.
Window of the World
To find more challenging slopes, try crossing the border.
Shenzhen's Window of the World theme park has a 4,000-square-meter indoor piste that attracts skiiers, boarders and skaters of all skill levels.
The Window of the World Alpine Ice and Snow World includes a ski area and China's largest indoor skating rink.
The rink hosts major skating competitions and ice shows featuring figure skating stars such as Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo.
Window of the World Alpine Ice and Snow World, Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 深圳市南山区华侨城世界之窗欧风街 +86 0755 2660 8000, eng.szwwco.com.
