Construction on Snowflex year-round ski slope continues

Anticipation continues to build as crews are diligently grading atop Liberty University’s mountain property in preparation for the new year-round ski slope. Slated to open in March, the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center will be the first artificial incline in the U.S. composed of Snowflex, a multi-layer synthetic material designed to simulate real snow.

With more materials scheduled to arrive next week, designers are working on the plans for the construction of the slope’s ski lodge, which will be located near the base of the mountain. The lift that will take skiers to the top of the slope is also set to arrive in mid-January.

Snowflex inventor Brian Thomas stopped by Lynchburg this week to examine the slope’s progress. The engineer says he is quite pleased with the strides made in the construction of the incline.

“It’s shaping up,” he said. “It looks as though I will be back on Jan. 1 to supervise the finishing of the earthworks. We’ll get a better idea next week, of course, but all looks good. I’m impressed.”

Recently, the university inked deals with two vendors who will furnish the slope with its rentable winter sports equipment. HEAD, the maker of alpine skis and snowboards is the university’s official ski and board provider, offering a variety of designs and styles suitable for all skill levels.

When snowboarders and skiers are not performing tricks on the slope’s table top and quarter pipe, snow tubers will glide down the mountain in the comfort of inner tubes manufactured by Tube Pro.

The ski slope is just one facet of the university’s Ultimate LU initiative, implemented to enhance the university’s club sports and student activities division. Other recently completed projects include a 10-acre archery range, dual-field paintball complex and an X Games style motocross track.