Where is this person skiing?
Tuesday January 12, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

The man in question is the director of the ski school at the centre, Peter Silver Gillespie.

The 39-year-old ski coach took to the 160m-long roof on the Snow Centre to take advantage of the deluge of real snow that has hit the UK this week.

So, we contacted him here at PlanetSKI to ask what it was like.

"I decided with all the bad news about snow in the UK I would try to make light of the situation. I'm sure skiing on the local hill had already been done, so it had to be unique. After deliberation and a risk assessment, it was harnesses on to climb the access ladders, 3 vertical ladders that lead to the roof," he told us.

"Once up there I was greeted with sunshine and a virgin powder field a foot deep. I hiked to the top, clipped on the skis and away I went. Fantastic, so I did another 4 runs. It's not the most dangerous place I have been on skis, but it certainly was the strangest."

The Snow Centre reports an increase in business as the snow outside apparently prompts people to ski inside.

It opened last Spring and PlanetSKI was at the official opening and among some of the first people to ski there.

And Peter is not the only person out improvising........ PlanetSKI reader, Louisa Scott, from Surrey has been doing some tricks of her own.....

 Hi guys,

Just wanted to send in a pic to add to your collection of snowsports in the UK!

I have built a kicker in my garden in Haslemere, Surrey. Sadly, I have had to work all day but my friend Jem Garthwaite managed to grab this shot of me before it got totally dark! We also made a mini rail out of an old netball post!

On the up in Surrey!

It's a little known fact that there is a "ski resort" in Weardale, County Durham.  It has 2 rope tows and even a ski lodge. 

The Ski Club of Great Britain has sent us these photos of the boys from ldmountain centre, a shop in Newscastle, who were out enjoying the snow. The pictures were taken by James Cummings. The rider is Andy Wood. 

They could almost be in The Alps!

The photo below comes from one of Britain's better know ski resorts - Cairngorm. 

It was taken by, Mike Sheherd, who runs the ski school there.

"The wind was up a bit on Sunday but the snow is fantastic and it looks like we'll still get more. It has been really busy and so  I am now hoping that it will quieten down soon so I can get a day or two to catch up on paperwork, have a ski myself and celebrate the New Year!"

Looking good in Cairngorm

Meanwhile the skier and snowboarder below were out in another little-known ski resort, Richmond Park in South West London. 

It only has a few hills so these guys prefered to use kites to get a bit of speed.

"The wind is a bit gusty so just when you get going it slows down, but when you do manage to catch a good gust then it is fantastic," one of them says.

It is also seems much easier on a snowboard because you can bank over more and get more resistance.

Another PlanetSKI reader, Alex Griffiths, has sent in the photo below from outside his Hall of Residence at St Andrews University in Scotland.

"My friends and I have been snowboarding down this - only about 7 inches on the ground but it's enough and I will try to send you some pictures of us doing it later.

Skiing at Weardale ski club in the Northern Pennines in January 2010  

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