Snowboarding in the Desert

The Internet can link us, directly or indirectly, with anyone, anywhere, anytime. The link between me and snowboarding in a sheikdom of eastern United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf was indirect. Someone emailed a friend of mine with pictures of an enclosed artificial snowfield in the desert of Dubai.

Two pictures showing the construction.




Plus three pictures showing the winter wonderland inside once it was finished.







(These photos can also be found at an urbane legend reference page -
http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/indoorski.asp)

The email had minimal text, just a few lines talking about an engineering marvel in Dubai, and the fact that it gets up to 120 F (49 C) there (outside). A quick web search disputed this saying Dubai’s average maximum is 39 C (102 F) in both July and August. In January it gets down to a ‘chilly’ 14 C (56 F) as an average minimum. So in the coldest part of the year, at the coldest part of the day, it is still twenty-four degrees Fahrenheit above freezing temperature.

However, now people can ski and snowboard in Dubai all year round. Further Internet searching revealed the facility is called ‘Ski Dubai’ (http://www.skidubai.ae/), it is 85 meters high (approximately 25 stories) and 80 meters wide, has 22,500m of real snow (equivalent to 3 football fields), and is a comfortable -1 to -2 C. The web site also told me it is open 10am until midnight seven days a week and ticket price includes use of winter clothing, plus ski and snowboard equipment.

The reason I know about this is because the Internet connects me with anyone, anywhere, anytime, even snow bunnies in Dubai.