Delight at Wirral’s dry ski slope at the Oval in Bebington re-opens after two-year closure

Jan 13 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

dry ski slope at Bebington Oval 320

IT’S snow joke – after being closed for two-and-a-half years Wirral’s much-loved dry ski slope has re-opened.

The only facility of its kind in Merseyside, the artificial slope at the Oval in Bebington was shut in July 2007 for refurbishment works at the adjoining sports centre.

During the long closure the matting material used to mimic the attributes of snow became overgrown with weeds and a hut used to store boots and other equipment was vandalised.

The ski slopes are now back in business after volunteers from the Oval Ski Club helped to restore the facility back to its former glory.

Members hope last week’s heavy snowfall will encourage new members to take up the sport.

Club secretary Belinda Dawson, who started skiing 25 years ago, met her husband Andrew, a training officer for the club, on the slopes.

The couple’s two daughters are both keen skiers and eldest Laura, 16, competes for the North West.

Mrs Dawson, from Heswall, said: “There’s been a lot of frustration because we couldn’t get a date for when we were going to open again.

“It had to be closed because it was so close to the work they were doing on the conservatory at the Oval.