Snowtunnel Launches

After over two decades of vision and more than three years of design and development, a dynamic team of visionary snow and action sports entrepreneurs are revealing their world’s first technology, giving people the opportunity to experience the magic of fresh snow all year round.  

Key Insights & Talking Points from the company include

• The patented Snowtunnel stands at 12.5 metres (41ft) high, equivalent to a 4-storey building.
• At 16 metres (52.5 ft) long, the Snowtunnel is as wide as your average ski run.
• Each Snowtunnel delivers the "endless mountain" with over 600m2 (6,458ft2) of constantly rideable surface area.
• Each venue will contain over 3000 m2 (32,292 ft2) of total snow play, learn and ride zones, covered with over 900 cubic metres (31,783 cubic feet)  of snow.
• Variable speed control provides both safety and acceleration to suit all abilities.
• Lined with real snow, the constantly groomed "endless mountain" has been developed and engineered under wraps in Australia, with plans for a Global headquarters to be established in a major Australian capital city.
• The first Snowtunnel Park is set to open in 2027.
• A reported 95% of people have not participated in snow sports*.
• More than 50% of countries around the world do not have ski fields.
• Snow seasons around the world are short (typically 3 to 5 months a year), Snowtunnel is accessible all year round.
• Each venue is forecast to cost between AUD $20 million and $25 million, including full venue construction. This represents less than half of the cost of most surf parks and only a fraction of the capital typically required for major, land- and construction-intensive indoor snow slope developments around the world.
• Combined with forecasted higher customer volumes, year-round operation and a wider array of experiences, it makes it a formidable and sustainable commercial enterprise.

SIN has some experience of endless ski slopes from revolving carpets, via tilting carpet covered disks to the wildly ambitious skitrac

All of these devices can to a degree replicate skiing or snowboarding and have value as part of a fitness trainng programme, though their direct correlation to snowsports is aguable. When skiing or riding a a skier or boarder has forward motion and therefore momentum. Endless slopes result in a skier with little if any forward motion and therefore momentum so their direct relevance to alpine skiing can be debated.

Accrding to the company, the world’s first indoor Snowtunnel Park is set to open, featuring its namesake and global innovation, The Snowtunnel as the star attraction.  

Standing at a colossal 12.5 metres / 41ft high and 16 metres / 52.5ft long, the patented Snowtunnel is a rotating tunnel with variable speed control, lined with real powder snow made from water & air, groomed to corduroy-lined perfection, which provides an "endless mountain" of constantly ridable surface area. Perfect for first-timers, learners and snow enthusiasts to enjoy snow adventures all year round.   

Setting to one side the fact that 'real powder snow' is vitrually impossible to produce other than from the sky or in near lab conditions SIN is looking forwards to seeing the enterprise in action as it will certainly present some engineering challenges.

Founded in Australia, the first Snowtunnel Park is set to open in 2027, with a pipeline of capital cities across the country and the world earmarked as the first site, including Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In November 2024 it was suggested that one of these facilities might open in North Wales that one of these facilities may open in North Wales at a former outdoor wave surf pool.

“Our mission is to unlock the magic of snow and ignite a passion for alpine experiences for everyone, all year round.” states Scott Kessler, CEO and Co-founder of Snowtunnel Parks.  This sentiment is central to the mission and shared by visionary co-founders Chris Northwood, Managing Director, and Dan Portelli, Chief Operating Officer.  “We still get excited seeing the first snowflakes on the ground as you head up the mountains.  However, growing up in Australia, we all know how inconsistent each snow season can be.   We want everyone to experience that thrill of alpine adventure by bringing the snow to capital city-based adventurer-seekers with the world’s first Snowtunnel Park.”  

Surrounding the Snowtunnel, there are also graded downhill slopes, plus a snow play zone for fun alpine activities with powdery white, crunchy snow produced fresh daily.  The founders have leaned into cutting-edge snow-making technology and indoor snow park design via partnerships with global leaders TechnoAlpin and WSP.   At the recent Indoor Ski & Snow Centre Summit in Bolzano, Italy, hosted by TechnoAlpin, the reception was overwhelmingly positive, with many of the attendees expressing their excitement about the Snowtunnel technology as a much-needed innovation for the wider snow industry.

A further vote of confidence comes from Managing Director Consult-CHE, Kirk Edwards (former CEO of Village Entertainment), who remarked, “Very rarely do you come across a start-up that you know will be epic. Keep a close eye on Snowtunnel as it explodes across the globe in the coming years.”

Catering to all ages, skills and snowman-making experience, Snowtunnel Park will have all the ski gear you need and will also feature iconic alpine food and drinks in a modern lounge area, complete with a fireplace, overlooking the snow.  Perfect for beginners wanting to learn or experience snow for the first time, through to the alpine enthusiast keen to get their snow riding fix all year round. 

From first-time snow bunnies and families wanting to learn to ski or board, to those life-long shredders seeking to hone their downhill skills, there will be a dedicated progression program from beginners through to expert level, guided by a team of professional ski and snowboard instructors.    

Snowtunnel Parks can operate in easily accessible, city locations, in a fraction of the space compared to traditional indoor ski centres.  CEO Scott Kessler adds, “What waveparks did for surfing, Snowtunnel will do for the snow sports.  Rock climbing, skydiving and even golf have all shown growing interest from new demographics keen to try new adventures and experiences enabled by the latest technology, in a convenient and consistently high-quality environment.”

Having successfully completed earlier investment rounds that enabled the delivery of a full-scale, 10-metre diameter, proof-of-concept Snowtunnel, Snowtunnel Parks is now progressing an open capital round to realise its first foundation site. This milestone marks the transition from innovation to implementation, bringing the world-first technology to life and paving the way for a new era of urban alpine experiences.

Damon Tudor, Managing Director of Thinking Adrenaline and former CEO of Urbnsurf, has joined Snowtunnel as Regional Partner for MENA & US. Tudor describes the breakthrough as “another game changer to create access through technology… very excited about this one,” underscoring his enthusiasm for Snowtunnel’s role in shaping the future of snow experiences. 

Though somewhat sceptical SIN looks forwards to hearing more