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Latest Reviewed Products |
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Knockhatch Ski & Snowboard Centre, East Sussex |
 1.96 of 5 (12 reviews) |
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| Description |
| We opened on December 1st 2001 with the latest in dry slope technology. The down slope measures 360ft with a vertical drop of 100ft.
Being new, we have been able to take advantage of the latest technology thereby avoiding the surfacing used almost universally on dry slopes until now. Tufglide is a continuous carpet and does not have the voids (notorious for broken digits and wrists) typical of the surfacing used by most slopes. As it is continuous the bristles do not need to be so rigid, therefore abrasion is significantly reduced. It also has a soft backing so is far softer to fall on.
As with other ski surfaces the slope is mist lubricated for ultimate performance. |
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  4 of 5 15/03/2002 @ 16:23:00 |
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| Times Visited |
| 6-15 Times |
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| Review Detail |
| I can't really say much more about Knockhatch except that I agree entirely with everything that Starnzy has said :) I have been learning to board there, and therefore have nothing to compare it with! The instructors were all friendly, and the lessons weren't too expensive (£40 for 3x 1 1/2hr lessons) after
3 lessons Ive been able to go along to open practice. Water sprinklers are definately a pain, ive had some spectacular falls cos of them Grrr and as Starnzy said, the speed of the slope varies a LOT depending on how wet it is, definately best to go wen it's raining + put up with the wet arse! |
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| Strengths |
| Local :), Friendly (and fit) instructors, doesnt hurt too much when/if you fall, bar just opened up there :) |
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| Weaknesses |
| Sprinklers!!! |
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| Reviews: 26 |
| Site Admin |
| West Sussex |
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| 4 of 5 10/03/2002 @ 16:20:00 |
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| Price Per Hour |
| £8.50 per hour |
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| Times Visited |
| 6-15 Times |
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| Review Detail |
| I was chuffed to bits when this new slope opened up in December as it's only a 10 minute drive from where I live and until now I had to use a smaller, dendex slope which was further to travel to also.
The slope initially lookeda bit bizarre back in December as it was simply a green hill with some white matting laid on it. It looked very primitive and not really like a Ski/Snowboard centre at all, but over the past couple of months there have been quite a few developments to the surround of the slope making it look more like a complex than a cowboy outfit.
The surface used on this new slope is great as far as artifical slopes go. It's a new material called 'Tufglide' which not only feels better to board on than the old Dendex bristle style surface, but also avoids so many of the injuries caused by the older/harsher surfaces. It really doesn't hurt anywhere near as much to fall on this surface, which does help with confidence levels when pointing it down the hill, especially for beginners taking lessons etc.
The main hut that is situated beside the slope accomodates both Board/Ski & Boot rental/fitting area, and a bar. The hourly price for using the slope also includes the use of their equipment if you don't have your own.
The slope is open until 10pm every day of the week and rates it costs £8.50 per hour for boarders (skiiers get it for £6.50 per hour which to me seemed a bit harsh that they get it cheaper?!).
Standard Button lifts are currently used and despite looking very 'second hand' and un-modern, do the job as well as any other button lifts I have used.
On the whole, if Knockhatch can just sort out some better lubrication and reduce the amount of 'nozzle-exposure' poking through the matting that can cause edge catching, I think they are onto a winner with this slope, as long as they don't bump the hourly rates up later in the year upon gaining their initial user base! Fingers crossed they will keep it sensible (and perhaps flatten out the rates between skiiers and boarders). |
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| Strengths |
| Staff are friendly & helpful. Excellent new surface/matting (Tufglide). Reasonable hourly rates(although slightly bemused by the £2 saving that skiiers get!). |
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| Weaknesses |
| The Lubrication - On several occasions I have used the slope when it has been a dry day/night and the mist system that is in place simply hasn't been doing the job well enough. The board really does move too slow, so I tend to go when it's chucking it down with rain which dramatically improves things (apart from my own comfort! :) The mist nozzles that protrude from the matting in certain areas of the slope do seem slightly excessive in the amount of nozzle that is exposed. I have seen several people actually catch edges on one or two of them!
If your practise session coincides with a group lesson on the main slope, things can get a bit crowded and annoying trying to avoid bodies that are scattered across the slope. |
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| Similar Slopes Visited |
| Bowles Outdoor Centre (East Sussex), Snozone (Milton Keynes) |
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