A really cool place to chill out

With summer camps, toboggan rides, snow slides and cartoon shows, Ski Dubai attracts children and adults to its slopes.

Being in Ski Dubai gives you the opportunity to walk in the high heels (or in this case the ski boots) of a glam Hollywood A-lister.

The number of flashbulbs that go off with alarming regularity in the hands of tourists gazing soulfully into the glass-enclosed area makes you feel privileged to be a part of the unique phenomenon that is Ski Dubai. The acres of pure-white snow inside a shopping mall when it is blazing hot outside is a bit disconcerting, but once inside, the world outside tends to fade away. And as my gorgeous instructor Kevah assures me, the slopes at Ski Dubai are as close as it can get to the real thing.

It is no wonder then that Ski Dubai has proven to be a roaring success since it opened in 2006, and more than two million people have visited it to date.

Even on a weekday morning, its 25,500 square metres were choc-a-bloc with children and adults.

Special attractions

With the school holidays, the staff is expecting a larger number of children to take to the slopes.

A summer camp, cartoon shows in the small auditorium next to the snow park, a snow labyrinth, toboggan rides and snow slides, Ski Dubai is gearing up to cater to its little customers and become the coolest place to spend the summer.
Skiing is a physically challenging sport and requires a steady combination of balance and concentration. Being a proficient skater, I thought skiing would be a piece of cake, but even the simple task of putting one foot before the other in heavy ski boots can be difficult.

Couple that with trying to keep the skis in a parallel position, it can make even standing straight next to impossible. But the children on the slopes that morning had no such issues and were whizzing past my prostrate (mixed with one part embarrassed and two parts clumsy) self with practised ease.

Also remember to take an extra sweater and leggings to wear under the bright red and blue jackets and pants Ski Dubai provides — the constant minus 2 degrees Celsius maintained inside begs for the extra insulation and warmth.

According to a member of the staff, a second skiing slope is scheduled to open later this year in Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall.

Though it will be smaller than Ski Dubai, it is a sure indication that skiing amidst the desert is a trend that will be around for a long time to come in the UAE.

Summer camp

Ski Dubai is running a summer camp from June 15 to August 28. Different time slots and levels of classes are on offer for children with separate classes for snow-boarding. There are a number of options. The time period for classes ranges from three days to five days and goes up to five weeks.

The other offer available is a three-month pass for Dh2,000, which gives the holder unlimited access to ski and snowboard at Ski Dubai. For more information log onto www.ski-dxb.com.

Uce skating: Learn to skate like a pro

If you'd like to chill out over the summer by taking a spin
around an ice rink there are a few options to try. Book some lessons and you'll be on your way to a double axel in no time.

Al Nasr Leisureland offers group lessons as well as private sessions, and there is an organised ice-skating school that sometimes presents ice shows.

Log on to www.alnasrll.com for more information.

Private tuition is also available at the Hyatt Regency Galleria in Dubai, and if you are in Al Ain, go to Al Ain Mall where you can skate on a full-size rink.

- For more information, visit www.thegalleria.hyatt.com and www.alainmall.net