[Sly Fox]

From news release posted on the WSJ's MarketWatch ...

Falwell, Jr. Announces Snow-Free Ski Slope Will Be Constructed at Liberty University, First in U.S. Made With Snowflex

Last update: 4:11 p.m. EDT July 21, 2008

LYNCHBURG, Va., July 21, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A portion of Liberty University's 5,000-acre mountain range will be receiving a makeover in the coming months with the construction of a year-round ski slope known as the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center.

Upon completion, the artificial snow sports incline will be the first in the U.S. surfaced with Snowflex(R), a synthetic material designed to simulate snow. The Discovery Channel is documenting this historic event and will air several phases of the construction on a future episode of Daily Planet.

Invented in 1993 by Brian Thomas of Briton Engineering, Snowflex originated in the UK and has been installed in several facilities throughout Europe. This innovative technology features small, built-in misting devices that lubricate the slope's surface, recreating the slip and grip of real snow.

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Most of this has been discussed quite a bit on here. But there are actually some interesting nuggets dropped in there by JJ.

[blwall1416]

http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex/

[LUconn]

A reoccurring bit on the discovery channel. That's pretty cool.

[SuperJon]

And we're not paying a dime for it.

They say this stuff is amazing. I think it'll be fun and will bring a ton of people to campus.

[thepostman]

i don't have a real opinion on this one way or another...but the funniest thing is that Johnny Moore is writing our press releases...i don't know why i find this funny...i just do....

[Sly Fox]

Apparently the school is leaning on him for communications duties on a regular basis. I agree that it seems very odd.

Here is the writeup from the fishwrap ...

Liberty plans ski slope on Candlers Mountain

By Christa Desrets
Published: July 21, 2008

Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. today announced plans to build a year-round synthetic ski slope on Candlers Mountain.

The university signed a contract with the maker of the synthetic snow, called Snowflex, a few weeks ago, Falwell said, after visiting a site in Scotland built with the material. The synthetic snow already is in wide use in Europe; the installation on Candlers Mountain would be the first in the U.S., Falwell said.


Image courtesy of Liberty University

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[jcmanson]

This will be the lead story on the ABC8 news tonight in Richmond

I didn't think they knew LU existed here

[flamesbball84]

well that stuff sounds interesting, never heard of it before. i wonder how accurately it simulates snow...

[PAmedic]

oh boy.

(that's all I've got)

[JDUB]

i heard it is like olympic grade. sounds pretty good, I can't wait to try it out

[PeterParker]

Three interesting points that stood out to me:

1. The Baldspot will be the new home for this according to one article.

2. Paid for by a charitable donor.

3. This nugget from the last article: (That's a whole lot of buildin' goin' on.]

Earlier this summer, officials completed an $80,000 indoor climbing wall at the LaHaye Student Center. Plans also are in the works for a student union, a 20,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble Evangelical Superstore, a paintball facility, nine intramural sports fields, a 2.5-mile cross-country loop, and an indoor soccer complex with two fields over the next several years.

Forward thinking, the only thing I see is that they should put a dedicated tubing slope. Instead of having to compete for time with the skiers/boarders with dedicated time frames. But I assume they are wanting to see what the demand will be first. I'll admit, I was skeptical of this, but I can see where this could be an interesting addition to the 'burg (especially if they bring in competitions and perhaps some day/evening Action Sports shows.

[JDUB]

I think it will also bring a lot of publicity to LU and lynchburg since its the first time being used in America. Discovery channel is already doing something on it, and i'm sure all the local and state news will end up covering it. It will be interesting to see how much media attention it gets

[bigsmooth]

pretty cool though like others i was skeptical. i hope it turns out to be a huge success.

[LUconn]

I don't know if anybody's posted these before.

this is the history and development of: (it sounds like the narrator of modern marvels)

it seems a little less bias. But still very complementary. I've just always worried about how this stuff will age and be maintained.

[homebird]

Those videos are posted on the official website: http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex
I think it's strange that the media didn't direct the general public to that website. After all, that was the whole purpose in creating it

[Hold My Own]

On the www.snowflex.com website it says that one was created in Dallas Texas in 2006 or something like that....Sly???

[LUconn]

Those videos are posted on the official website: http://www.liberty.edu/snowflex
I think it's strange that the media didn't direct the general public to that website. After all, that was the whole purpose in creating it

oh yeah. how about that. I probably would have seen that if I had clicked on that link.

[LUconn]

also, does anybody think it's funny when you think back to the uproar of a few years ago when the rumor was going around town that we were changing the name to Liberty Mountain and all of these publications refer to it as that? That snowflex website says that we're naming this place "Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre". Are we gonna use the brit spelling or did they just take that upon themselves to spell it that way?

[homebird]

dunno.

[homebird]

On the www.snowflex.com website it says that one was created in Dallas Texas in 2006 or something like that....Sly???

There was a Snowflex center planned for Dallas, but it was never built.

[Hold My Own]

I remember when a Chandler cussed me out a few years ago b/c we were changing the name to Liberty Mountain...like I was involved in it some how...more like JF wanted it that way so he made it happen

[Hold My Own]

On the www.snowflex.com website it says that one was created in Dallas Texas in 2006 or something like that....Sly???

There was a Snowflex center planned for Dallas, but it was never built.

I wonder why...Sly put your detective hat on and find out what the road block was...

[Sly Fox]

My guess would be that the hills there are so puny that it didn't make much sense. And DFW folks can jump on a plane and be in Aspen in just over an hour.

[RagingTireFire]

2. It's not Liberty Mountain, it's Chandler's Mountain

"My very own mountain? Could I be any more happy about having my own mountain? Yes, in fact, I could."

[LUconn]

I remember when a Chandler cussed me out a few years ago b/c we were changing the name to Liberty Mountain...like I was involved in it some how...more like JF wanted it that way so he made it happen

I thought the Candlers were related to the Falwells. Or maybe that was just the doc that was related to them. Either way you shouldn't be a feudin'.