Chill Factore - Skiing in Manchester
The £31 million Chill Factore opened in November 2007 and is the first indoor ski slope in the north west of England.
The development is situated off junction 10 of the M60, next to Manchester’s Trafford Centre. It covers an area of 250,000 square feet and features two distinct environments:
Ski Resort & Ski Slope
The ‘cold area’ includes three indoor ski slopes with real snow and caters to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. There is also a children’s snow play area with igloos and slides, a climbing wall and toboggan run.
Mountain Village
This ‘warm area’ offers Alpine-themed bars and restaurants with views overlooking the ski slopes.
Reviews / Comments / Additional Information
As far as the general set up goes its a pretty slick place, although didn't try out any of the lessons or hire facilities.
Not impressed by having to get your ticket out every time I used the lift though. I would say the large beginners' area is worth while and the extra width of the slope compared to other domes gives it an edge for beginners, but unfortunately it was a bit of a turkey as far as the freestyle went.
Also worth mentioning are the amazing hand dryers in Nandos. They were the best thing there!
The lesson began at 10, so I arrived at 9:30 with my receipt from when I bought the lessons, and I went to the desk and they gave me my ski-pass in under 20 seconds.
Next, I had to go and get my kit. I went to the desk and was told to go on the weight/height machines. After getting my receipt thing you get, I was promptly given my equipment by the staff and told to wait in the ski-school waiting area.
The lesson was fantastic and using the nursery slope to learn the trade really improved my confidence on the snow.
We skied for about 2 and a half hours, before having an hours lunch break. After having lunch in Nando's, it was back out to the slopes at 1:30. My instructor (Stewart) was fantastic and really helpful. He took us through some more excersises and methods, and at around 3:00 we had another 20 minute break.
Once back on the slopes, Stewart felt we'd progressed enough to put us on the big slope. We were about half way up the slope and doing basic link turns and moving onto parallel turns.
My only flaw was that at around 4 o'clock onwards the main slope becomes quite busy with people finishing work etc.. and with more experienced skiers and snowboarders zooming past, it got quite nerve-racking.
At the end of my lesson, I gave my equipment back in and booked for Friday during the day as I enjoyed it so much. I paid £14 for Friday, as it's an 'off-peak' time. So everyone moaning at £22, go at on off-peak time and it's £14 for an hour and a half.
Finally we got out, now being off the snow for 2 years, I thought I'd hit the left hand side 'beginners slope'. After setting my bindings (snowboard), I was approached by a 'teacher'. He told me this area was for lessons only, please move to the main slope and find a similar gradient to the left side. That actually set me off, there is no indication on any plan that says 'paying tuition area only' . I can board, but I wanted a safe environment to do my 1st run !
We moved onto the main area (after I put my board on and went down the payment only slope (apparently). From there on it was absolutely fantastic, snow, cold, snow. Apart from button lifts, which tend to kill my inner thigh, ask any boarder. Anyway I caught air 5 times my 1st in quite a while, and the 10 - till 11 was no queue no hassle.
I now need 15 more peak trips to make my membership worthwhile.
Can I say, most of the people I saw were well up for a chat and happy to be there.
First up Lessons. You're probably better off spending a week on a skiing holiday to learn, but that can be a bit pricey all up front.
So Xscape charge £27 for an hour lesson. You need 5 lessons to complete the course though you can hit the slopes yourself after 3. So that's around £81 - £135
Chill factor charge £60 for one hour fifty minutes and have 3 beginners lessons and 3 development. I've not tried Chill factors lessons yet but I'd assume two lessons would be best before tackling the slope alone. So that's £120 - £360
So Id say Xscape was the better price for lessons.
It's £21 an hour recreational at Xscape and £22 for an hour and a half at Chill Factore so its cheaper at Chill Factore.
I have to say the booking process is far inferior at Chill Factor and is unclear from the off where your supposed to queue and a 1 month waiting time for the tubing for kids is a little over the top. Granted you get 60 mins for £10 whereas Xscape give you 30 mins for £8 or £9 for peek times. Chill Factore should cut the time down to 30 mins like Xscape, as that's probably all kids need as they'd get bored and non skiing parents would freeze.
So its an impressive slope in a desirable location but it really does need to improve it's booking system.
My only suggestion for this place would be for advanced skiers or boarders to be able to have smaller allocated freestyle sessions. I would gladly pay £22 for an hour to work on tricks but would not expect to get any kind of carving pleasure. scale is everything - relative to crowds. Blackcombe Vancouver is still the best resort I have even visited (peak to peak 3km of football field wide run with loads of sections).
Can you even comprehend what it must have cost to build that place and what it must cost to run it!?! Probably not, oh small minded ones.
Good afternoon. Myself and my partner visited your new complex on Friday 16th opening day. We handed over our cash and received our plastic lift pass and had an excellent time. Alas, we visited last night and what a difference! We went to pay and was amazed to find the price had risen. We were told it was because we were running over the 6 o clock peak time and the price alters accordingly! Where on your website or within the building itself is this information displayed, explaining that you have to pay part off peak and part peak? Lucky i hadn't travelled for over an hour with just the correct amount of money in my pocket! We were given cardboard lift passes which as soon as got wet started to disintegrate - i can only assume there were not enough plastic ones to go around, or was it the fact the slope was seriously over crowded. As soon as we entered the slope area the right hand lift broke down, leaving around 80 people queuing for the left one - long waiting times and no skiing. We did two runs each on what what can only be described as a terrible, cordoned off, icy slope and that took 25 minutes of our valuable lift pass up. We decided to return to reception and ask for a refund, simple we thought, until we discovered we hadn't been given a receipt. After being offered our passes to be transfered, or vouchers, which we refused, we managed to get our cash back with the help of a very understanding girl who was in charge of the float last night. There was no trace of us on the computer system which caused confusion as we have never, and still haven't put our details on! both times we just turned up and payed, although we were told we should have had to book in and give all our details? We were the lucky ones, as half hour later they closed the slope completely and reception was chaotic! This was a good call as the slope was in very poor condition, icy, dangerous and overcrowded. Even when we were leaving the slope, there must have been at least another 40+ people just about to go on. No room to ski, long waiting times, broken lifts and no snow do not make a good experience. I'm just glad we didn't purchase membership on day one, as we are in two minds whether to even bother again after the farce we experienced. A lot of people were very disappointed yesterday and i hope this email doesn't fall on deaf ears.
Someone in promotions needs a rocket! The place looks absolutely fabulous! Can't wait to try it.
As for it being pointless, well I can ski and I think it is a great idea to get back into the swing of things before a trip to the Alps. Personally I wouldn't touch dry slopes, they're enough to put people off skiing for life.
Manchester would be better for me to travel to, but until Chill Factore price sessions/deals that are attractive, I won't bother.
and £22 is a bit expensive for 1.5 hours. We need more time than that.
Why is there no info?
Web site good, however there needs to be more pictures and video clips added soon now it is open .. Who needs the French Alps when we have Urmston and Trafford !!!!
ADULT 1.5 HOURS £22 PEAK, £17 OFF-PEAK
JUNIOR/OAP 1.5 HOURS £18 PEAK, £14 OFF-PEAK
CLOTHING HIRE £5
AWESOME, CANT WAIT FOR THIS TO OPEN, SICK OF TRAVELLING OVER TO LEEDS TO SNOWDOME.
ADULT 1.5 HOURS £22 PEAK, £17 OFF-PEAK
JUNIOR/OAP 1.5 HOURS £18 PEAK, £14 OFF-PEAK
CLOTHING HIRE £5
Keep the prices competitive & offer membership schemes.
What about the introduction of congestion charging? The Chill Factore is inside the outer boundary so it will cost every vehicle £2 to get from the M60 to the Chill Factore.