SAM Magazine - Lynchburg, Va., July 31, 2008 - The Christian institution of higher learning founded by Jerry Falwell, Liberty University, has announced plans to install a dry ski slope on the campus. The University is working in conjunction with the English dry slope manufacturer, Snowflex, and the facility will be named the Mountain Snowflex Center.

One hundred percent of the slope's cost is being funded by a charitable donation to the university. While the future slope will be available to the public, students will receive priority in both pricing and usage.

Invented in 1993 by Brian Thomas of Briton Engineering, Snowflex originated in the U.K. and has been installed in several facilities throughout Europe. The technology features small, built-in misting devices that lubricate the slope's surface, recreating the slip and grip of real snow. Upon completion, the 110 vertical-foot artificial snow sports incline will be the first in the U.S. surfaced with Snowflex.

The Discovery Channel is documenting the event and will air several phases of the construction on a future episode of Daily Planet.

The Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center will consist of a main ski slope and a beginner slope for ski and snowboard instruction, totaling about 40,537 square feet of skiable area. Jumps and additional features on the main slope include a tabletop, a big kicker, an 11-foot-high quarter pipe, two grind rails and a tube chute. Those who prefer tubing may do so at designated times.

A ski lodge will also be installed, permitting parties and other special events. Construction is slated to begin late August or early September with an anticipated grand opening around the start of the new year, 2009.

The idea of building a snow-free ski slope on Liberty Mountain began three years ago when the university hired Alpentech Inc., a Salt Lake City, Utah consulting firm, to investigate several ways the school could use its mountain property to meet Liberty's academic, financial and recruiting goals. In addition to giving students more recreational, physical education and fitness opportunities on campus, the slope will help establish skiing and/or snowboarding as Liberty University club sports.

"There are no beer bashes at Liberty, and no coed dorms, but it doesn't have to be a monastery. We're breaking the stereotype that Christian education is synonymous with boredom," said Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. \

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