SAM Magazine—Centennial, Colo., July 11, 2016—Reviving an old concept, the Snöbahn indoor ski and snowboard center in suburban Centennial hopes to entice both new and veteran skiers and snowboarders to its revolving-deck facility. It's the first of its kind in the Denver area, and it has the backing of some impressive skiing athletes: Bode Miller, Eric Schlopy, and Chris Anthony.

Founder Sadler Merrill hopes that the convenience and reduced expense of learning and/or training on a deck will prove successful. “Our new Snöbahn center eliminates all intimidations typically associated with skiing,” he told 303 Magazine. “People now don't need to worry about things like traffic issues, high costs, braving the elements, long lift lines, waiting for group members, and carrying all of their gear from the car to the base of the mountain.

“Snöbahn is the better and more efficient way to learn how to ski, work on technique and have fun at a fraction of the time and cost associated to access resort snow,” Merill said. He claims that half an hour of skiing on the revolving slopes is equivalent to skiing about 20,000 vertical feet. One-hour classes (with 30 minutes of sliding time) run $30 for kids, $40 for adults, with options for private lessons ($105) as well as frequency discounts.

The facility includes three decks, each with a full-width handrail, and a mirror facing the deck, along with the necessary skis, snowboards, and any other equipment a guest might need.

In addition to beginners, Merrill believes Snöbahn will appeal to existing skiers and snowboarders seeking to refine their skills, build endurance, or rehab from injury. The deck can be set to different speeds and angles to suit a variety of skill levels.

As with any ski slope worthy of the name, Snöbahn also includes the Snöbar lounge/sports bar, which serves beer, wine, and snacks.

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