An exciting new indoor skiing facility has opened at Bapton Manor Farm in Wiltshire. The South Wilts Ski Club is a pioneering project initiated by the founder of Moonpig, Nick Jenkins.
- Inspired by his daughter, the club transforms a former tractor barn into a state-of-the-art skiing venue.
- This £300,000 project features a unique Dutch-made MaxxTracks indoor slope, rare in the UK.
- The club provides exclusive ski sessions with personalized coaching and high-tech filming.
- Future expansions may include snowboarding, enhancing the club’s diverse offerings.
The South Wilts Ski Club, an indoor skiing facility, has recently opened its doors at Bapton Manor Farm, situated between Warminster and Salisbury in Wiltshire. This establishment, initiated by former Dragons’ Den star Nick Jenkins, marks a significant development in the county as the first of its kind. Jenkins, motivated by a desire to provide his seven-year-old daughter with an opportunity to practice skiing between vacations, invested £300,000 into the project. The transformation involved converting a former tractor barn into an innovative skiing venue, showcasing Jenkins’ forward-thinking approach to recreational development.
Jenkins shared his inspiration, stating, “I’m a very keen skier and I wanted to find somewhere for my daughter to practise between skiing holidays. I tried the Skieasy infinity slope in London myself and loved it, but it was always too busy to book and it was a 90 minute drive. I wondered if I could bring the concept to Wiltshire.” This led to the creation of the South Wilts Ski Club, which boasts a specialist Dutch-made MaxxTracks indoor slope, one of only four in the UK. This slope offers adjustable angles from 13 to 22 degrees and speeds ranging from 0 to 30 kilometers per hour, simulating a well-groomed piste with its unique surface resembling a slippery shag pile carpet.
The innovative slope provides a challenging experience equivalent to skiing from the top of Everest to sea level in one hour at full speed. Jenkins emphasized, “At full tilt it is quite challenging. It is like doing a slalom so it’s quite a workout.” To ensure safety and quality, only two individuals can use the slope concurrently, although group bookings for up to eight persons are available. The club’s amenities extend beyond the slope; an on-site chalet-style clubhouse offers free refreshments, and each booking includes exclusive coaching sessions led by in-house instructor Craig Philpott. Ski sessions are further enriched with video recording to aid skiers in refining their techniques, and equipment such as ski boots, helmets, and skis are all provided free of charge.
Opening its doors today, the South Wilts Ski Club schedules sessions from midday to 8 PM on Wednesdays, 11 AM to 6 PM on Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 AM to 5 PM on weekends. Pricing for these sessions ranges from £30 per person for 30 minutes during peak times to £18 for the same duration during off-peak, provided a block of six sessions is booked. Currently, snowboarding is not available, although Jenkins has mentioned the possibility of adding it in the future, once the club is capable of confidently offering such facilities.
The South Wilts Ski Club represents a noteworthy addition to Wiltshire, offering unparalleled indoor skiing facilities and personalized coaching.
