A TOP notch new winter sports facility has been re-launched in Christchurch to the delight of ski and snowboard enthusiasts.

Snowtrax at Matchams celebrated their new synthetic wet slope with a special freestyle event at the weekend.

The innovative wet-slope surface now on the centre’s slopes is designed to retain water and mirror the feeling of real snow and will make the Christchurch snowpark the European test centre for Proslope, the company who invented it.

Work on the main slopes at the popular attraction has been completed with the main slope extended by 50metres and a permanent kicker added at the bottom suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders to try out a range of impressive stunts.

Some moves were shown off during the Air Attack Freestyle Competition on Saturday, which attracted people from all over the country for the ski and snowboarding events.

Colin Iseard, owner and director of Snowtrax said: “This really is the future.

“It has been so successful.

“The event at the weekend was brilliant and really showed just how popular snowparks have become.

“All of our customers – whether they are freestylers, racers, instructors and beginners – have been testing it like mad and they love it. We were jam-packed at the weekend with people wanting to try it out in spite of the weather.”

The scheme is part of a £2million investment the managing directors Colin and Trevor Iseard and Barry Smith have put in over the years.

Colin, who is also an instructor at the snow school, added: “Snow parks have soared in popularity over the last few years.

“All kinds of people – young and old – want to try it out. We’re really pleased to have an innovative facility for people to come and try out.”