THE FIFTY METRE WIDE field of snow curves its way upwards around a 300 metre (980 ft.) slope, providing a down-hill run varying in length from 380 metres (1200 ft.) to 20 kilometres (12 miles) and more, depending on the speed of the moving slope.

As the skier skis down into the on-coming snow he experiences all the pleasures of skiing - right in the heart of a populated area.