Snow day every day

Get ready for ski season at Snöbahn, an indoor ski and snowboard
center where the revolving slopes are always open. by Sahale Greenwood

Imagine a ski slope that never ends and never closes—one where lift lines and bad conditions are a distant memory. Welcome to Snöbahn, where skiing knows no season. With revolving slopes that move toward the user like a treadmill and year-round locations in
Centennial and Thornton, it’s the ultimate way to get in shape for ski season.
“We’re not here to replace traditional sports,” says Sadler Merrill, the founder of Snöbahn,
about his mission to democratize some of Colorado’s most elite activities. “Instead, we’re here to enhance them by making action sports more accessible, more affordable, and easier to learn.” The slopes at Snöbahn can be adjusted for anything from easy greens to steep black diamonds, and overhead projection can add obstacles like flags for even more advanced skiers. Private coaches help guide you in the process, and mirrors at the bottom of the slopes help you develop better body awareness and receive immediate feedback. Merrill adds that in just an hour, you can burn through 21,000 feet of vertical, the equivalent to a full day at a ski resort. “It’s really about repetition, right? Mastering the sport is about burning the proper techniques into your muscles and ingraining them.”
The tread here is actually grippier than snow and less forgiving, exposing bad technique. If you can make it work on the simulator, you can be working it on the slopes. Whether you or your child is just getting into the sport or looking to level up your game, a session at Snöbahn could be the edge you’ve been searching for on the slopes. Snöbahn also offers indoor trampolines and ramps for practicing BMX, skateboarding, scootering, and freestyle tricks. 

ATHLETIC EDGE Olympic gold medalist alpine ski racer Bode Miller, a Snöbahn athlete and ambassador, offers some pro tips to improve your ski skills: • Practicing at Snöbahn or on other simulators is the best—and only—way to get all those small stabilizer muscles back in skiing shape before the ski season opens. • Incorporate restricted blood flow training. Using these cuffs to reduce oxygen levels in your muscles allows you to achieve a more vigorous workout in less time without putting undue strain on your body. • Choose Peak Skis. Miller’s signature brand is exceptionally stable for beginners, with its grip point directly underfoot, unlike most skis. This design eliminates the need to adjust your balance from a regular standing position. • Remember, skiing is meant to be a fluid motion, so loosen up and have fun with it.