The SnOasis development, near Ipswich, Suffolk, will be complete in 2012 and become the first UK-based training home for the British ski and snowboard teams.

 

Top athletes including Chemmy Alcott, Noel Baxter and Dan Wakeham, as well as future ski and snowboard stars, will benefit from being able to develop their winning skills on home ground and build their standing as contenders for podium positions on the international competitive circuit.

 

Mark Simmers, the chief executive of Snowsport GB, said: "SnOasis is the most significant development for competitive snowsports, not just for Britain but on a global scale and is an unparalleled opportunity for the UK teams.

 

"We have the talent and ability in Britain to win Olympic medals.

 

"A centre of excellence with resources from all year training to in-house medical and fitness teams means we can replicate the success of the Bejiing Olympics.”

 

SnOasis was recently granted Government approval for construction of the £350 million "Super Site".

 

It will feature Europe’s largest indoor ski slope at over 415 metres in length with a 100 metres vertical drop.

 

It will also host a World Cup standard half pipe, one of only two in Europe, giving a major boost to snowboarding in the UK.

 

There will be facilities for 14 different winter sports disciplines in total including the first ever 400 metres speed skating track in the UK.

 

Plans are also underway to attract FIS World and Europa Cup competitions in snowboard and alpine skiing to the UK, which are normally only held in mainland Europe and North America.

 

British athletes will get the chance to compete in front of “home” spectators, which will be a huge boost for the sport.

 

Alcott said: “We all want to achieve the very highest accolades in our sport and it is fantastic to get this investment for all winter sports.

 

"Very few teams in the world will be able to train on snow 365 days a year.

 

"I also can’t wait for the chance to compete in front of home crowds which will be unbelievable.” 

 

Godfrey Spanner, the managing director of Onslow Suffolk, the developer of SnOasis said: “The vision to create a dedicated training centre for all British snowsports has taken over eight years but now we will be creating a world-class training and development facility, unrivalled across the globe.

 

"Our current athletes are competing at the top level and there is an amazing potential for youth development across all winter sports.

 

"They will have year round access to snow-based training and additional teams of expertise to complement existing support.

 

"We are absolutely committed to helping our athletes win gold medals.”

 

 

In addition to world-class training facilities, SnOasis and Snowsport GB will work with Essex University to put in place dedicated programmes for athlete development in their sporting discipline but also offering higher education opportunities to fit with training and competitions.