'When it's 10 below 0, it's still 65 in here': Virtual skiing and snowboarding offered in Pewaukee

 

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Pewaukee business is providing fresh powder to area skiers virtually, amid rapid changing winter conditions.

Urban Slopes is an indoor ski and snowboard business -- they opened their doors in 2021.

The shop provides all the elements needed for outdoor winter fun, indoors.

"We don’t have to wait on the chairlift, you're not stopping mid-run, you're going. Fifteen minutes on here, you will be exhausted," said Jared Master, owner of Urban Slopes.

This winter season in Southeast Wisconsin has been unpredictable, leaving some ski hills having to clean up a slushy, icy, and wintery mess.

"It's been a little cyclical, I would say. We've had big snow periods, we've had warmth and melting and then snow again," said Peter Friend, ski technician with Les Moise in Brookfield.

Friend said the record-breaking rain has had some skiers and ski hills fighting with Mother Nature.

"Everybody likes a little bit of powder on top of the runs, especially around here. A softer base makes its nice, and the rain makes it a very hard surface, said Friend.

Friend said there is nothing like a ski in the great outdoors.

"Customers coming in to ski locally, and a lot of the hills have done a great job with keeping snow on the hills, said Friend.

Despite the spring-like weather this winter, Urban Slopes said they wanted to provide an experience that transcended the outdoors.

"Even on the rainy days, when it's 10 below zero, it's still 65 in here," said Master.

Fifteen minutes on the simulator is equivalent to two hours on any area hill.

Urban Slopes is the only ski and snowboard simulator available in the Midwest to amateur skiers and snowboarders.

"We can do a lot of different things with the technology on the machines to simulate different conditions," said Master.

For more information on Urban Slopes click the link here.