Winter Olympic plans for the Dales

BREAKING NEWS..... Plans for a new ski resort in the Yorkshire Dales were suddenly withdrawn at midday on Thursday 1st April.

The plans were initially announced first thing that morning, but a further update from organiser Miss Lipra Loof said at lunchtime they had rather jumped the gun and decided not to got ahead with the project.  Instead her team would be working on other plans for a new project to be launched on 1st April 2022 :)

Here's the story as released this morning...

With winters becoming colder and more snow now than ever before, one local firm is planning to cash in on the snow and create a Yorkshire Dales Ski Resort.Plans have just emerged this morning to build a ski resort in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.  Project organisers are aiming to create the resort at a secret location near Pen-Y-Ghent - one of the famous Three Peaks.  It is expected to be ready to open in Winter 2023. 

Spokesperson for the company 'Ski Yorkshire' is former South African world Olympic gold medallist Lirpa Loof.  Miss Loof, a multi-talented downhill and slalom skier who cut her teeth on Table Mountain, is excited about the project:  "Yorkshire is know for so many sporting successes like the Brownlee Brothers and the Tour de France Grand Depart."

"We are taking a leaf from the Tour de France's success.  They did the tour in 2014 and cycling has really taken off in Yorkshire.  We plan to do for winter sports what the Tour de France has done for cycling in the Dales."

The Carlisle to Settle Railway Corporation has already confirmed they are considering accommodating the skiers by installing specially constructed ski racks on the carriage roofs.  There are also plans underway for ski lifts on all the major black runs in the Three Peaks, with button lifts for the beginners on the nursery slopes expected to be located in Horton in Ribblesdale.

The proposals don’t stop at skiing either.  The proposals show glossy pictures of a cliff top hotel complex atop Ingleborough with cable car access and other sporting activities too.  There are multiple plans in Wensleydale - a luge, taking in the breath-taking and, in winter treacherous, Buttertubs; plus an ice arena, making use of the frozen flooded River Ure.

The marketing material claims skiing and other associated winter sports will bring thousands to the Dales, filing otherwise empty guest houses in the quiet Winter months.  It also says the influx of enthusiasts in search of a new exhilarating black run, will be great for local bars, although they will need to learn to make Glühwein and that runny melted cheese stuff!

Miss Loof says that if the resort is a success in 2023, they may make a bid to host the Winter Olympics here in the Dales.  "It remains to be seen if the facilities will be a match for Kitzbuhel or Aspen, but with a bit of Yorkshire grit and determination we may even see Eddie the Eagle win Gold in Yorkshire."