European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                June 2007 stars and stripes Page 17 Nick trips ski season lasts All year at French indoor facility by Ben Bloker stars and stripes did the pathetic Winter ski season leave you longing for a Chance to touch Snow is the longing so Strong that you cant wait until next season then the snowball in might be your billed As the longest indoor skiing facility in the Hall gives both skiers and snowboarders something to the area around less than 90 Miles West of Germa has become a major recreational it has a Leisure Park with a series of Spring fed Mineral a an a Motorbike museum and All lands of other including a multiplex Cinema with an Max the snowball is near the other attract but set off to one part of it is built into a the slope is about three tenths of a mile about 115 feet wide and Fea Tures a drop of nearly 300 it has a 24inch base of manmade inside a room kept at about 28 Snow conditions can be after deciphering the confusing Price scale and for those who dont speak French trying to communicate with a mix of fingerprinting and sign customers Are handed a card programmed with ski time and any rental gear after dropping a euro Coin in the locker to store any extra you can use your own swipe your card and enter the Winter am Ville has nothing to compare to Winter resorts like Garmisch Parten Kirchen in Switzer or the Arlberg in but what do you expect for a hot summer Day in France just walking onto the Faux slope fuels the a couple of minutes on a Sporaa lift gets you to the top of the looking guests enjoy a caf6 next to the Scenic View of the snowball the Hill provides year round Access to an assortment off rails and  right during the the French ski team trains in the to give them a the right Side is very it is groomed that Way for sticking to the left provides a much smoother run As you pop and grab Over the various sized Tabletop on this midweek Day in Early the slope is virtually leaving plenty of room to Man Euver and no lift there is sufficient time to make a couple of dozen the run lasts Only about one but its not and More than youll have a smile on your Snow deprived face at the email Ben Bloker at . Photos by bin and stripes you see a series of prepare to make Quick run at Europe longest indoor ski in kickers to the left with a the half Kilometre Hill is within driving distance of  and couple of rails and a wide Peter and stripes on the it directions the snowball is about 90 Miles from Kaiserslautern and 75 Miles from Span from kaisers laut take a6 toward after entering continue straight onto a320 and exit onto toward continue on a4 toward take exit 36semecourt toward follow signs to a Neville until you see a sign for Les after entering Les look for snowball signs leading to the left Side of the times hours Are 28 monday 1010 tuesday and wednesday 211 thursday 10 to 11 Friday and saturday 10 to 8 costs june through september is the Busy so prices Are slightly adults pay 19 euros for two 61 euros for eight buying a card for 4 euros allows you to save extra time for your next if you go Over the time an additional 15 cents per minute is ski and Boot rentals Are 6 euros a be sure to pay for rental gear when ski time is proof of Purchase is electronically programmed on the card used for food there is a Nice restaurant and bar open daily for lunch and Mcdonalds is an affordable option near along with various other information the French Only web site for snowball is an English site is in the visit for an overview of the entire you can also Call 0 387151515 for Ben Bloker