Aerial Extreme a leading provider of extreme adventure activities have just opened a new urban high rope course in Sheffield, at iceSheffield and another is planned to open at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.   Visit their website to find out more.

A redevelopment of the Tees Barrage International Water Course on the River Tees has been announced. It will include redesigning the main course, building a second shorter course and installing 4 large 12m x 3m Archimedes Screws, which can create guaranteed conditions. The scheme is funded by ONE North East, Stockton Council, Tees Active, Middlesbrough Council and Sport England.  Work is due to begin in September and is a proposed site for the 2012 Olympic Games.

A new 19km purpose built mountain bike trail has opened in Whinlatter Forest Park near Keswick, Cumbria.

The trail is designed for experienced riders and it also includes a new 15km of singletrack, with jumps and cork screws. There is also a bike shop and hire centre.

Go Ape is to open its first aerial adventure in Wales at Margam Country Park, in Port Talbot, next year. The attraction will be based on a similar design to the 17 existing sites. Work has already begun on the site to create the tree-top adventure 40ft above the forest floor. The attraction is to cost £300,000 and is part of Go Ape’s plans to open 40 courses by 2012. Go Ape is to open its first aerial adventure in Wales at Margam Country Park, in Port Talbot, next year. The attraction will be based on a similar design to the 17 existing sites. Work has already begun on the site to create the tree-top adventure 40ft above the forest floor. The attraction is to cost £300,000 and is part of Go Ape’s plans to open 40 courses by 2012.

To generate use during the off season Nepal is proposing to cut the climbing fees to Mount Everest.  It is hoped that this will help to stimulate use outside of the main climbing season which runs from March to May.

The new artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Bournemouth is now only one step away from realisation following a positive meeting between Bournemouth Borough Council and the Marine & Fisheries Agency.  If the Council’s licence application can now be resolved, the surf project for a 120 metre man made reef will go ahead with construction company, Corillion, being nominated as the third developer.  The design is by Kerry Black and the reef would be the first of its kind in the UK.

 

Game Plan Active is an interesting concept which has been developed by two Brighton entrepreneurs and offers businesses in the South East bespoke team building days involving fun, strategy and team work.   There is a focus on using activity as a means of improving teamwork and staff morale.

A recent study has indicated by establishing the Tweed Valley as a leading mountain biking destination that it could help to attract 100,000 visitors to the region.  For further information please visit Scottish Enterprise’s website.

A link to the above entitled document, which sets out a framework to maximise the social and economic benefits associated with sports tourism in Wales.

Venture Xtreme holdings is set to open their first project at the Yes! scheme in Rotherham.  The extreme adventure development will incorporate a 100,000 sq ft climbing  wall, white water rapids and a surf centre along with retail and catering.

The wider Yes! development, regenerating over a 300 acre brownfield site, will incorporate over one million sq ft of entertainment facilities and supporting infrastructure including a hotel and exhibition centre.

A major sports and recreation development on the edge of Leigh in North West England is to be developed at a total cost of some £75 million.  It will include a £6.4 million public sports centre and there will be other commercial leisure facilities such as a cinema, bowling alley, restaurants and a hotel.  There will also be an athletics track and stadium to create an excellent example of a multi sports facility in this predominantly urban area.

The project is close to Pennington Flash Country Park and also the large scale Bickershaw North site of the former colliery, which is also being considered for leisure based development.  If all three projects do go forward this will create a major leisure destination for the North West.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s website offers visitors the chance to learn about successful mountain biking development initiatives in the UK and USA.  For further information visit the IMBA website.

Work has started on a £2.7 million extreme sports centre in Aberdeen.  The centre will be operated on a non profit-making basis and incorporate a climbing and adventure centre, two basketball courts, an indoor skateboard/BMX area and retail and café areas. For further information please visit: http://www.transition-extreme.com/