(Yicai Global) Feb. 16 -- Ski simulators have become increasingly popular in southern China, as the warm weather and rare snowfalls in this part of the country make it impossible for ski-lovers to practice the sport under natural conditions.

More than 100 ski simulators have been installed in Shanghai in the past three to four years, and many other cities such as Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Ningbo, have also seen an uptick in numbers, especially in large shopping centers.

First developed in Europe to help train professional skiers, ski simulators are big treadmills whose rotating snow-like belt can imitate a flat snow track. The industry is looking forward to receiving a significant boost from Beijing 2022.

The Winter Olympic Games stimulate interest in skiing in the host countries where snow and ice sports are relatively less developed, Wu Bin, an official at the Beijing Ski Association, told Yicai Global. After the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, many skiing facilities were opened and the number of skiers also increased significantly, Wu added.

Snow51 is one of the leading urban ski space brands in Shanghai. Founded in 2018, it operates 16 facilities in the city and has expanded its business to Beijing, Ningbo, and Shenzhen. It bagged tens of millions of US dollars in a Series A+ funding round led by Borchid Capital and GSR Ventures last April.

The basic fee for urban ski spaces is higher than for natural ski slopes. Snow51’s annual pass costs CNY31,888 (USD5,000). More than 80 percent of members have an annual pass, 30 percent of whom bought one after trying the simulator, according to the firm’s data.

One member told Yicai Global that most of the members he had spoken with have an annual net household disposable income exceeding CNY500,000 (USD79,000).

Sheercool, another brand that was founded in 2017, has seven stores, of which five are in Shanghai, one in Ningbo, and one in Wuhan.

Editor: Futura Costaglione