Imagine being able to ski in the city, in summer, in a park or on the roof of a building… without snow. Does it sound like science fiction? It isn’t! It’s a reality that Neveplast has made possible.
This is the story of an Italian company that revolutionised the world of winter sports by inventing a synthetic surface that replicates the feel of natural snow, allowing people to ski or snowboard all year round, wherever they are.
From a dream to global innovation
Aldo Bertocchi, born in 1940 and a skiing enthusiast, had a simple yet bold vision: to allow skiing enthusiasts to train year-round, without relying on natural snow. With the collaboration of his sons, Edoardo and Niccolò, Neveplast was founded in 1998, a Made in Italy company that would change the concept of artificial ski slopes forever, thanks to a patent that was unique in the world. Neveplast tells the story of how human passion can be transformed into patented technology and an entrepreneurial vision.
Technology that mimics snow
The heart of the Neveplast revolution is its special synthetic surface. Made from high-quality polymers, it is designed to offer an experience as close as possible to that of real snow. The surface is durable, drains well and is designed to reduce friction without compromising the feeling of gliding. This material allows skiers to use traditional equipment without the need for any special modifications.
Un altro punto di forza è la sostenibilità: Neveplast non richiede l’uso di acqua né di energia per la produzione di neve artificiale, riducendo così l’impatto ambientale rispetto agli impianti tradizionali. Inoltre, è anche rigenerabile, non si disperde nell’ambiente e può essere riutilizzato alla fine del ciclo di vita della pista. In un mondo sempre più attento all’ecologia, queste caratteristiche rappresentano una vera e propria marcia in più.
Global expansion: from the heart of Bergamo to the world
From a local project in Lombardy, Neveplast slopes have spread worldwide, from Japan to the United States, passing through major European cities: 2,500 installations worldwide. They are used not only for leisure but also for training professional athletes and for ski schools that want to offer courses all year round. The installations can be permanent or temporary, adapting to different needs: from urban ski slopes to amusement parks, from snow parks to tubing courses.
But this is not the end of it. Neveplast has achieved important world firsts, such as the first synthetic surface with friction equal to that of natural snow; the world’s first track for classic cross-country skiing; the first artificial tubing track; and innovative solutions such as Neveplast LIFT, which keeps chairlift boarding areas efficient without snow.
Fun and sports in all seasons
Neveplast technology lends itself to a wide range of activities, such as tubing, customised snow tubes, parabolic slopes, drifting karts on synthetic surfaces and much more. The versatility of the materials and the company’s creativity have led to new ways of enjoying sport and outdoor fun in places where it previously seemed impossible.
Amazing installations have also popped up in urban settings: the slope on CopenHill, Copenhagen’s waste incineration plant; ski and tubing slopes in Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan, and other temporary projects that have been hugely successful, introducing thousands of people to winter sports. The company also boasts the construction of the world’s longest artificial ski slope: a 1,130-metre run installed in Veduchi, Chechnya, a record that entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2020.
Sustainability and the future
Neveplast’s success revolutionised DrySky and led the company to become, in less than 25 years, the world leader in the sector, beating all its competitors and continuing to work to make sports such as skiing accessible to everyone, all year round, reducing climate impact and stimulating mountain tourism even in the traditionally “off-season” months.
With products such as NP30 Freeski Sustainable, certified for the use of renewable materials, and a focus on the company’s carbon footprint, the company demonstrates that innovation and respect for the environment can go hand in hand.
Today, Neveplast, under the leadership of Niccolò Bertocchi, has dozens of employees and a turnover of millions of euros!
Congratulations to those who dream and bring Italy to the world!
Learn about other outstanding Italian companies in the world of sport and leisure.