Updated: April 2026
If you’re wondering what the toboggan run at Ski Dubai is really like and whether it’s worth trying, here’s exactly what happened when I gave it a go.
Yes — that’s me in the photo, leaning against a red plastic sled for support. Not the best shot, I must add. I relied on a stranger, and it shows! But I kept it because it captures the moment just before everything changed.
This turned out to be one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had.
And here’s the truth:
I had never skied.
Never been on a bobsleigh.
Never even seen a toboggan run up close.
So I really had no idea what I was letting myself in for… until I reached the point of no return.
Dubai is full of experiences, truly something for everyone. One that completely surprised me was Ski Dubai.
An indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert already unusual. Families laughing, children playing in the snow, people skiing as if this were the Alps and then there was the toboggan run.
That was the one that stayed with me.
What to expect
- Indoor snow slope in the middle of a shopping mall
- No experience needed (perfect for beginners)
- Faster than it looks!
- A bit of a climb to the top
- That moment of “what have I signed up for?
One minute I was watching others go down… the next, I was at the top wondering how I got there.
I waited my turn. I was handed a rubber mat.
Simple enough.
Place it down. Sit.
Wait for the green light.
And then… off you go.
The slide felt tight, though perhaps that was just me!
But there was no time to think.
It was fast.
It was furious.
And it was utterly exhilarating.
I screamed.
I hugged myself.
And somewhere in between, I may even have said a little prayer.
My head spun, my stomach lurched, and I wondered — how long does this go on for?
And then suddenly…
It was over.
I landed at the bottom with a thump.
Wow.
Wow.
And wow.
That — right there — is what I call an experience.
Still slightly dazed, I slowly got to my feet, feeling as though I had just returned from a brief trip to the moon. The man at the bottom looked at me and smiled:
“Would you like to have another go?”
Without hesitation, I replied:
“Not on your nelly — just the one for me!”
Now, you might think that would be enough excitement for one day.
But no.
I was on a roll.
So I decided to try something else — zorbing.
Yes… really.
Inside a giant inflatable ball, completely at its mercy, rolling in every direction with absolutely no control — I simply let go.
And to my surprise…
I loved it.
My daughter couldn’t quite believe it when I told her.
At 64, she said, “Mum — you did what?!”
And of course, she told all her friends.
(Proudly, I like to think.)
You are never too old.
That day reminded me of something simple but powerful:
Life doesn’t stop offering new experiences.
We just have to keep saying yes.
If you enjoy stepping outside your comfort zone, you might also like:
→ Stepping into the Void — Aiguille du Midi
→ Snorkelling in the Red Sea
