Nestled among the perfectly planned parallel roads, suburban cul de sacs and US-style shopping malls of Milton Keynes lies the huge sci fi-like silver dome of Xscape. But, inside its buzzing circumference of bars, fast-food restaurants and clubs, is a hub of the UK snow sports scene; the SnoZone.

Aka 'The Fridge', it's an aircraft hangar sized space with a 30-degree gradient, inside is a carpet of white astro turf and fake snow, pumped nightly from the snow cannons that line the slope, all illuminated by fluorescent lighting. For two nights a week this giant refrigerator comes alive, as a park is set up on one half.

From uber-talented local groms to first-time freestylers; seasonaires getting their summer fix to some surprisingly talented local OAPs, the energy's inspiring. OK, nothing can beat riding real mountains but for park-loving punters with creative minds this is the next best thing.

As a result, a strong, local scene has developed, nurturing some shining talents in the pancake towns of England. Milton Keynes local and Red Bull-sponsored snowboader Laura Berry is one example; her career wouldn't have happened without Xscape, which opened when she was 12.

“Basically, I would never have started!” she explains. “And if by some miracle I had, I wouldn't have been able to practice half as much as I did with the SnoZone there!

“Before I started snowboarding I was thinking of becoming a physio but I kind of got sponsored pretty young so just aimed for that,” she adds. “I loved cooking too so I kind of thought about being a chef too! Nothing ever too seriously though.”

She's modest about it, but Bezza almost followed another sporting career – she was on the junior ladies team for Arsenal. So how does football compare to her current choice? “I like snowboarding because you can be yourself and do as you please. I like being part of a team, but I prefer the freedom of a solo sport. Football is now more just messing around thing for me.”

Since finishing her A-levels, Laura's been doing winter seasons, based in Morzine, entering the competition circuit and filming for Lockdown Projects. It's all a far cry from the weird, man-made and alien environment she developed in.

“It's pretty bland riding indoors!” she admits. “A big box with snow and obstacles inside it, but the atmosphere is pretty chilled, with people cheering each other on. Also everyone is pretty close, both while snowboarding and away from it, too. It's a fun time in there!”

It's this make-do, almost working class attitude, combined with the opening of more fridges across the country, that has redefined the UK snowboard scene - it's no longer preserved for the privileged few.

With the creation of accessible and reasonably-priced facilities, snowsports are no longer defined by class divisions and bank balances. For the same budget as a night in the pub, you can go shred real snow – and go and sleep in your own bed.

“It's a lot closer and friendlier,” Laura describes the UK scene. “There's lots of rail riders too as there are only rails to ride at many places.

“The advantages are lots of positive people around you and the rail set ups can be amazing. But, disadvantages are there are no big jumps, no real snow and we tend to start at a later age – so we're always lacking a few years' experience compared to [riders from] other countries.”

Another plus of riding artificial is you can snowboard all year – resulting in epic contests in the off-season when, with riders home for summer, the fridges are at their busiest. For Laura, the recent Vans Dawn Of the Shred, a snowboard jam and rock gig, is one of her favourites, next to the annual AIM Series Big Air contests, and Burton's Am Tour.

With complete control over conditions, holiday makers staying home, and just fresh ideas and finance stopping them, the future of the fridges is rosy. Bezza agrees: “The obstacles will get more challenging, the set ups will get better. But, some people are too cool for school these days.

“My biggest hope is that it goes back to how it was, with no one giving a shit what people think and just having fun!”

Laura runs a rail – one of many tricks she learnt in leafy Buckinghamshire  © RB Photofiles